Happy New Year from Sydney (2007)

HAPPY NEW YEAR
Oh my…., I cannot believe, another year slip passed while Chee, myself and friends camped out at Mrs. Macquaries Point to watch the famous 9pm and 12midnight New Year Eve fireworks on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It’s the bridge’s 75th birthday! Knowing it’s going to be a huge celebration with lots of people, we were down at Mrs. Macquaries Point just before lunch. To our surprise and according to a few families in the queue, the queue started almost 9 in the morning. Unlike previous years, we were not allowed and checked for BYO alcohol or drinks. Why? Of course for retail motives, over 10 stores, selling consumable liquids and solids were setup in the area just to rip you off. After the check points, we walked a further 5 minutes to the point. Well, well, well, the place in packed full. Fortunately, we found a pretty good spot with a superb view of both the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge next to it. Bingo! The spot we found was really good; lots of people came behind us for photos of the view. After marking our territory with picnic sheets and beach towels, we quickly settle down for some BYO lunch we brought along. Nothing fancy, just bread, tuna, chocolates and water. Started chatting, playing cards, resting, snoring………sky glazing, weather worrying….! The weather? Not good at all, windy, cold and overcast with passing dark clouds, just short of bucketing. Thank God! Summer in Sydney? Not really, everyone was in their jumper or winter clothing.

Till the first set of fireworks at 9pm, Ray and I went around and saw a couple of interesting characters and things. A really tall man (2.2m) I guess, photographers with their ultra long lens cameras, sleeping human cocoons, groups of Taiwanese, pommy (British) & etc. We saw so many people by the rock for the best view, so near to the water that a push will send them into the sea right beside them. Horrendous but true, the queue at the mobile toilets were extreme, have to queue over 45 minutes to relief ourselves. Often being a last minute reliever, I went down to the bushes and met lots of other fellow last minute relievers, both man and women. J At 9, the first bang of fireworks went off nicely with a good amount of firing over 10 minutes. Beautiful! We were hoping the 12 midnight will be way better then this. For the next 3 hours, most of us were already tired from the waiting in the day and we slept for over an hour before waking up to the roars of people, singing, dancing, yelling, calling, etc. One thing I noticed, just before the 12 midnight fireworks, the entire place was lighted with the displays of thousands of still and video digital cameras in everyone hands, pointing at the bridge. It’s like doing Christmas carol with candles in our hands. Amazing! The 12 midnight fireworks was only ok, slightly better then the 9, everyone was expecting a better display, especially from the bridge, since it’s the bridge birthday. Well, disappointing, at least for Chee and me! After all the hassle and firings, we headed home on free buses, thanks to the Sydney Buses.