2016

Posted by: Edo in Blog, Year In Review December 29, 2016 1 Comment

Although 2016 will be remembered by most as a difficult and challenging year for the political events around the world and deaths of so many famous names, on a personal level, it was one of the most enjoyable years I can remember.

I had some memorable overseas holidays visiting Malaysia and the United States, as well some entertaining local trips to Sydney and Melbourne. Football, food and adventuring all featured prominently in my 2016. It was a thrill to go white water rafting, snorkeling and paragliding this year. I also enjoyed chowing down on the best local fare I could find in the likes of Boston, New Orleans, Kota Kinabalu and Melbourne. All these wonderful memories shared in the company of family and friends. I really am spoiled.

Happy New Year to all The FAT Website readers and hopefully 2017 is a happier time around the world.

With that said, here are some of my favourite photos, activities and moments from 2016.

The Lego Parisian Restaurant. The 2,469 piece set took roughly six hours to build.

Visiting Malaysia in February. Here we are striking a pose at the Mari Mari Cultural Village.

Ate lots and lots of roti this year. This was taken at the Mohideen Curry House.

Practising my best dive bombs in Kota Kinabalu.

The Coral Flyer zipline in KK which takes you across two islands.

Treetop canopy walk in an orangutan sactuary.

White water rafting at Padas River.

When two passengers became ill, our flight from Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast diverted to Bali and we were stranded at the airport for nearly three days.

We flew down to Melbourne for Brisbane Roar’s last A-League game of the 2015/16 season.

Enjoying the clear blue sky in Yeppoon, QLD.

Catching up with my sister Fiona and meeting her son Tyce for the first time.

Eighties theme day in the office.

The eggs benedict at Gauge cafe, One of my favourite breakfast dishes this year

I was pretty happy about Brisbane Roar’s last gasp 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory in the finals.

A ten hour road trip from Brisbane to Sydney to see the Roar take on the Wanderers. A dramatic game that finished 5-4 to Western Sydney.

During the World Science Festival, we had an opportunity to see legendary actor Alan Alda at QPAC before the staging of his play Dear, Albert.

The start of a memorable three week holiday in America.

Sipping on lemonade in Boston Common

Watching the Boston Red Sox play at Fenway Park

Enjoy some refreshments at the ball park.

Watching USMNT vs Costa Rica at the Copa America in Soldier Field, Chicago.

A colourfully plated Peruvian dish at Grant Achatz’s Next Restaurant in Chicago.

Face to face with a bison at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Photo bombed by Sue the T-Rex at the Field Museum in Chicago.

The Black Truffle Explosion, served at The Aviary in Chicago.

Enjoying a 4D film experience at the Shedd Aquarium.

Getting ready for the big cage match between Finn Balor and Samoa Joe at an NXT pro wrestling taping in Florida.

Chilling with Kylo Ren at Disney Hollywood Studios, Flordia.

Diagon Alley, Universal Studios, Florida.

Enjoying a moment with NASA pilot John Blaha at the astronaut training camp at Cape Kennedy.

Our road trip across the American South took us through Florida, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Enjoying a leathery two dollar steak at a roadside diner in Alabama. They had free refills of soda pop and the lady who served us was called Ethel.

Having a Pimm’s Cup at the historic Napoleon House in New Orleans.

An alligator peers out of the swamp during our swamp boat tour in Louisiana.

One of my highlights of the year was being a groomsman at the wedding of my old friend Pat Perraton at his wedding in Vancouver. Pat and Rachelle are expecting their first child soon.

“You just run off the edge of a cliff and fly” – Nothing got our hearts racing this year like paragliding over Vancouver.

Whistler, British Columbia.

Off road driving around Whistler.

Standing on a glacier in British Columbia.

It was Pride month in Washington when we visited Seattle.

We stayed on a house boat during our visit to Seattle.

The crowd goes wild as the Queensland Firebirds win back to back championships in a Grand Final rematch with the NSW Swifts. The game was tied after normal time and extra time, so it entered into sudden death ‘ping pong rules’ where the teams played until one team would lead by two points. The Firebirds eventually won 69-67.

Our fourth consecutive year enjoying video games, board games and crazy costumes at PAX in Melbourne.

Pandemic Legacy is a co-operative board game designed to be played every month for a year where any events that occur have a permanent effect that carries over into the next game. Our four person team – Jules, Jadon, Jen & I – played this game every month in 2016, trying to save the world from a global epidemic!