Building My Personal Blog While Traveling

The idea of building my own blog has been with me since I started college. Over the years, I would revisit the repository every now and then, using it as a playground to experiment with new technologies, test ideas, and apply things I was learning along the way.

Technologies I Used

I built the blog from scratch using Next.js, JavaScript, Tailwind CSS, and Hygraph. It became my learning space where I could explore new tools and concepts through a real-world project.

⁠What I Experimented With Along the Way

Some of the things I experimented with before cleaning up the UI included:

• Setting up Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics to better understand website traffic and user behavior.
• Learning Three.js and exploring how 3D experiences can be integrated into modern web applications.
• Working with 3D models and understanding the challenges of loading and rendering them efficiently on the web.
• Creating a content management workflow with Hygraph that makes writing and managing posts straightforward.

As the project grew, so did the amount of experimentation inside it. Different layouts, design ideas, animations, and features found their way into the codebase. While that helped me learn, it also left the user interface feeling quite messy.

Finding Time to Refactor

⁠⁠Recently, while traveling and spending time in new cities, I found myself with very little to do during rainy days and cold mornings. With more free time than usual and not much to do outside, I finally had the opportunity to dedicate focused time to the project. Since the core functionality was already working

What I Learned

Looking back, one of the biggest lessons was that side projects don’t need to be finished quickly. This blog existed in different forms for years before reaching a point where I felt comfortable sharing it.

Every time I returned to the project, I brought new skills with me. The project grew alongside my experience as a developer.

For anyone thinking about starting a blog or personal website, here are a few things I’d recommend:

1. Start Before You’re Ready

Your first version doesn’t need to be perfect. Most of the learning happens after you begin.

2. Use It as a Learning Playground

A personal project is one of the best places to experiment with new technologies. This blog taught me analytics, content management systems, 3D web experiences, performance considerations, and much more.

3. Focus on Consistency Over Speed

You don’t need to finish everything in a weekend. Small improvements made consistently over time add up.

4. Build Something You’ll Actually Use

The best projects solve a problem for their creator. Since I wanted a place to share my thoughts and document my journey, I always had a reason to come back and improve the blog.

Final Thoughts

This blog started as a simple idea and slowly evolved over time as I learned new things and gained more experience. It’s still a work in progress, but I’m happy to finally share it. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy following along as it continues to grow.