ALFie Awards

Here they are, what you have been waiting for...the ALFie Awards for the Best of Everything from my trip! Ever since I've been home people have been asking me everything from "Where is the prettiest beach?" to "What was the most exhilarating tour you took?" to "What was the best bar?" So I decided to give out my very own ALFie Awards to the best parts of my trip. I've also added links to the winners so you can go check them out for yourself (and maybe plan your own trip to see if I'm telling you the truth). I had to make some really hard decisions and some came out as a tie, so without further ado, the ALFie goes to...

• Best Hostel - Arts Factory Backpackers Lodge, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. In the 70's it was a magnet for hippies and still manages to keep the same vibe and attract the same people. Relaxing, friendly and totally unique accommodation (teepee!) and fantastic amenities. I kicked myself for only staying two days!
  *Runner up - Treks Backpackers, Rotarua, New Zealand. Cleanest, most well stocked kitchen ever. No bunk beds too!


• Best Guesthouse - Mahana Homestead Lodge, Queens Charlotte Track, New Zealand. John and Ann are the nicest, most accommodating hosts I've ever come across. Home cooked meals, fireplace with puzzles and books to read in a TV and PC free environment. Bliss!


• Best Beach Hut - Atcha Hut, Ko Lanta, Thailand. Cozy, airy huts on an uncrowded stretch of beach run by a Thai family. Can take part in communal dinner with the family every night and it's delicious.


• Best Airline - Qantas Airlines, NSW, Australia. Nothing even comes close in this category. Period.


• Best Bus - Intercity Coachlines, New Zealand. On time, friendly drivers and great commentary from guides on some buses. Hassle free.


• Best City - Large - Sydney, NSW, Australia


• Best City - Small - Wellington, New Zealand
  
• Best Locals - Penang, Malaysia. Drank beers and broke bread with owner of my guesthouse and was almost overwhelmed at the generosity of this stranger. No hidden agendas, I know what you're thinking, trust me!


• Best View - Sky Bar, Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The nighttime view of the Petronas Towers are absolutely mesmerizing.


• Best Restaurant - Layla Bar, Ko Lanta, Thailand. The mossaman curry is to die for, seriously, the perfect meal. Wash it down with a fresh mai tai at sunset.


• Best Street Food - Laksa and peach champagne flavored bubble tea from a cart in Penang, Mayasia
  *Runner up - onion, tuna, cheese and egg pancake with chili sauce in Hat Sairee on Ko Tao. Perfect late night food when you are leaving the bar.


• Best Snack - Tim Tams, Australia & New Zealand. These chocolaty cookies are so addictive. I am starting a petition to bring them to the US.
  
• Best Meal with a Stranger - Bangkok, Thailand. I was joined by a gentleman from London for breakfast. It was nice to have a conversation in English!


• Best Bar - Opera Bar, next to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Where to go to see and be seen in Sydney. The view and the people watching are uncomparable.
  
• Best Beer - Toohey's New, Australia
  *Runner up - Singha, Thailand


• Best Drink - Bucket of Joy, Ko Lanta, Thailand (but you could get it anywhere). Take one pint of Thai whiskey, add a can of energy drink and a can of Coke, stir in bucket, add straw and drink. Fall on floor later.
  
• Best Place to Party - Ko Phangan, Thailand. Home of the Full Moon Party, but it wasn't full moon when I was there, but still plenty of people getting their drink on.
  *Runner up - Queenstown, New Zealand. Adreneline junkies head out at night and paint the town red. These guys know how to do it right!


• Best Beach - Bondi Beach, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  *Runner up - Lake Macenzie, Fraser Island, QLD, Australia


• Best Diving - Ko Haa, Thailand. Two words - WHALE SHARK


• Best Surfing - Noosa, Australia. Quintessential surf spot and surf patrol is pretty hot too!
  
• Best Hike - Queen Charlotte Track, New Zealand. Best accommodations of any track with beautiful views over Queen Charlotte Sound. Quiet and peaceful too! It takes some preparations and time to get there, but worth it.
  *Runner up - Queenstown Hill Hike, New Zealand (warning, do not attempt this with a hangover!)
  
• Best Unique Land Activity - Zorb, Rotarua, New Zealand. Strap into a giant inflatable hamster ball and roll down a hill. So simple, yet so much fun!
  
• Best Rugby - Canterbury Crusaders, Christchurch, New Zealand. From the country that lives and breathes rugby, I got to see the eventual Super 14 champs play in dominate their opponent. Great atmosphere! Go to the Holy Grail sports bar and get a Beer, Bus, and Footy ticket for beers and transporation to the match.
  *Runner up - CA Brumbies, Canberra, ACT, Australia. I was able to see my idol Stirling Mortlock on the sidelines, eat a pie and have a beer while sitting front and center.


• Best Zoo - Australia Zoo, Beerwah, QLD, Australia. Although they pimp out the Irwin kids, its a great hands on zoo and totally worth it just for Kangaroo Heaven.


• Best Animal Sighting - Canberra, ACT, Australia. Kangaroos just hanging out in a park and I see a joey moving around in it's mother's pouch. He never fully appeared, but exciting nonetheless.
  *Worst Animal Sighting - Sean tells me there is a kangaroo on the side of the road and I look and its dead. WTF?!?


• Best Shopping - Singapore! Stylish, chic and sophisticated. Bring your Visa...
  
• Best Place to Spend Money - Again, Singapore. More restaurants, bars and shopping complexes than you can shake a stick at, all geared towards the expat population. A bit pricier than Australia, but extravagant compared to the rest of Southeast Asia.
  *Runner up - Sydney, NSW, Australia. Expensive, but so much fun! Spent with abandon and had a blast. I wouldn't suggest visiting if you have a strict budget or you'll miss out on a lot.
  
• Best Place to Be a Bum - Byron Bay, Australia. Time grinds to a halt here in this hippy community. Lovely cafes and shops, beautiful beaches, the perfect weekend getaway.


• Best Kept Secret - Cairns Wildlife Dome, Cairns, Australia. Happened to stumble on this and it was not promoted in any way, so head on over to the casino (it's at the top) and enjoy! The crocodile feeding and bird show not to be missed!
  
• Best Cheesy Attraction - Vic Hislop's Shark Expo, Airlie Beach, Australia. Should dangerous sharks be hunted or saved? You be the judge. Warning - do not go see this and then go diving the next day or you'll be paranoid.


• Best Museum Exhibit - Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Game On: Play your way through the history of video games
  *Runner up - Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. Andy Warhol: 300 Art Works, One City
  
• Best Cultural Attraction - Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand. All glitter and gold and so beautiful.
  
• Best Tour - Combination tour of Erawan Falls, Nok Soi Waterfall, Hellfire Pass, Death Railway and Bridge on the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
  *Runner up - Trails of Middle Earth Tour, Queenstown, New Zealand. For super Lord of the Rings geeks only!

So there you have it! If you have visited any of these places and would like to agree or disagree or have your own category and winners, leave it in the comments :)