The categories and results are...
1. MOST BEAUTIFUL. PERIOD.
Runner up: Abel Tasman...
(This is the view from Appletree beach). And the Grammy goes to...
MILFORD SOUND! MILFORD SOUND! MILFORD SOUND!
2. BIGGEST THRILL
Runner up: jet boating on the Shotover River...
(I think it's safe to say that "thrill" and "pee in pants" go in the same category, no?)
And the Grammy goes to...
THE NEVIS BUNGY- the second highest bungy in the world at 134 meters!
(No anxiety-induced bodily functions here. Just pure swan dives, flying, and a minor case of brain-glued-to-ceiling-of-head syndrome).
3. BEST "KYLIE ADVENTURE" (aka fairly low key)
No competition here. The Grammy goes to...
THE QUEENSTOWN LUGE!
Runner up: jet boating on the Shotover River...
(I think it's safe to say that "thrill" and "pee in pants" go in the same category, no?) And the Grammy goes to...
THE NEVIS BUNGY- the second highest bungy in the world at 134 meters!
(No anxiety-induced bodily functions here. Just pure swan dives, flying, and a minor case of brain-glued-to-ceiling-of-head syndrome). 3. BEST "KYLIE ADVENTURE" (aka fairly low key)
No competition here. The Grammy goes to...
THE QUEENSTOWN LUGE!
4. BEST HIKE
Runner up: Avalanche Peak...
(Interesting that it's the "runner up" because "running up" it is probably the LAST thing a sane person would do...although I may or may not have participated in a few mad dashes myself).
And the Grammy goes to...
THE TONGARIRO CROSSING!
(This is a view of Emerald Lakes. Dontcha just wanna splash around in one of those? Well, you CAN'T!)
5. MOST THRILLING WATER ACTIVITY
Second runner up: Kayaking through Abel Tasman...
(I don't think a kayak trip would generally be referred to as "thrilling" per se, but with the extreme winds we experienced... this ride was indeed a thrill.)
First runner up: White Water Rafting down the Shotover River.
And the Grammy goes to...
RIVER SURFING DOWN KAWARAU RIVER!
(I get rushes of adrenaline just LOOKING at this picture!)
6. BEST KIWI TREAT
Absolute last runner up: Marmite (I truly believe you need to grow up with the stuff to appreciate it...and also not load it on like jam)...
(He's just pretending he's enjoying it here. Really I think he just threw up in his mouth a little bit.)
Second runner up: Pavlova...
First runner up: Tim Tam Slams...
And the Grammy goes to...
MILO WITH HOKEY POKEY ICE CREAM IN IT!
(It's totally not "Kiwi" to mix the two. They're traditional Kiwi treats with a little "Taylor Twist".)
7. CUTEST ANIMAL
Second runner up: Seal pup in Kaikoura:
First runner up: Kid & lamb at Cushchine Animal Farm Park in Kaikoura.
(I'll always remember the kid because our frayed camera strap is evidence of his oh-so-cute gnawing tendencies.)
And the Grammy goes to...
THIS DUDE!
(tee hee hee)
8. FRIENDLIEST STRANGERS
The Grammy goes to...
ISOLATION MERINO IN WARD who invited us to their HOME to introduce us to merino sheep in the flesh, and even give us a lock of wool!
(It's the sheep's owners that are getting THIS award, but he deserves one for fluffiness. And pure cuteness.)
9. MOST LIKELY TO RUN-INTO-A-CELEBRITY SURF BEACH (aka Best Surf Beach)
With Jack Johnson and Ben Harper being regular surfers here, there is noooo competition.
The Grammy goes to...
RAGLAN BEACH!
Third runner up: the giant fruit in Cromwell (which is nicknamed the "Fruit Bowl of the South")...
Second runner up: Giant carrot in Ohakune which is meant to represent the fact that Ohakune grows a large proportion of NZ's carrots. Apparently it's the largest model carrot in the world... well, you don't say!
First runner up: Giant ducky at the Auckland Marathon. The motto was "You are a yellow rubber duck! You cannot be crushed. You cannot be broken. You bounce back. You will always rise to the surface."
And the Grammy goes to...
THE GIANT L&P BOTTLE IN PAEROA- THE HOME OF L&P (Lemon & Paeroa)...
Yum.MEE. (And the beverage is pretty good too:)
14. BEST BOOGY BOARDING BEACH
Second runner up: Piha Beach which is home to Lion Head Rock...
(For those of you who have not yet been freaked out by this picture... it's NOT real. Well, the ROCK is real, but the image of ASLAN'S head on it is indeed Lowell's handiwork).
First runner up: Papamoa Beach...
And the Grammy goes to...
MURIWAI!
(Well, truth be told, RAGLAN is probably the BEST (& more safe) boogy boarding beach, but Raglan already won a Grammy and Muriwai is close to our hearts (and also literally the closest TO us)!)
15. SILLIEST EXTREME ACTIVITY
Runner up: sandboarding on the sand dunes near 90 Mile Beach...
(Unless you have a phobia of sand, this activity is pretty dang fun!)
And the Grammy goes to...
ZORBING IN ROTORUA!
So Kiwi. So silly. And so FUN!
16. COOLEST SCENIC WALK
Third ruuner up: Rangitoto (dormant volcano near Auckland)...
Second runner up: 90 Mile Beach (which, rumour has it, is really only 55 miles long)...
First runner up: Cape Rienga (the very tippy top of the North Island)...
And the Grammy goes to...
MOUNT MAUNGANUI!
(Mount Maunganui is a beautiful holiday resort town in the Bay of Plenty region. If I lived there, I'd sooooo run up, down and all around the little mount on a regular basis).
17. BEST ARCHITECTURE
Runner up: Waitakere Ranges picture frame...
(Wanna bet how many people have this IDENTICAL photo?!)
While the frame is an architectural masterpiece, the Grammy would have to go to...
THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS IN WELLINGTON!
Runner up: Avalanche Peak...
(Interesting that it's the "runner up" because "running up" it is probably the LAST thing a sane person would do...although I may or may not have participated in a few mad dashes myself).And the Grammy goes to...
THE TONGARIRO CROSSING!
(This is a view of Emerald Lakes. Dontcha just wanna splash around in one of those? Well, you CAN'T!) 5. MOST THRILLING WATER ACTIVITY
Second runner up: Kayaking through Abel Tasman...
(I don't think a kayak trip would generally be referred to as "thrilling" per se, but with the extreme winds we experienced... this ride was indeed a thrill.)First runner up: White Water Rafting down the Shotover River.
And the Grammy goes to...RIVER SURFING DOWN KAWARAU RIVER!
(I get rushes of adrenaline just LOOKING at this picture!)6. BEST KIWI TREAT
Absolute last runner up: Marmite (I truly believe you need to grow up with the stuff to appreciate it...and also not load it on like jam)...
(He's just pretending he's enjoying it here. Really I think he just threw up in his mouth a little bit.)Second runner up: Pavlova...
First runner up: Tim Tam Slams...
And the Grammy goes to...MILO WITH HOKEY POKEY ICE CREAM IN IT!
(It's totally not "Kiwi" to mix the two. They're traditional Kiwi treats with a little "Taylor Twist".) 7. CUTEST ANIMAL
Second runner up: Seal pup in Kaikoura:
First runner up: Kid & lamb at Cushchine Animal Farm Park in Kaikoura.
(I'll always remember the kid because our frayed camera strap is evidence of his oh-so-cute gnawing tendencies.)And the Grammy goes to...
THIS DUDE!
(tee hee hee) The Grammy goes to...
ISOLATION MERINO IN WARD who invited us to their HOME to introduce us to merino sheep in the flesh, and even give us a lock of wool!
(It's the sheep's owners that are getting THIS award, but he deserves one for fluffiness. And pure cuteness.)9. MOST LIKELY TO RUN-INTO-A-CELEBRITY SURF BEACH (aka Best Surf Beach)
With Jack Johnson and Ben Harper being regular surfers here, there is noooo competition.
The Grammy goes to...
RAGLAN BEACH!
10. BEST ACCOMODATIONS
Absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, the Grammy goes to...
OUR HOME!
Absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, the Grammy goes to...
OUR HOME!
11. BEST KISSING LOCALE
The Grammy goes to...
SHAKESPEARE'S CLIFF!
(In all fairness to other potential 'kissing locale' candidates, this is the only actual image to evidence the kissing that went on.)
12. BEST MOVIE LOCATION
Second runner up: Pillars of the Kings from Lord of the Rings.
As seen in the movie...
As seen in real life at Kawarau River...
First runner up: Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings.
As seen in the movie...
As seen in real life during the Tongariro Crossing...
(Looks a little more tame here eh? Thank heavens.)
(Lowell felt that it would be appropriate to mimic Gollum at the base of the mount. Creepy... but appropriate.)
And the Grammy goes to...
CATHEDRAL COVE SEEN IN THE NEW CHRONICLES OF NARNIA!
As seen in the movie...
As seen in real life on Coramandel Peninsula...
The Grammy goes to...
SHAKESPEARE'S CLIFF!
(In all fairness to other potential 'kissing locale' candidates, this is the only actual image to evidence the kissing that went on.)Second runner up: Pillars of the Kings from Lord of the Rings.
As seen in the movie...
As seen in real life at Kawarau River...
First runner up: Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings.As seen in the movie...
As seen in real life during the Tongariro Crossing...
(Looks a little more tame here eh? Thank heavens.)(Lowell felt that it would be appropriate to mimic Gollum at the base of the mount. Creepy... but appropriate.)
And the Grammy goes to...
CATHEDRAL COVE SEEN IN THE NEW CHRONICLES OF NARNIA!
As seen in the movie...
As seen in real life on Coramandel Peninsula...
13. BEST GIANT THING
Third runner up: the giant fruit in Cromwell (which is nicknamed the "Fruit Bowl of the South")...
Second runner up: Giant carrot in Ohakune which is meant to represent the fact that Ohakune grows a large proportion of NZ's carrots. Apparently it's the largest model carrot in the world... well, you don't say!
First runner up: Giant ducky at the Auckland Marathon. The motto was "You are a yellow rubber duck! You cannot be crushed. You cannot be broken. You bounce back. You will always rise to the surface."
And the Grammy goes to...THE GIANT L&P BOTTLE IN PAEROA- THE HOME OF L&P (Lemon & Paeroa)...
Yum.MEE. (And the beverage is pretty good too:) Second runner up: Piha Beach which is home to Lion Head Rock...
(For those of you who have not yet been freaked out by this picture... it's NOT real. Well, the ROCK is real, but the image of ASLAN'S head on it is indeed Lowell's handiwork).First runner up: Papamoa Beach...
And the Grammy goes to...MURIWAI!
(Well, truth be told, RAGLAN is probably the BEST (& more safe) boogy boarding beach, but Raglan already won a Grammy and Muriwai is close to our hearts (and also literally the closest TO us)!)15. SILLIEST EXTREME ACTIVITY
Runner up: sandboarding on the sand dunes near 90 Mile Beach...
(Unless you have a phobia of sand, this activity is pretty dang fun!)And the Grammy goes to...
ZORBING IN ROTORUA!
So Kiwi. So silly. And so FUN!16. COOLEST SCENIC WALK
Third ruuner up: Rangitoto (dormant volcano near Auckland)...
Second runner up: 90 Mile Beach (which, rumour has it, is really only 55 miles long)...
First runner up: Cape Rienga (the very tippy top of the North Island)...
And the Grammy goes to...MOUNT MAUNGANUI!
(Mount Maunganui is a beautiful holiday resort town in the Bay of Plenty region. If I lived there, I'd sooooo run up, down and all around the little mount on a regular basis).17. BEST ARCHITECTURE
Runner up: Waitakere Ranges picture frame...
(Wanna bet how many people have this IDENTICAL photo?!)THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS IN WELLINGTON!
18. STRANGEST BEACH ACTIVITY
The Grammy goes to...
HOT WATER BEACH ON COROMANDEL PENINSULA!
(Dig a hole then stew in the earth's hot water- and your own sweat- for hours.)
Please note that categories, nominees, and winners are subject to change as we continue our Kiwi travels. Fourteen more days of work until we'll be in FULL TIME travel mode. Oh, there is soooo much more to come...
The Grammy goes to...
HOT WATER BEACH ON COROMANDEL PENINSULA!
(Dig a hole then stew in the earth's hot water- and your own sweat- for hours.) Please note that categories, nominees, and winners are subject to change as we continue our Kiwi travels. Fourteen more days of work until we'll be in FULL TIME travel mode. Oh, there is soooo much more to come...
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6 comments :
I loved this blog post! Very creative...and it shows so many of the amazing things over there. I am happy that I was able to participate in so many of the grammy winning activities and sights. You must be sooo excited that you're almost done work...have more family visiting...and going exploring in some pretty awesome places.
I was already jealous, thankyouverymuch. This was great. Now to write my own to-do list!
Very nice! Only 14 more days of work!!! How long are you traveling for before you come home?
Hey guys all that looks absolutly amazing. I can't believe that you've fit that all into a few months. Also that is the longest blog post yet I think 1.8 meters in length.
Stop making me jealous already! Lowell the Aslan rock is really cool!! Would you consider giving me the rights to do a painting of it?
PS I vote the kid the cutest animal. I have always thought that baby goats were the most adorable things on earth.
Man, that's AWESOME. I love your blog post and the grammy awards! You make my heart beat with excitement!
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