Almost a year ago, I arrived in Bali for what was to be a month of wonders.

It didn’t exactly turn out that way. My time in Bali ended up being restricted to the Kuta area and the Ubud area, and a disaster in Nusa Tenggara left me a mess, not wanting to move from my room, much less travel.

I know that I need to go back to Bali and do what I should have done the first time.

While all Bali flights arrive in Kuta, I don’t plan on spending time in that city this time around. Here is where I will be visiting instead:

Medewei Beach: I learned to surf in Bali and honed my skill in Mexico. This time around, I want to live in a surfing hangout where the others live and breathe surfing every moment of the day. Could I fit in with them? I doubt it, but I could try.

Lovina: I hear mixed reviews of Lovina — some love it; some say it’s good for nothing but sunsets. But the beaches look very beautiful, as do the cliffs heading straight down into the ocean. And it’s very sleepy — nothing remotely like Kuta.

Gunung Batur: How about something completely different? Batur is an active volcano! The Balinese friend I made on the flight to Bali told me that I had to climb Gunung Batur — it was like nowhere else in Bali, and a huge cultural experience (unlike Ubud, where the culture is largely anesthetized for tourists).

Amed: I’ll never forget the Balinese guy working in Kuta who invited me to join him and a group of his friends on a road trip to Amed. Believe me, it’s not as skeezy as it sounds — that’s just the kind of people the Balinese are. When you meet them, you become a friend. It’s instant. And anyway, Amed is supposed to have lots of amazing beaches, and diving (not my thing, though).

One thing is for sure: when I return to Bali, I’d like to explore by motorbike. I love traveling on two wheels, and it seems like a great way to explore the island and the places off the beaten path.

I hope I get back there soon.

As amazing as Australia is, and as high as it ranks on my bucket list, it’s pricey and far — so I couldn’t plan a last-minute adventure on the fly; I would have to save up and plan ahead.

Then again…winter is right around the corner, and what better season to visit Australia?

Here are a few places I’d like to visit in Australia:

(Image: Rob Michalski)

Melbourne

The Sydney vs. Melbourne debate continues to rage, and I have friends living (temporarily or permanently) in both cities.  But today, I’m going to side with Melbourne.

Melbourne has so much cultural diversity — and with cultural diversity comes ETHNIC FOOD!  It’s on the beach, the weather is temperamental (sounds like home!), and it’s close to the highlights of Victoria, like the Great Ocean Road.

Image: Michael Dawes

Fraser Island

Fraser Island is a sand island off the coast of Queensland.  A lot of people put groups together and take a 4WD vehicle around the island, setting up camp at night (though I’ve since learned that there are also resorts there).  There are beaches, warm lakes, and plenty of dingoes!

Covering Fraser Island would definitely be an adventure, and it’s no wonder a trip of the island is included in so many Queensland holiday packages.  To be honest, I’d rather go here than dive the Great Barrier Reef (my fear of scuba rises again!).

Image: Evamaria N

Western Australia

I have had such a fascination with Western Australia for a long time, and meeting an Italian friend in Senggigi, Indonesia, who spent a year working in Western Australia (“It’s the BEST part,” he told me), made me want to visit it even more.

The city of Perth looks like it has a lot to offer.  But I’d love to see the countryside even more — the vineyards of Margaret River, the dolphins at Monkey Mia, and especially the beach town of Broome, pictured above.  I love how wild it is — it’s like it’s the edge of the end of the world.

When will I get to Australia?

We’ll have to wait and see.  But you know I’d never turn down a trip there!  :-)

The big news in town is that starting next year, there will be nonstop flights from Boston to Tokyo, thanks to the introduction of 787s.  I think this will be fantastic for Boston and great for frequent travelers like me!

So where can we fly nonstop from Boston these days?  I thought I’d take a look.

Reykjavik, Iceland

I am dying to visit Iceland.  It looks like it has so much natural beauty, with mountains, geysers, waterfalls, volcanoes and hot springs!

I cross the Atlantic fairly often, and I’ve booked cheap international flights to Europe through Iceland a few times.  This route has saved me a lot of money.  But one of these days, I will actually stop in Iceland and see the country!

Dublin, Ireland

Boston is easily the most Irish city in America, and Massachusetts the most Irish state.  While most of our ancestors immigrated during the mid- and post-Famine years of the mid-19th century, plenty of Irish immigrants come over to Boston.

So whether you’re looking for your family roots or just going for the green hills, whiskey and friendliest people in Europe, you can get there with a nonstop flight from Boston to Dublin.

New Orleans, Louisiana

I still haven’t been to this rockin’ American city, and it seems like everyone I know wants me to visit there!  I know myself, and I know that I probably wouldn’t stop eating the whole time.  And it looks so beautiful, with great history and music.  Plus, there are no open container laws.  Drinks to go for everyone!

You can get cheap domestic flights to New Orleans from Boston without stopping in another city.  I need to take advantage of that already!

Cancun, Mexico

It’s not much further than Florida, but from Boston, you can get nonstop international flights to Cancun.  For us East Coasters, it’s definitely the #1 Mexico beach destination, especially since there’s easy access to Playa del Carmen and the Maya Riviera.

I’ve been to Cancun, and it’s a fun place — as big of a party scene as Las Vegas, but much more casual and beachy.  I particularly love Senor Frogs, one of the best bars in the world, as far as I’m concerned!

All of these destinations are great in their own right, but the fact that you can get nonstop flights there from Boston makes them all the more special.

Like any other European metropolis, Berlin is a destination full of landmarks to visit and things to do. Even though you probably won’t be able to see everything you initially planned, getting off track and visit some local places is not such a bad idea. The best thing about visiting a new location is to get some insider tips on where are the current hotspots. After all, no matter how many “Time Out” you will read or internet sites you will visit, a tip from a local person is the best. Luckily, we managed to “score” some great, (restaurants, clubs, food and public transport) tips about Berlin from nice natives that were more than happy to help. Check out what they had to say about the top places to see & do in this amazing city:

1.       How to save money on public transport:
Berlin’s public transport system is easy and relatively cheap however, if you want to explore the city like a real Berliner, it is better to either rent a bicycle or to take the 100 bus line:
Bus line 100- this bus will take you all over Berlin, in particularly through the main landmarks. The bus drives the same way the tourists bus does so you can be certain you will see everything you need to see only for a small fee!

Tour the city by bicycle- according to locals one of the nicest ways to explore Berlin is on wheels! In the past few years the city has created many bikes and bicycle paths all over town. When renting a bicycle not only you save a lot of money, but you also get the option to come cross small parks, hidden hot spots and unknown places. There are plenty of renting shops around the city, just ask around people or visit one of the tourist’s information points.

2.       Where to eat:
As you can imagine there are plenty of restaurants and eating places in such a big city like Berlin. However, our locals had some good tips about where they think are the best eating places in town and what kind of foods you should defiantly try:

Döner Kebab- Berlin has a huge Turkish community and not only that the Turkish people are very well settled in the city, the Turkish cuisine is even more popular than the German one! The famous Döner Kebab is basically a delicious dish made of lamb meat which is cooked on a vertical spit and then sliced off for serving. Add some extra garlic sauce on top and enjoy this delightful meal!

Sausages- as most of you probably know, Germany is famous for its tasty sausages. There are so many different kinds of sausages that it is impossible to try all of them in a short time period, let alone know which one is the best. Our helpful locals all answered together: Curry Wurst sausage is simply the best! This yummy sausage is made of pork meat, seasoned with curry ketchup and topped with a nice amount of curry power. You will be able to find this typical German dish on every street corner.

3.       Where are the good places to go out to?
Party hard with techno music- for those of you who like to party all night with smashing techno music and vibrant tempo, Berlin will be a pure heaven to you. It is not secret that in the last couple of years Berlin became the hub for the electronic and the techno scene. Tourists from all over Europe arrive there in order to party and go out to some very famous night clubs. “Tresor”, “Watergate”, “Bar25” and “Berghain” are just some of the legendary clubs you will be able to find there. Please note that Berlin’s nightlife starts rather late, so make sure to rest a little in advance!

Arena area- the Arena area in Berlin is full with fine restaurants, trendy clubs and some stylish cocktail bars. The Arena is good for people who prefer the more commercial and elegant side, rather than the rough and dark techno side. Here you will be able to have a nice dinner, watch the sunset with a huge cocktail and later on go out to some nice club that plays mainstream music.

4.       Where to shop:
Bergmannkiez- this amazing district is perfectly suited for people who love vintage shops, second hand stores and one-of-a-kind treasures hunting. The nicest thing about this area is the fact that unlike other shopping districts, here you won’t see too many tourists and the offered shops are much more unique and totally not mainstream.  Aside from a cool shopping experience, there are also many small bars around so make sure to stop from time to time in order to refresh with some cold beer!

Galeries Lafayette- department stores are always fun for fashion lovers or people who love to have everything under one roof. Galeries Lafayette is a huge department store that originally started in France and thanks to its huge success it opened a branch in Berlin as well. The store offers everything from designer clothes, accessories, shoes, roof top restaurant, cafes and even a French library! The main reason this shop is so recommendable by locals is because the boutiques there are exclusive, unique and of course, they sell French goods.

We really hope that the insider tips above gave you some inspiration for your next holiday. Berliners are extremely nice people so whenever you visit their city, they will be helpful and willing to give you some more advices on the spot.
As this popular capital gets totally packed with tourists all year long, make sure to book your hotel in Berlin in advance.

I’ve done some crazy sports before.  I’ve jumped off a few cliffs in Switzerland — first paragliding, then canyon jumping.

But water sports (hehehe) have never help much appeal to me — until I got to Mui Ne and saw kitesurfing.

Kitesurfing is done by surfing on a small board — kind of like what Marty McFly rode in Back to the Future, Part II — with a giant kite attached to your body.

I couldn’t stop watching the kitesurfers in Mui Ne all day!  The surfers would fly up into the air and do crazy turns….I want to do that so much!

Of course, I’d probably go so high, I’d land on the roofs of the beach resorts.  Or worse yet, in the street.  That would be my luck.

But to be honest, kitesurfing doesn’t look that difficult.  Maybe I was just watching a lot of talented people, but it appears to be fairly intuitive.

Sadly, this time around kitesurfing was a bit out of my price range.  But just because it didn’t happen this time, it doesn’t mean it will never happen.

Kitesurfing, you’ve earned yourself a spot on the bucket list.

This post was sponsored by TravelGrove. At TravelGrove, you’ll find an excellent resource for cheap flights. Whether searching for cheap flights to London for the Royal Wedding or cheap flights to Chicago for St. Patrick’s Day, TravelGrove has you covered!

But Turkey isn’t Egypt, it isn’t Libya, and it sure as hell isn’t Iraq.  In fact, Turkey has a history of being far safer for tourism than its neighbors, making it a bit undiscovered by the masses!

Here are three places I’m dying to visit in Turkey:

Istanbul

It may not be the capital, but Istanbul is definitely the most beguiling city in Turkey.  In Istanbul, you’ll find incredible shopping in the Grand Bazaar, beautiful buildings like the Blue Mosque, warm people, and delicious food.

Istanbul is the only city in the world to span two continents — Europe and Asia!

Patara

Many holidays in Turkey take place along the Mediterranean coast.  Why not head to the best beach of all?  Many consider that to be Patara.

Imagine lying on that gorgeous beach at sunset, watching the sun sink into the horizon.  And the fact that it’s exotic Turkey makes it all the better!

Cappadocia

Cappadocia has one of the most haunting, surreal landscapes in the world — making it no surprise that it’s been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  This was caused by volcanic activity.

One of the most popular things to do in Cappadocia?  Hire a hot air balloon and float above the volcanic peaks!

Oh, Turkey…I don’t know when I’ll get there, but it will be an amazing time!  Of that I am sure.

On my bucket list?  An Australia road trip.  I’d love to drive down the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, bum through the beach cities of Queensland, and, in a major challenge, cross the Nullarbor from Perth to Adelaide.

Sure, there are great cities in Oz – Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide come to mind – but Australia’s real treasure is the amazing countryside.  And there’s no better way to see it than a road trip.

Well, dream no longer – you could win a road trip through Australia from Oz Experience!  It’s simple to enter — tell a story about your favorite road trip in the comments on this page.  Seriously.  It’s that simple.

Entries must be under 100 words.  The deadline is 5:00 PM on Monday, December 20, 2010.  Check out the terms and conditions here.

The winner can choose between three trips:

• Matey Pass, Sydney to Melbourne worth €397
• Surf Pass, Sydney to Brisbane or Byron Bay* worth €325
• Victa Pass, Melbourne to Adelaide* worth €385

Three runners-up will win a copy of Rough Guides Ultimate Adventures.

Once on the trip, travelers can choose between a vast range of Sydney backpackers or Melbourne backpackers. For more information about Oz Experience and how pass holders hop on and off buses along their chosen route, please visit www.ozexperience.com.

People, take it from me – this seems like quite an easy contest to enter.  So go for it!  I hope one of my readers wins!

This post was sponsored by HostelBookers and Oz Experience.

One faithful fan won the grand prize — a RTW plane ticket.

This year, the stakes have risen.

The 2010 HostelBookers Travel Survey is filled with questions about your travel style — from travel planning to the types of destinations you prefer, as well as your number of travels per year and usual type of lodging.

And — yes, I’m getting there! — the prize, given to one of the respondents: a RTW plane ticket worth £3,000, plus £1,000 in spending money.

Seriously.

If I won, I would make sure I visit destinations that are both expensive to get to and expensive on the ground: Japan, Bhutan, Australia, New Zealand, Botswana.

But even more importantly, I’d party in hostels throughout Europe.  Many of the hostels London has include a fun bar, as you’ve read on this site before!  But nothing could top the parties in hostels Amsterdam is famous for.  I’ve never been to Spain, and I love sangria, so the youth hostels Barcelona is home to would definitely warrant a visit from me.  Either way, I know I’d get a great deal from HostelBookers, who kindly sponsored this post today.

What about you?

TAKE THE SURVEY! What do you have to lose?

And if you win, please let me hide in your suitcase!  I’m excellent at fitting into carry-on luggage…

Image: marcp_dmoz

If you travel to the Canary Islands, good luck finding any Americans!  This paradise, just west of Africa, is most popular with European tourists.  But I bet that if more Americans knew how beautiful and exotic and relaxing the islands are, they would become fans as well.

As for Europeans, they’re well aware of the Canary Islands, and they’re one of Europe’s top holiday destinations.  Here are some of the most popular places in the Canary Islands:

Tenerife

Image: pasotraspaso

Tenerife is the largest of the Canary Islands, home to significant British and German expat populations. With affordable travel packages available across the board, Tenerife deals are easy to come by.  In fact, many Europeans find it cheaper to vacation in Tenerife than in their home country!

Tenerife is the most family-friendly of the Canaries, offering a wealth of activities like water parks, volcano tours and fishing exhibitions. The island’s biggest resort, Playa de las Americas, has been cleaned up since its days of unchecked excess and is now a thriving destination as well.

Gran Canaria

Image: aruitenberg

The most populous of the Canary Islands has much to offer, and you’ll find plenty of cheap holidays in Gran Canaria. Of course, the beach is the main attraction, so head to the beautiful three mile stretch of beach at the massive Playa del Ingles resort.  Surfers are fans of the waves, calling the island the Hawaii of the Atlantic.

The strangest attraction on Gran Canaria is unquestionably Sioux City, a mock Old West town built for a film in 1972.  Come on, would you miss the chance to witness a cowboy gunfight at high noon on an island off the coast of Africa?

Lanzarote

Image: Doblonaut

If you’re looking for something a bit more rustic and natural, Lanzarote holidays appeal to those prefer adventure, scenery and the great outdoors to the boozy, social scene of the other islands.  Lanzarote is home to the incredible Timanfaya National Park, a blasted landscape created by several volcanic eruptions on the island between 1730 and 1736.

Congratulations to the Canary Islands…they have officially earned a new place on my wanderlust list!

Image: marcp_dmoz

This post was sponsored by TravelSoon.

For someone like me who has never been on a cruise, they hold quite a bit of curiosity!  Everyone raves about them, but why do cruisers keep returning again and again?

My mother recently returned from a cruise to the Bahamas, so I asked her about her favorite experiences.  Here’s what she had to say:

Unforgettable Service

Are you looking to be treated like royalty?  A cruise is the way to go.

“You walk into the dining room and see the most handsome bartender you’ve ever seen in your life.  And he’s personable, affable, cheerful, asks your name, and pours you a drink before you get to the food.”

And the service continues once you get your food, and it’s just as good as the bartender.  “The staff are there to please you and you know it, almost like it’s their pleasure to please you.”

Nightly Entertainment

“There was a big nightclub on one end of the ship and there were shows every night: singers, comedians, Cirque du Soleil-like acrobats.” And while there was entertainment for kids, there was always a point when they were told to leave and the show became adults-only.

Did she enjoy it more because she knew there were no kids there?

“Yes.  Once the comedian started getting bawdy, I think I laughed more because I knew there were no kids around to hear it!”

Learning to Gamble

If you’ve ever been to Vegas, you may have been too intimidated to gamble.  On a cruise, it’s so easy to learn how!

“The dealers were all so nice.  If there weren’t a lot of people around, they would teach you how to play.  I learned craps, poker, Blackjack.”

And if you have a swell night at the tables, you can celebrate: “They let you order a bottle of wine at the bar and have it sent to your room!”

It’s a Great Deal

Best of all, service like this can come to you at a very low price.  You can find plenty of discount cruises at places like DiscountCruises.com.  Getting service like this for such a low price – I challenge you to find a better deal in the world!

This post was sponsored by a third party.

Let’s say that I won 50 million dollars tomorrow.  Where would I go first?

Well, I’d want a destination with great weather in September.  That’s most important.  Next, I’d love to go luxury in an amazing hotel, something I rarely do.  And third, there has to be great nightlife!

So, where would I go?

Hvar image by Lena_Ni

It’s the tail end of the high season in Europe, so I’d visit a popular Mediterranean beach area: Santorini, Greece; Hvar, Croatia; or Ibiza, Spain.  The weather will still be glorious; the nightlife will still be hopping; the crowds will be GONE.  And that’s how I like it.

Vegas image by Evangeline

In Vegas – ALWAYS Vegas! – the pools are still open.  If I had the chance, I’d stay for at least a week – at the Wynn or the Encore.  God, I love those resorts.  Every day would be a new cabana at a new pool club: Tao Beach at the Venetian, Bare at the Mirage, Wet Republic at the MGM Grand, Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay!

Maui image by David Winnie

Hawaii has always been a pipe dream of mine – being an East Coaster, Hawaii is just somewhere we don’t go.  I think this is a trip best split into two parts – half the time relaxing on the beach in Maui or Lanai, and the other half in Waikiki, partying with military men!

Any of these trips need to be planned well, so I’d probably arrange my reservations through a travel agency online like Liberty Travel. Having a trip that runs smoothly would be important in planning my dream trip!

So, if you were planning a dream trip this month, where would you go?

This post was sponsored by a third party.

I’m sorry to say that I will no longer be blogging on Kate’s Adventures.

My reasons for this are numerous.  I started this blog four years ago, and my standards of what I revealed and didn’t reveal are different from what they are today.  Even though I deleted everything that might be considered offensive, I’m still not happy with the general tone of much of this blog.  Nor am I happy with the online diary-style format.

BUT — I have a new blog.  I’ve decided that my new blog will be primarily about my travels, along with occasional tidbits of pop culture, adventures and stories.  It’s more polished, focused and professional.  I’m hosting it myself and working on a lot of the design.  I welcome you to Adventurous Kate!

Adventurous Kate features new content five days a week.  Every Friday, I post one of my adventures I’ve had while traveling.  And yes, there is something about Vegas at least once a week!

I would love if you followed me to my new blog.

Thank you for every kind comment and email.  And thank you for putting me in my place when I needed it.  You’ve been great readers. 

*FYI — in a few weeks, this URL will redirect to Adventurous Kate.

To start: here are my top 10 movie performances of the 2000s:

10. Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain

He’ll be remembered for his psychotic, over-the-top performance in The Dark Knight, but his portrayal of Ennis del Mar in Brokeback Mountain was beautiful in its restraint.  He barely spoke in the film, and as he struggled to hold back his emotion, it couldn’t help but be written all over his face.

9. Penelope Cruz, Volver

Until now, she had been a mediocre, albeit beautiful, actress who happened to be dating Tom Cruise.  But in this movie, speaking in her native Spanish, she exploded into a passionate performance that hit every note.  And she was absolutely, completely, drop-dead, unforgivably gorgeous.  After seeing this movie, I immediately tried styling my makeup and hair like her.  God, if only I had a fraction of that beauty.

8. Jim Carrey, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

This should have been his Oscar movie.  I wish the Academy would look beyond his comedies and reward Jim Carrey for his incredible (and incredibly underrated) acting.  How does a shy, soft-spoken man show rage?  You’ll find out in this movie.

7. Russell Crowe, A Beautiful Mind

Russell Crowe had won the Oscar the year before for Gladiator, but he deserved it more for his performance as brilliant schizophrenic mathematician John Nash.  Whether falling into delusions, then heartbreak, his performance was captivating.

6. Meryl Streep, Julia & Julia

The great debate is whether she was better as Julia Child or Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada.  Meryl took a historical figure who had been imitated and mocked several times before and turned in a performance that was as well-rounded as it was pitch-perfect.

5. Rinko Kikuchi, Babel

There were plenty of top-notch performances in Babel, including Gael Garcia Bernal, Adriana Barazza, Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, but newcomer Rinko Kikuchi was the one who broke my heart as a deaf-mute teen trying to cope with her disability by acting out more and more inappropriately.

4. Diane Keaton, Something’s Gotta Give

Diane Keaton is fabulous in every film she does, but in this movie, she positively glowed.  Even when she shrugged and tipped her head back, it was the most perfect shrug and head tip anyone could ever do.  There wasn’t a weak moment.  And though she was playing a tongue-in-cheek version of herself (as was Jack Nicholson), if only we could all play ourselves so well.

3. Bill Murray, Lost in Translation

Bill Murray losing to Sean Penn was one of the worst Oscar mishaps of the past decade.  Sofia Coppola wrote this role for Bill Murray — a disillusioned movie star adrift in Tokyo, spilling his life to a complete stranger.  But the beauty in this performance is Bill Murray’s humor — he’s on the cusp of being the funniest guy in the room, the life of the party.  And he knows it.  But he doesn’t go all the way.  He’s tired.  He doesn’t see the point.

I don’t think anyone else could have hit the role as well as he did.

2. Jamie Foxx, Ray

The greatest portrayal of a historical figure of all time.  The role Jamie Foxx was born to play.  Nobody even came close that year — it was Jamie, Jamie, Jamie.  And he deserved every bit of it.

1. Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

The most creative and original performance of the 2000s, Captain Jack Sparrow was a new kind of pirate — a flamboyant Keith Richards with a wicked sense of humor.  Johnny not only made the movie and the franchise — he made his career.  And to think that the industry called him box office poison!  He’s now one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood (as well as one of the nicest stars in Hollywood).

Honorable Mentions: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler; Helen Mirren, The Queen; Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder; Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose; Amy Adams, Junebug; Julia Roberts, Erin Brockovich

First of all — end of a decade?!  How weird is that?  What do we even call this decade?  The 2000s?  The oughts?

Anyway, I started thinking about who best exemplifies the entertainer of the decade — someone who was incredible and revolutionary throughout the entire decade, not part of it.

Here are some of my ideas:

Johnny Depp. Every performance was incredible — and he also broke out with Captain Jack Sparrow, arguably the most inventive performance of the decade.  He also broke out as an A-list star, finally getting the recognition he long deserved, and got several Oscar nominations as well.  Think of all the performances: Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland, Sweeney Todd, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory…

Pixar. Taking Disney movies to a new level, this studio churned out massive hits that were perfect for kids and funny enough for adults.  Films during this decade include Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and the inventive Wall-E.

Kanye West. Love him or hate him, when Kanye West burst onto the scene early in the decade, people couldn’t believe him.  Besides churning out hit songs and producing tons more, being outspoken about just about any issue, and delivering George Bush a beatdown on live TV, he brought fashion to this genre like nobody else (sorry, Diddy).

American Idol. The most popular show of the decade, a permanent fixture in our lexicon, and they managed to turn quite a few nobodies into enormous pop stars, with Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson leading the pack.

iPod/iTunes. They changed the way we listen to music, the way we purchase music, and the way artists release music.  The world will never be the same.

YouTube. It changed TV, music videos, and how view video — and how we entertain ourselves.  Anyone can become a star, but you can never predict what will go viral.

Tina Fey. SNL’s first female head writer, a star on Weekend Update, created and starred in 30 Rock, one of TV’s best comedies, skewered Sarah Palin in a legendary impression, and proved that geeky girls — though beautiful — have a spot in comedy.

The Daily Show. Believe it or not, a comedy show has been the strongest media watchdog out of all of them. This show is as smart as it is hilarious.  It is must-see TV during the presidential elections because it’s the one most likely to point out the absurdities of the candidates and how other networks were reporting.

Britney Spears. We watched her spectacular rise and fall and were captivated every minute of it.  Nobody else better represents the growing popularity of celebrity observation.  In this decade, celebrity blogs grew massively, while celebrity tabloids continued strong, unlike other print media.

But my #1 pick:

J.K. Rowling. She created an incredible, imaginitive world of wizardry with so many layers and details, and who among us hasn’t dreamed of attending Hogwarts?  Both the books and the movies were commercial  and critical hits.  Today, the hottest trend is college Quidditch teams.  Though I think the series would have been better if the final book had ended a few chapters earlier, you can’t deny her influence.  She truly defined this decade.

Any other ideas?