I have counted down to the New Year at celebrations in customary haunts such as Mexico, São Paulo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Monte Carlo and believe me, it can get pretty stale year-after-year.
How many times are you going to go be a part of New York’s annual Times Square extravaganza, eat a grape for every stroke of midnight in Barcelona or stand under the fireworks cascade over Sydney’s harbor? Sounds like the perfect time to plan a more original way to ring in the New Year. Let's have a brainstorming session, shall we?
- For the hardcore merrymaker who believes that one day of fêting simply won't suffice, experience the celebration Scot-style with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2010 from December 29 through January 2 or head over to Hong Kong to welcome the Year of the Tiger from January 20 through February 15.
- For the more extreme adventurer who loves a quick thrill, test the limits of your mind and push the edge of your fear: plan to participate in the fire-walking ceremony in Bali or Bungee Jump off Victoria Falls with the mighty Zambezi as the New Year is being counted down.
- For the historically inclined, a midnight visit to one of the Seven Wonders of World might be in order. They are:
a. Machu Picchu , Peru
b. The Colisseum in Rome
c. Petra , Jordan
c. Christ Redeemer, Brazil
d. The Great Wall of China
e. Chichen Itza , Mexico
f. The Taj Mahal , India
- For the romantically inclined, with deep pockets to boot, rent a castle for the New Year with your own private fireworks display or take in a special New Year’s Eve Cruise to observe the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
- For the naturalist, go for a midnight Hot Air Balloon Flight over the Grand Canyon, the Igazu Falls between Brazil & Argentina or the Fjords of Norway.