Asia Blog Awards 2004

Asia Blog Awards 2004

Simon over at Simon World has been soliciting nominations for the best blogs from Asia, and the voting started today. All the usual suspects, plus some new blogs to check out, and a few curious additions and omissions. Putting all the hotlinks in this post would drive me mad, and you can't vote here in any event, so just go to the Simon World link and cast your vote, and check out the blogs via Simon's active links.

Here's the basic lineup (with my comments), but go to Simon's website to cast your vote.

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Asia Blog Awards 2004

You can vote once in only a single category each day. Please choose carefully. Please look at all the nominees in each category before voting. Results are monitored for cheating.

Best Hong Kong Blog
Gweilo Diaries
Glutter
Discombobulated Mia
Hemlock
Eshin
Shaky Kaiser
Yoga Yuga
Ordinary Gweilo
Sweet Chariots Best

I don't know why Phil at Flying Chair isn't listed, and Gweilo Diaries seems to have crashed, so this is a very curious category. Anyway, Simon should have allowed himself to be nominated, and certain deserves to win. Modesty, thy name is Simon.

Best Mainland China Blog
Supernaut
Shenzhen People
Metanoiac
Dan Washburn's Shanghai Diaries
Angry Chinese Blogger
Wanbro
Premium Blend
Yellow Frog
Fabian's Hammer
Sinosplice

Easy Vote! Dan Washburn is the obvious choice, if only for his recent blog about using gadgets during his two-month wander around China. Laowai Monologues should have also been nominated in this category (I think I nominated him), especially after his superb post about the Perils of Teaching English in China.

Best Korea Blog
Lost Seouls
Seouliva
Got Life...
Big Hominid
Rory Runs Amok
Korea Life Blog
Oranckay
Duophony
Marmot
About Joel

Marmot's is the very best blog coming from not only Korea, but among the most comprehensive and entertaining in all of Asia. If there was a category for Best Asian Blog (overall), then it would come down to Marmot and Simon. And where is Jodi at Asia Pages? I nominated the lady and her excellent site, but perhaps she voluntarily opted out. I guess you can do that, but not sure why.

Best Taiwan Blog
The Taipei Kid
35togo
Poagao's Journal
Robot Action Boy
A Better Tomorrow
Scott Summers

Best Singapore Blog
Mr Brown
Sarong Party Frens
Mr Miyagi's
Balderdash!
Myrick
Daryl Sng
Life at Ngee Ann
Popagandhi
Iz Reloaded
Idle Days

This one seems to be a tight race between Chris Myrick and the prolific Mr. Brown, who will probably win this category if he promotes the contest on his blog.

Best Malaysia Blog
Macvaysia
Jogalong
Rajan
Jeff Ooi
Pok Ku
The Hustler Diaries
Nik Nazmi
Suanie
TV Smith
...not a weBlog

Another good race with excellent blogging from Rajan, but a wider readership at Jeff Ooi. I'm voting for Rajan, but Jeff will probably take this category.

Best Thai Blog
Brain Farts
2Bangkok
Agam's Gecko

2Bangkok by a Mile! But this sad, sad category really points out the terrible condition of blogging in Thailand. I mean, there are thousands and thousands of both farang and local potential bloggers in Thailand, and this category only got three nominations........total? Something is really wrong here! Note: the category is still open for more nominations, so send in whatever you've got!

Best Indonesia Blog
Jakartass
Bali Blog
The Fool has Landed
Indo Ian
Batik Baby
Expiration Date
Deliciously Disgusting
Macam-Macam

Jakartass should win this division, in large part 'cause the "Dude Who Shall Remain Nameless" has a great sense of humor and manages to squeeze out a post almost every day. Consistency should have its rewards. Macam Macam is also great, but not as active. I nominated Bali Blog for the curiosity factor, and find it a fun visit, so it's a strong third.

Best Japan Blog
Sushi Cam
Adamu's Jappanica
Nichi Nichi
Confessions of a Grade School Role Model
Japan Window
Based on a true story
Masamania
Tokyo Times
The Tanuki Ramble
The White Peril

Guess Simon didn't approve of my nomination of Manichi Stories in this category...gotta keep this place safe for family consumption.

Best Philippine Blog
Manuel L. Quezon III
Sassy Lawyer in Philippine Suburbia
The Geejay Journal
Pinoy Blog
Cranial Cavity
Torn and Frayed in Manila
The Pigpen
iJames
Brodcst Msktir

Sassy Lawyer will nail this category by an Antipolo Mile, hopefully followed by the generally excellent Torn and Frayed. I also nominated Pinoy Blog, just for fun, but it probably shouldn't be here...... That's OK, the more the merrier.

Best India Blog
Dot Net from India
Sepia Mutiny
HERstory
Amardeep Singh
The Acorn
Nerve Endings Firing Away
Dancing with Dogs
Notes from France is now from India
Robi Sen
Niraj

Best Bangladesh/Sri Lankan Blog
Extra Extra
Third World View
Insert Clever Title Here
The Color of Rain
Mood Logic
Notes From Dystopia
Busy Minds in a Lazy Shell

Best Pakistan Blog
Roommate Madness
Venial Sin
Dareecha
Chapati Mysetery
Kvetch Log
Rambling Monologues
Ulta Seedha

Best Vietnam Blog
Toi La Nguoi
No Star Where
Noodle Pie
Our Man in Hanoi
Royby Best

Some blogs for me to check out in my spare time!

Central Asian Blog
The Argus
Sgt. Hook
Ryan Giordano
Cresat Sententia - Amanda in Kazakhstan

Best Asian Newcomer 2004
Parallel Universes
Spirit Fingers
What Not to do in Asia
Glory glory Tottenham Hotsblog
My Burmese Life
Expat at Large
Imtiaz's weBlog
Full Throttle
Why is the platypus

More sites to check out! I know absolutely nothing about these blogs, but this is another great thing about this contest -- recommended links to click on those rainy days.

Best Designed Blog
Life is great
Unfoldeed Orrigami
Cranial Cavity
Full Throttle
Simon World
Felisha
Angel
Shanghai Diaries

Funniest Blog
Chase me ladies, I'm in the Cavalry
What Not to do in Asia
Lost Seouls
Big Hominid
Mr Brown
Spirit Fingers
Sinobling
Shaky Kaiser
Masamania

Best Non-Asian (Foreign) Blog
Beautiful Attrocities
Jalan Jalan
Aneki
Kurdo's World
Hunjangui Karuchim
Everyday Stranger
Peking Duck
Friskodude

I expect Peking Duck to win this division, but if you're in the mood and want to make my day..........

Best Essayist
Andres Gentry
Shanghai Diaries
HERstory

I guess my nomination for Stickman in Bangkok really didn't fly. But I like the guy anyway.

Best Political Blog
Jalan-Jalan
Inside the Mind of Madness
China Digital News
Asian Labour News

Best Journal/Diary
Sarong Party Girl
Xiaxue
Toi La Nguoi

Another really sad category, almost as sad as Best Thailand Blog. There have got to be some bloggers in Asia putting out thoughtful, incisive commentary and not just young girls wailing on about their wonderful social life. Really, they must be there, somewhere. I expect Xiaxue to win and then Photoshop her head even bigger.

Best Photoblog
This Way Please
Preetam
Japan Window
Ziboy
Goh Figure
Medya Daily
IZ Reloaded Photoblog
The Java Jive
Bad Architecture

The Java Jive by Brandon in Jakarta is a Winner! Go Brandon!