The first Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards was held in Singapore 2 years ago. This year, I was again honoured to be part of the selected 500 bloggers from so many countries including Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Philippines, Singapore, China and of course Malaysia to be housed in Marriott Putrajaya Kuala Lumpur to honour the best in the blogosphere.
And boy, was it a really swanky affair. With top notch song and dance performances, delicious food and well-dressed people from all over the world, the whole award ceremony is probably the next closest thing to the Oscars or Grammys we’ll ever find.
But we were there to pay homage to the bloggers who give their all in producing good content and I’m very proud to say Singapore took home 3 very prestigous titles that one night.
Singapore’s very own Singapore Food Blogger ladyironchef is now recognised as Asia-Pacific’s Best Food Blog! Readers of ladyironchef will agree whole-heartedly with the recognition. After being nominated in 2009 in the same category, I’m more than pleased Brad beat the 4 other strong contenders in the category this year to clinch the very prestigous award. A well deserved award for the awesome ladyironchef.
You’re probably already familiar with her. She is definitely no stranger to the blogosphere. In 2009, Asia-Pacific’s Best Lifestyle Blog, Most Influential Blog and Region’s Best Blog also clinched Most Influential Blog and Region’s Best Blog in 2011′s Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards. With 8 years of blogging experience, Xiaxue is certainly a mover and shaker in the blogosphere. Kudos to Wendy for winning TWO very anticipated awards at the award ceremony.
In her thank you speech for winning Region’s Best Blog, Wendy made a good point on how Nuffnang has certainly revolutionized the entire blogging scene. From mere keyboard warriors, people have come to realise that social media should and can be taken as seriously as traditional media. Not just blogs, so says the Region’s Best Blog, but even on micro-blogging platforms too. There was even an award for Best Micro Blog because we can and have “set trends on Twitter”! The Best Micro Blog award was well-earned by funny man Kenny Sia.
Certainly, Nuffnang’s outreach and Midas touch was very evident when you look at not just the award winners that night, but to the entire blogging crowd that was there in the Marriott ballroom on December 16th. Who would have thought within 5 years, bloggers could earn money from doing what they do best: writing. And then meeting and making friends from all over the world, surely that’s worth something money cannot buy. Not only has Nuffnang has moved people from all over the world to come together, but look into the history books and you’ll see they have certainly broken into territories uncharted.
I’m not about to give a blow by blow account on how fantastic the dinner was; or how we were taken for a tour around our neighbouring city Kuala Lumpur and how we were partying like rock stars at Zouk KL. But I’m here to honour Nuffnang for the intangible that they have given to bloggers around the Asia-Pacific.
In my personal opinion, the best thing that Nuffnang has given to bloggers is potential, infinite potential. The potential to grow, the potential to influence, the potential to build bonds etc. How ever you choose to use the many opportunities presented is purely up to you, but the matter of the fact is, Nuffnang has and will continue to provide the room for growth and opportunities for you to do what you desire whether in the blogosphere or out of it.
Cheesie made herself out to be Best Fashion Blog in the NAPBAS 2011 after all the years I’ve followed her! Congratulations!
QiuQiu of Budget Barbie fame and fourfeetnine who is just so WTF cute always!
Singaporean bloggers iceangel and typicalben who I’ve known from the very beginning.
Aronil, whom I met donkey years ago and was then trying very hard to become an actress, is now a DJ on Malaysian radio!
Beautiful Beatrice who is a familiar face on LoveBonito.
Witnessing not only the winners who have evolved so much, both Wendy and Brad perfect examples from the Singapore blogosphere, but the rest of the bloggers whom I caught up with that night, some of whom I recognise as “pioneer batches”, it was intriguing to see how we’ve all changed so much over the years. I guess when you live your life partially on the Internet and follow certain personalities on their everyday journey, they somewhat become of a part of your own life. Personalities like fourfeetnine, aronil, Simon Seow, kennysia, typicalben, nadnut, theiceangel, ladyironchef, Cheesie, Xiaxue are familiar faces I’ve known from years ago. And you marvel and watch as their lives unfold right in front of your eyes on their blogs. Then, there are the new people I’ve met recently like bongqiuqiu, yinagoh, beatricesays, belluspuera, dblchin, noelboyd, silverang, sophiewillcoq whom I’m sure I will be seeing more of in the future.
Next, when you work so closely with the team of Nuffies who make Nuffnang the colourful and vibrant team it is, they eventually become good friends of yours and again they hold a special place in your life too as their trials and tribulations become yours. Thank you Nuffies of Singapore, both past and present, each and everyone from the various branches of Jipaban, Nom Nom and Churp Churp have all been important people who have walked into my life.
Wow. I didnt even win an award and here I am saying my thank yous. Hahaha. But since I’m on a roll and it is almost the end of the year, I’m going to keep at it.
Thank you Nuffnang Malaysia for their hardwork this year in organising an amazing award ceremony. For all the partners, Volkswagen Group Malaysia, XPAX Malaysia, Putrajaya Marriott, Churp Churp, Tiger Beer, Red FM, Air Asia X, Olympus, Zouk, who have played a part in bringing the best of the blogosphere together, thank you for your faith in social media.
Lastly, where would we all be without the two co-founders Tim and Ming. Thank you Ming and Tim for your initial vision and brilliance; for having the “hunger Steve jobs talked about”; for persisting and believing in something no one else had at that time. I thank you for the amazing things you have done and congratulate you on a company well-built. I wish both of you more successes and to more records being broken.
To all the bloggers I’ve met and will meet in the future, to the nominees and winners of this year’s Nuffnang Asia-Pacific Blog Awards, congratulations and well done on a fantastic year. Honouring the best in the blogosphere, honouring the best we can be.
Best Parenting Blog – Childhood 101
Best Geek Blog – Geekout
Best Food Blog – ladyironchef
Best Micro Blog – @kennysia
Most Original Blog Design – Eat, Show and Tell
Best Entertainment Blog – Beautifulnara
Best Travel Blog – Just Wandering
Best Fashion Blog – Cheeserland
Best Lifestyle Blog – Jenni Epperson
Best Photography Blog – Photoblog HK
Hidden Gem – Googly Gooeys
Most Influential Blog – Xiaxue
Region’s Best Blog – Xiaxue
