new years eve - sydney style!

The NYE tradition in Sydney is that you turn up at a vantage point during the day to secure a good spot with a view of harbour bridge which is the centrepiece of the fireworks displays. You bring a picnic and a blanket, maybe some foldable chairs and you camp out till the first set of fireworks are launched at 9pm. This is the kid-friendly session with the midnight session to follow.

This is how I spent new year's eve, with my sister Melissa, friend Natalie and cousin Grace.

We didn't stay out there all the way till midnight though. After the 9pm fireworks we adjourned to a party at our friends Matt and Elaine's place where we engaged in a Singstar battle (a playstation karaoke game). I think the highlights for me were 'Heaven is a place on earth' and 'Ice Ice Baby'. If I remember correctly, for 'Simply the Best' and 'Uptown Girl' our team achieved the highest honour of 'Totally Singstar'. Our hosts Matt and Elaine said they'd never seen anyone get that before!

Contrast this to new year's eve 2006. Winter in Xining!

• Instead of the comfortable 25 degrees celsius we had here (it's not a hot summer), the temperature was way below zero.
• Rather than being outdoors, we were all cosy in a friend's well-heated apartment.
• For entertainment, Singstar was replaced by Empires (too hard to describe) and we listened to the couples in our group tell stories of how they got together.
• And instead of a massive spectacular fireworks display across the city, we set off our own fireworks in the courtyard of my friends' housing compound.
• I remember standing out there in the courtyard watching the fireworks wearing about 5 layers on top, complete with scarf, gloves and boots. As you can tell from this year's pictures, I was wearing just a bit less than that!

Despite the differences, both NYEs were nice in their own way. Both definitely full of happy and warm memories.

Happy New Year everyone!