New Years in Sydney

Wow. There's really not much that can be said to do justice to a Sydney New Years Eve celebration. The city was packed. People from seriously every nation and culture were there, or so it seemed.

My New Years Eve day ran something like this. Graham and I saw Caitlin to the airport and then took a train back into the city because we hadn't heard back from Anne yet. Anne is a girl from Germany that we meant at YWAM Adelaide and her family was with her for New Years and traveled to Sydney. Graham and I decided to take the ferry back to Aunt Mary's to pick up food, drinks, and all that other outdoor New Years party gear and meet Anne and her family back in the city. The public transport was wild though, we decided to take another ferry to Cremorne Point where we'd be watching the fireworks. Graham and I arrived there at 3 pm(ish) and hardly managed to find a spot on the ground big enough for six people, let alone comfortable. No complaints though, we had a nearly clear view of the Opera House as well as the Harbour Bridge. The Harbour water was only 30 feet from where we were sitting and it was a good place to cool off on a fairly warm New Years Eve; not to mention the way that the lights dance and glow off the water once the sun goes down. The Harbour is beautiful before the fireworks start, but once they start it just comes to life. The fireworks seem bigger and brighter because of the water and the Harbour Bridge becomes completely illuminated at times. The fireworks were launched from several different locations including just in front of the Opera House and off the top of the Harbour Bridge. There were fireworks in almost every direction and they were stunning. The one thing that sort of got me was that they didn't have any sort of countdown. I guess because there's millions of people in different locations it would be quite hard to co-ordinate a countdown. Once the fireworks start it's "Happy New Year" and wild screaming and picture taking.

There's really not too much more that can be said about the night's events. It was most definitely a once in a lifetime experience and I will remember it for some time to come. Happy New Years to those at home who haven't celebrated yet and I will see you sometime in 2009. Blessings.