Well I've just watched some footage of the firework display in London and it looked amazing! The climax was probably the biggest and brightest to date, no?! I liked how it was a sensory display this year and wonder if everybody could really smell all the different scents they used...can always count on good old Blighty to pioneer the latest creativity in just about anything!
However! I don't think anywhere can beat the Sydney celebrations! Just wow! Seriously, it was spectacular. This years display has just been officially decalred as sydneys best ever as well.
Me and Tom set off from the flat at 7pm and the bus dropped us off at Hyde Park. Very efficient transport here, they'd put on loads of extra services and everything was meticulously organised. Security and volunteers everywhere. Kudos to them for that, I imagine doing the same in London would have been a nightmare.
We sneaked a few drinks in at Hyde park (plenty of alcohol exclusion zones) before heading for the botanical gardens which is where we had planned to go. Many areas were sectioned off and were ticketed entry only. So we were on our way to the entry to the park but they had closed it off and weren't letting anymore in. We had left it too late. At 17000 capacity the area was full. Determined to get our view of the opera house and harbour bridge we set about heading around the barriers trying to find a way in. We walked around for a bit and wound up down by the docks near some apartments. We got talking to a couple of German lads who were in the same position and we all decided to go down by the waterside as we spotted a weak spot in the fencing which had been erected round the gardens.
In what felt like a scene from Bond or Mission Impossible we edged round the fencing where it met the waters edge and proceeded to stealthily climb up the rocks to the edge of the gardens before lurking in the bushes whilst waiting for security men to pass by. We then hopped the fence and casually strolled in, joining up with everybody else already in there. A lot of fun indeed! Especially as the adrenaline was fuelled even more by the vodka tinnies we'd just necked.
So 3 hours later of waiting in the best spot we could find, packed in like sardines and sweating in the evening heat, we were treated to a surreal view of the best display of fireworks I've seen.
Sydney is undoubtedly the best place to ring in the new year. The atmosphere is electric, the harbour is just as stunning lit up at night as it is during the sunshine and the fireworks spiralling off the harbour bridge and opera house sails is really something special. The fireworks are actually staggered, at key points down the length of the harbour, so everyone can see. But by the bridge there is obviously a lot more going on.
So at 12:45am on the 1.1.14 we were sat on the grass overlooking the water eating our first meal of 2014 (some chicken pasta I'd made before heading out) before we made our way back to the flat and went straight to bed. I felt so tired but Tom must have been 10 times worse with the shifts he's been doing lately.
Between Christmas and New Years we've been working every day but we are definitely looking forward to the next pay check! Double time and a half for our Boxing Day shifts $$$
We've just had a much needed lazy day chilling and catching up on sleep today (new years day). We were going to go and surf but the tiny 2ft waves didn't seem worth travelling the way for. Plus Tom is still knackered. I've been watching the tennis, live from Brisbane on our Foxtel box!. It's one of the warm up tournaments before for the Australian open which starts 13th jan I think. Federer plays his first singles match of 2014 tonight. He's never played Brisbane before so they are all going mental up there.
I might wake Tom up now and get his opinion on ordering in a takeaway and watching a film, since we have no food in for tea and we've been waiting to use the surround sound on a decent movie for a while.
Have a great start to the new year everyone!
Here's some of my snaps from the night...shame about the quality of the images but ipad shots at night time aren't great and I didn't want to take my DSLR down there just in case the worst happened!
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