Best NYE of the Year - 12-31-2011

Prestigious curbside entertainment

The evolution of drinking

View from our curb

New Years Eve has always come off to me as an artificial excuse to party and have a good time. Nothing ever feels different other than the number on the count down.  That is not to say that I don't enjoy a good empty excuse to celebrate in the company of friends into the wee hours of the morning, but nothing ever feels special, genuine or different than any other party...other than every girl wearing sequined covered dresses. But that's besides the point.Being somewhere fresh, somewhere internationally renown for celebrating the coming of the new year creates a sense of extreme anticipation and excitement I have never cared to feel on NYE.

Still clueless on our official plan of attack, we started the day off with a trip to the local aquarium.

BOOM!!

I had a biased expectation towards the exhibitions because of the fortunate vicinity in Atl to one of the best aquariums in the world, but I tried to keep an open mind and excited persona nonetheless, as always. Inevitably, I was impressed with the aquarium and it made me itch to get some diving in. That will have to wait until Cairns.  Time to buy that ticket.

Because of the previous night's later than usual events, a hearty meal of pancakes was in order to keep our systems cranking.  Stopped into Pancakes on the Rocks in Darling Harbour, an awesome area right on the water that had an outdoor mall like area to fuel the seemingly all encompassing shipping addicting by locals and tourists alike.  Apparently we are no different, and we stopped in a couple shops to pick up a few tank tops and party shades in an attempt to "fit in" with the local fashion, which I personally think is incredible.  Tank tops and flip flops. That's 
my jam.

Sydney's general population of 20-something's have a unique style all their own that seems to promote individuality through, by our standards, quite eccentric styles, heavy on the colors and light on the amount of fabric.  I'm quite alright with that, but it again strengthens the basis for one question: does anyone around here have a career? Or is everyone a beach bum, bartender or waitress? Either way I couldn't be happier about it. Time to whip out the full moon tank top for the celebrations.

A much needed power nap before festivities began was a welcome respite to the generally non stop exploring and studying we have been doing.  Not bad in helping cure the hangover, either. I previously ended a post when we were getting on the road to find a spot to hunker down for the evening and we found a pretty good one after being denied by a few choices higher on the list, due to exceeded capacity prior to our attempted entry.  Ours, fortunately, could not have worked out any better.

Smile Jay, you sour puss.

An estimated 4 million tourists and locals alike gather round the Harbour to get a glimpse of the famous fireworks on the Sydney Bridge (an image posted on news sites around the world on New Years day), and I think I personally bumped in to all 4 million. The place was packed.  We got to a nice curbside viewpoint on the rocks and started making friends with neighbors so as to set up a sort of defensive perimeter on our prized seats.  All in all we met a couple from Sydney, Alfred and Patricia; Craig, a Scottish guy about our age who was flying solo after being separated (and was hammered); a couple from the 
Netherlands, one of which was originally Greek; Romaine, a Frenchman from Paris that was one of the few genuinely great guys I have met from there; and who knows how many more.  This is just an attempt to illustrate the eccentricity of the cities inhabitants, if only on an international holiday.  My cup of tea. Always good to have friends around the globe if ever you are fortunate enough to one day make it to their neck of the woods.

The 5 or so hours leading up to midnight and the much anticipated fireworks was filled with good times meeting great people, and although the curb wasn't the most comfortable seat in the house, I couldn't have asked for a better time.  When the clock finally struck midnight, after sporadic fly by's, sky writers, fireworks and singing since we had arrived, the bridge exploded with hands down the most incredible fireworks show I have yet to see (trumps the Eiffel Tower on Bastille day, no doubt), and the city exploded with an excited intensity that sent shivers down the spine, even after our share of champagne and red wine.  After having shared a celebratory cigar, thanks to Alfred, we said our goodbyes and swapped contact info with new friends made, intended to keep.  Perfect way to start the new year half way around the globe from everything comfortable and typical.

After a long walk home, stopping for a drink here, a chat there and at one point getting whipped by a horse cop for petting her steed, we finally found our way to Wesley around 4:30 for a much needed, though albeit short sleep; still 11.5 hours before home will pop the celebratory champagne at the stroke of 12 to bring in the new year.  Really crazy when you think about it in those terms, I guess. I'll have 16 more hours in 2012 than most people back home...lucky me? Whatever. Famous Bondi beach tomorrow. Surely it won't disappoint.

Cheers.