Fireworks to welcome 2012

I spent the first day of MMXII with a personal tradition of mine – watching the new year’s fireworks from the major cities all over the globe. In times of uncertainty there is yet some solace to be felt in the face of such aplomb and fanfare. And in its afterglow you realize just how unifying the celebrations are, whether you’re in Sydney, Dubai or New York.

Sydney

Dubai/Moscow

Taipei

London

New York

1. The Sydney fireworks were most spectacular and really hit home as I was there in Sydney harbour 6 months ago.
2. Dubai had a dazzling show of fireworks that spiralled out of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
3. I also saw Taiwan’s new year’s celebration which turned the Taipei 101 building into soft showers of sparkles.
4. This year’s Olympic host London threw a big party to welcome 2012 with the chiming of the Big Ben and fireworks lighting up the London Eye.
5. And finally no New Year’s celebration is complete without watching New York’s Times Square Ball Drop.

What can I look forward to in 2012?
1. I’ll be doing my finals after 5 years studying medicine. I’m hoping everything goes well there.
2. Well the Summer Olympics will be held in London this year
3. It’s already been designated Alan Turing Year, to commemorate the centenary of his birth on 23 June 1912
4. The Mayan calendar or Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar will complete a great cycle on December 21. Following which it will reset. If someone mentions the end of the world again….
5. Last but certainly not least, I have Season 2 of Game of Thrones to look forward to in April.

To put things into perspective here’s an excellent retrospective video of the 100 important moments of the last century.