Megan Singleton picks her favourite travel moments of the year.
1. WILD RIDE
The fastest rollercoaster in the world is at the biggest petrol-head theme park on the planet: Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. They have simulator rides where you take on virtual F1 tracks, a museum of cars from the very first Ferrari through to today's rockets, and rides for kids and adrenalin junkies alike. But it's the Formula Rosso ride that is designed to replicate a Formula One race. It shoots you out the gate from zero to 240kph in under five seconds and pulls 4.8Gs. You have to wear goggles so your eyeballs don't pop out, and if you scream, slobber will slide back to your ears.
2. PRETTY JAZZY
I love New Orleans and each time I visit I go to a different venue to watch live jazz. Most tourists have cottoned on to the fact that Frenchman St is where the locals go, but on Bourbon St you can catch jazz legend Irvin Mayfield on Wednesday nights at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. It's just a US$15 cover charge for the guy who sells out concert halls in Europe. This intimate club is home to arguably the best jazz on Bourbon St. Every night of the week they have great jazz in here, free with a one-drink minimum Thursdays to Tuesdays.
3. SHRIMP SENSATION
Warning: not for vegetarians. One of the most unusual dishes I ate this year was Drunken Sauna Shrimp at a little seaside cafe in Macau. On a balmy night we sat outside at Cafe Nga Tim, a Chinese restaurant on Coloane Island, where a glass bowl of shrimp swimming in white wine was presented in front of me. After a few minutes of the little guys soaking, swimming and getting drunk, they were whisked away to the "sauna" where they were steamed and returned for me to de-shell.
4. GOING OFF PLAN
I was one of 3000 cruise passengers who arrived at the Greek island of Santorini from our ship last month, but instead of following them around all day on an organised tour, we hired a quad bike and roared around with the wind in our helmets. Starting in the village of Fira, where access to the main street from sea level is via cable car or donkey track, we paid about $70 for the day and took off to the photogenic town of Oia for lunch. With time on our side, we zoomed off in the other direction and found a vineyard by the sea for wine tasting.
