December 31, 2004

Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2004 07:48:25 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AND THE ROCKETS RED GLARE... THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR...!

HAPPPPPPPY NEW YEAR!!!
MELE KELEKIMAKA!!!
FELIZ ANO NUEVO!!!!
SOMETHING IN FRENCH!!

Tonight made up for Paris last year. But before I get to that, there was the
whole day spent at Sydney:

I reached the city around 11 AM or so, and after watching a chess game on a big
16feet-by-16feet board (my approximation), I went to the Sydney Tower. It's the
tallest structure in the city -- about the same height as the Eiffel Tower.
(lot of comparisons made to the Eiffel Tower today). There was a long line
[queue] to buy the tickets for the observation deck, and a longer line [queue]
for the elevators [lifts] to the top. They charged $22. I started to wander
around and came across the counter for the revolving restaurants on 3 separate
levels on top. Level 2 had one with all-you-can-eat buffet lunch for $42.50....
and no queue to get to the top! So that's what I did (had to eat anyway!)

Lunch consisted of 2 mango pastries, 1 chocolate mousse, 1 chocolate
cheesecake, 1 tiramisu, and some other stuff like chicken, rice, etc. as
appetizers. The mango pastries were the best (so I had 2 of them). The views
were good, but I've seen better from other towers (in the world, not Sydney).
The opera house was hidden behind some other skyscrapers, so didn't get a good
view of that. But the airport and faraway beaches of Bondi, Cogee, etc were
quite visible, including the entire harbor (along with all the sailboats and
yachts and ferries). So overall it was quite nice! $42.50 for a good lunch and
relatively good views.

Next I wanted to go to the Sydney Museum -- for that I had to take the train to
Circular Quey station. When I got down, I saw all the crowds already starting
to gather and stake out their spots for the midnight show -- it was before 2
PM. So I scrapped the Sydney Museum plan and followed the crowds.......

At 2 PM, I was sitting down next to a restaurant with fantastic unobstructed
views of the bridge and the opera house. 15 minutes later one of the waitresses
came over and said that if I'm waiting for the fireworks tonight, they're going
to close off this whole area at 5pm, so I should find another spot. Well, I
soon found out why -- as I was leaving, I saw a sign outside the restaurant
advertising a "New Years Eve Dinner" -- 3-course meal and champaigne. Price
tag: $460.00 per person. (that's four hundred and sixty dollars and 0 cents,
GST tax included.)

Well, I found another spot, right in between two groups of people. I was there
at 2:30 PM, and remained there for the next 10 hours.........

This spot was better than the first. It was a little farther away from the
opera house, so the "picture opportunities" were slightly better. And still an
unobstructed view of both the bridge and the opera house.

There were 2 people on my left, 4 on my right. And all 7 of us stayed there
alllllllllll afternoon, evening, and into the night. For 10 hours. At least I
was there for 10, the group of 4 had been there since noon. Anyway, over the
course of that time I trusted each and every one of them enough to leave my bag
with them while I went to the restroom whenever I needed to go! Some very
interesting conversations, lively moods, a few card games (Hearts, War, etc),
and best of all: GUARANTEED fireworks show at midnight! Later another guy came
in with that group of 2... and it was 8 of us until midnight, staked out on
"OUR SPOT" to see the show.

Side story: for the few of you who don't know, this same time last year I was
in Paris -- Waiting at the Eiffel Tower, freezing my butt off for a good one or
two hours before midnight, and NOT seeing any fireworks -- what I had come
there to see. Sure, the lights on the tower were gorgeous as always, but no
fireworks! On top of that, there was a little incident with some french police
I'll never forget!

This time: The entire area where spectators had gathered was closed off at 6pm
-- after that no one could enter or leave. Also, NO ONE was allowed to bring in
any alcohol, or any glass bottles -- every bag was checked. So because of this,
the atmosphere was a lot different... no drunks, no broken glass on the
floor.... but people still having a good time!

And the weather was magnificient! I was in my t-shirt and jeans! No 3 layers of
clothing needed....

The company was good too!

At 9 PM, there was a "pre-show" for the kids.... one set of fireworks going off
at Darling Harbor (visible from where we were sitting near the opera house) and
another set of fireworks going off behind the opera house -- and I noticed that
at some points these two were synchronized! Same type of explosions in both
places! That lasted about 10 minutes or so.... got everybody hyped up for the
later better show at midnight.... and that's when the rowdiness started. Except
this time it was a different type of rowdy than in past new years.... sober
rowdy! People were actually having a good time while sober... and all good
clean fun! No one getting hurt -- much. (I only saw the ambulance come by ONCE,
and that's all the whole night!)

All evening, there were also different sailboats and ferries decorated nicely
with lights floating around the harbor area.... adding to beauty of it all!
Live band playing at that same restaurant.... Just a completely different
overall atmosphere than last year in Paris!

Midnight: the fireworks started. Now, some of us had been waiting there for
10-12 hours! So you can imagine the feelings -- "FINALLY!!!" And, this was,
without any doubt, the best new years fireworks show IN THE WORLD! I've seen
the others on CNN -- they dont compare. There were three sets of fireworks.
First on top of the Harbor Bridge.... dancing lines of white, green, red, blue,
etc all in tune with the musing playing loud on all the speakers.... also a
simulated "waterfall" off the bridge, all done through pyrotechnics!

That was one part of it. Simultaneously behind the opera house, another show
was going on.... same as the 9 PM show, except this one lasted longer...

That was another part of it. Simultaneously at Darling Harbor (and visible to
us) was the THIRD fireworks show..... all three going on together, all three
somewhat synchronized with each other! And all three spanning roughly a
120-degree field of view!

Just.... fantastic!

And the best in the world. Sydney really knows how to put on a new years eve
party!

As I'm writing this I just remembered ANOTHER fireworks display -- kind of.
Under the bridge, on the far side of the harbor, there were a few "rockets red
glare and bombs bursting in air".... just a few, but it added to everything
else going on!

Overall, I think the show lasted a good 20-25 minutes! I dont know for sure --
wasn't really looking at my watch!

When it was all over, they announced that people should try and stay there for
a while "to avoid the rush to the trains". I wanted to stay too. But then
EVERYBODY was staying. So I moved. I started walking towards the train station,
knowing it would probably be wiser to keep walking to the PREVIOUS station and
go in there so I can get a seat on the train. Well.... that wasn't necessary. I
went in, got the first train (another surprise), and even got a seat (huge
surprise). Great end to a great day!

Now, a little bit about Sydney:
On the train ride back, I kept thinking about some of my previous trips and how
does Sydney rank among them... Three trips kept popping up in my head: first
time in Paris.... first time in Vancouver, particularly the first
late-late-late-late-night/early-early-early-early-morning spent driving around
the city.... and December 31, 1999 sunset at grand canyon/midnight at las
vegas/january 1,2000 sunrise at bryce canyon. All three were times and places
that were so beautiful/enchanting/mesmerizing/(insert your own description
here) ... and yesterday and tonight in Sydney is right up there along with
those best of the best!

Anyway, I'm already thinking about 2005/2006 new year trip............ New
Zealand.

But I still know that this trip ain't over yet!

g'night, best wishes for a very happy new year, and g'day too!
-me.

Sydney Pictures: The first batch is the chess game, the Sydney Town Hall, and view from the Sydney Tower