There was a lot I had thought was a possibility for our travel blog when we first began it.
We had visions of creating a digital lifestyle full of travel sustained by our efforts sharing travel tips, stories and information. Sponsorships, book deals, consulting and speaking gigs many of which have become a reality.
As I sat and watched y travel blog flash up onto the big screen, eagerly, yet nervously waiting to see if our name would be called as the Best Travel Blog at the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards, I thought how I never imagined this was part of the future of our blog.
The NAPBAS awards was indeed an “Oscar” style event for bloggers in the Asia Pacific Region. There are so many “Best of” lists that go around the internet that I often don’t pay attention to them.
Best Travel blog Category
But these were serious awards. So much so that all Aussie finalists were flown over from Australia for the gala evening at the Marriott hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Marriott Kuala Lumpur
We wore glammed up cocktail dresses, media were present flashing their cameras and conducting interviews, professional photos were taken, local celebrities hosted the event, we ate a 5 course 5 star dinner, mingled with hundreds of “star” bloggers, and were entertained by singers, comedians, and bizarre pole dancing burlesque troop, which was the talk of the evening.
The media go mad for us
delicious tirimasu desert
Pole dancing show
The event didn’t stop there. We were hosted at Zouk, one of the most famous nightclubs in Kuala Lumpur, for the after party. Its popularity most noted for the ferraris and porches lined up out the front.
Aussie bloggers at Zouk
A few of us oldies, too used to the comfort of a smoke free environment where you could hear one another speak, left not long after our arrival, but a good time was had nevertheless.
The next day we were given a tour of Kuala Lumpur, followed by a celebration dinner with the Aussie blogging contingent hosted by the ultra-cool Nuffnang Australia crew.
Photo: A Sea of ghosts
A couple of mojitos and an Assam Laksa were enjoyed before we were whisked away to the final Nuffnang exclusive party at the G View Tower, one of the highlights of the whole weekend.
The views were superb and the Kronenbourg 1664 beers were fruity and flowing. Thanks so much to the Singaporeans who invited us to join them and help make a dent in their growing pile.
Yes! We drank almost all of them. With Racheal and Alicia Photo: Melburnian
Steve from Melburnian, Alicia from A Sea of Ghosts, Racheal Divine from Sesame Ellis, Nuffies Tim and Kruppie, and I did a damn good job of doing so!
My roomie Lizosarous dino tail poking out- such a great outfit
Throughout the evening of the Awards dinner, bloggers were announced as the best in categories such as food, travel, photography, and micro blogging.
I sat stunned at the way bloggers were being celebrated and so grateful for Nuffnang for putting on this weekend to acknowledge the valuable platform blogging is.
Grateful for them for believing in us and what we do and rewarding us all for our hard efforts and passions that often go unrewarded.
And even though we did not win, I felt like I had won.
I had a fabulous time, made some amazing new blogger friends, learned a lot, laughed with new Asian blogger friends, was able to experience a country I had not been to before, and was made to feel special for an evening.
Having a laugh at our table
It was a celebration of blogging and of bloggers. Even those who weren’t at the event, the celebration was helping to pave the way for this industry and to open up many doors of opportunities for all of us.
The more official glammed up ceremonies like this that happen, the more that the world outside of blogging will recognize just what a valuable contribution we all make.
Some of the Aussie finalists
Congrats to all of the deserving winners especially justwandering.org who took out the travel blogging category.
May the world open up to embrace bloggers in this manner even more. What we do every day is valuable as we entertain, inspire, inform and give others hope.
With Melburnian and our new Singaporean fashion blogger friends
I believe blogging is helping to bring the world closer together, like travel does, as it shows each of us just how much we are more alike than different and it’s the similarities that are most important and the differences are there to celebrate, not to be in fear of.
Major Thanks
To Nuffnang and Nuffnang Australia for hosting the awards, being a great support group, and giving us an awesome experience.
Nuffnang Australia
To all the Aussie blogging Finalists, you were all deserving finalists and fun to hang out with. Not only do I have new friends, but new blogs to read, and I learned a lot from all of you.
- Sam from Sassi Sam (entertainment),
- Helen from Grab Your Fork (food),
- Minh and Squishies from Eat Show Tell (Winner of Best Design Category)
- Liz from Lizosaurus (design, winner of best dress and best roomie!)
- Steve from @Melburnian (micro blog and beer drinker)
- Alicia from Sea of Ghosts (fashion)
- Racheal from Sesame Ellis (photography)
- Karen from Citrus and Candy (photography)
- Sarah from A Beach Cottage (hidden gem)
- Christie from Childhood 101 (winner of Best Parenting Blog)
To the Aussie blogging support crew for cheering, encouraging, sharing your wisdom and just being fun to be around.
- Nikki from Styling You ,
- Nic from Planning with Kids ,
- Mel from One Crafty Mumma,
- Kat from Organized Housewife
Cover-More Travel Insurance
To my insurance provider Cover-More who sponsored my travel insurance for the trip, something that Craig and I never travel without.
Cover-More are very easy to deal with and I absolutely love that their travel insurance policy automatically covers lap tops and cameras.
As a travel blogger I can no longer travel without them and it is usually an expensive headache to get them added on. I think Covermore is helping to make travel insurance sexy !
