Fun, and safe way, to usher in New Year

SECURITY: Getting people to buy tickets to catch fireworks displays may be the best way to manage huge crowds

NEW Year is probably the most celebrated public holiday, which is usually observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts in each time zone. Kiribati, an island nation in the central Pacific Ocean, will be the first to usher in the New Year. Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco, all in the United States, will be among the last major cities to welcome the New Year.

In Kuala Lumpur, Dataran Merdeka, KLCC and Bukit Bintang will be the vantage points to watch the fireworks this weekend. Hotels in and around these areas, as well as cafes and restaurants, will cater to full capacity.

I have ushered in the New Year outside the country and I can tell you that the celebrations are not that much different than those in Malaysia. There will be those who would start partying before the stroke of midnight and continue until the wee hours, those who would just head home after the fireworks display, go to bed and wake up late on New Year morning and those who would just stay home.

On the eve of 2015, I was in London with my nephew and niece. We had specifically timed our visit to coincide with the New Year celebrations. My niece and I were among the thousands who braved the cold winter night to watch the fireworks by the River Thames. My nephew, however, preferred to sleep instead.

I had bought tickets for the London New Year’s Eve fireworks three months ahead of our trip. The tickets allowed us entry to the viewing area from Westminster Bridge on the north embankment of the Thames between Westminster and Waterloo bridges and on the South Bank behind the London Eye. But, on the night itself, we decided to park ourselves at Lambeth Bridge, which was nearer our hotel. Furthermore, we could see the full extent of the fireworks from this bridge. Forty-five minutes later, we were back at the hotel and in bed. On New Year’s Day, while the rest of London was asleep, we were making our way to the airport for