What time is it there?!

Some time ago we were asked if we could do a Top Ten of the places we've visited so far. Well, it's taken a while to get round to it so we'll have a full awards ceremony instead. In true 'Oscars' style this will commence with some more minor awards before leading up to the final 'Best Picture' prize.....

Most Amusing Announcements By Cabin Crew
Winner: United Airlines, Seattle-San Francisco.
"Cabin crew cross check doors, and check hair and makeup"
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the city by the bay. Please refrain from smoking until you have left the state of California"

Favourite Public Transport Experience
Winner: Le Truck, Tahiti
Has to be seen to be believed. A close runner up is the unnofficial "How many more people can we fit on the bus?" competition on the Savusavu to Labasa express (3hrs!) bus in Fiji.

Worst Hotel
Winner: Howard Johnson Motel, Redding, California
The ants parading up and down the wall and around the bathroom made this hotel the runaway winner.....

Best Scam For Fleecing Money From Tourists
Winner: The Cook Islands Driving Licence

Most Obscenely Large Portion Of Nachos
Winner: Moxies Bar and Grill, Sandman Hotel, Calgary
Probably enough to feed four, but listed as an 'Appetizer'!

Best Meal
Winner: Sounds of Silence Dinner, Uluru
Go there and see for yourself!

Worst Meal
Winner: All You Can Eat Buffet (Mexican Theme Night), Saddlewest Casino, Pahrump, Nevada
Possibly some of the heaviest & stodgiest substances known to man (but with a cheesy sauce!).

Best Inflight Movie
Winner: Madagascar

Best Free Breakfast In A Hostel
Winner: Hostelling International, Seattle
Seriously, you might not need to eat again all day!

Best Breakfast Anywhere
Winner: Bellagio, Las Vegas
No contest. Never mind the rest of the day, you probably won't need to eat for a week!!

Most Comfortable Airport Seats
Winner: Nadi Airport (Domestic Terminal), Fiji
Stuck at the airport for hours before check-in opens? Don't sit in the dodgy plastic chairs in the international check-in area, head down to the HUGE leather sofas in the almost deserted domestic terminal!

Award For Extreme Campness In A Security Official
Winner: Unnamed TSA man in Seattle airport.....
..... who took us to one side and explained in a serious tone that he wanted us to do something important when we returned to the UK. "You have to get the Spice Girls back together"!!

Most Outrageous Crime Award
Winner: The unknown individuals (at least three it appeared) who had taken books from the book exchange at the Cathay Hotel in Lautoka and replaced them with....... stolen Gideons Bibles!

Favourite 'Hotels' So Far
Not in any order
1- Jasper Inn
Jasper, Canada
2- Napoleon on Kent Apartments
Sydney, Australia
3- Rarotonga Backpackers
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
4- Greenhouse Backpacker
Melbourne, Australia
5- Tubakula Beach Bungalows
Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Fiji
6- Hotel Kaveka
Moorea, French Polynesia

The Top Ten
Of course this only takes us up until we left Australia, so it's the Top Ten for the first six months really. We've tried to narrow it down a bit and pick specific bits, rather than just saying something vague like 'The Rocky Mountains'. The links will take you to the photos or the blog page if you haven't already seen them (what do you mean you haven't read it all!!).

11- Monkey Mia, Western Australia
Sorry, we couldn't get the list down to ten! Photos here.
10- Bouma National Park, Taveuni, Fiji
Includes both the Marine Reserve and the Waterfalls. Photos here.
9- Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
If you don't want to walk all day catch the shuttle bus and walk the last section to Dove Lake. Photos here.
8- Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia
If you don't like diving or snorkelling there really isn't anything here. But if you do like getting in the water then go before it gets spoiled by too much development.
7- Hamelin Bay, Western Australia
Feeding stingrays on the beach. Photos here.
6- Moraine Lake & Peyto Lake, Alberta
If you've always liked the pictures on the front of guide books about Canada this is where to come. Photos here and here.
5- Sounds of Silence, Uluru
It's not cheap, but then nothing is at Uluru. Crocodile Ceasar Salad..... mmmmm....... Photos here.
4- Athabasca Glacier, Alberta
It's nice and sunny down in the car park, but make sure you put on plenty of layers before boarding the bus for the glacier! Photos here.
3- Rocky Mountaineer
Just as spectacular as it looks in the brochures. Save your pennies for just a little longer and go for the 'Gold Leaf' service, you'll get a far better view as well as the service. Photos here and here.
2- Glacier Point, Yosemite
Leave yourself plenty of time to take the 32 mile round trip to Glacier Point because once you get there you'll probably spend at least an hour gawping and taking pictures. Photos here.
1- The Grand Canyon
You've seen the pictures and read the books. You know it's going to be big. But somehow none of this prepares you for your arrival at the first lookout point. The IMAX at the park entrance shows a Grand Canyon film, DON'T watch it until after you've seen the real thing.
For sunset the bus goes as far west as Hopi Point. If you have time to walk the extra distance (we didn't) we were told that Mojave point is even better. No matter how cold it is get up for sunrise. Oh, and just hope it isn't cloudy on the days you visit. Photos here.