Happy New Year - NYE at The Library

2011 was coming to an end and for the first time in quite a few years, The Boy and I wouldn't be spending NYE with our friends. Back in Sydney, I'd long since given up the trek to the city to watch the fireworks, deciding the crowds and the tedious train trip back home to the suburbs were not worth the few minutes of admittedly spectacular entertainment.

Now living in KLCC, for the first time we were already right near the action with the Petronas Towers and KLCC Park just around the corner being the centre of Kuala Lumpur's midnight celebrations. We were curious to see what KL was like at this time of year so together with Aussie Guy, we headed to The Library on Jalan Ampang for drinks and dinner so we had a good view of the crowds on the street.

The boys ordered beer and I chose a Librarian Margarita, which promised to be a delicious concoction of tequila, pineapple juice and lime. Unfortunately, it was made with too much ice and the flavour all but lost. My next drink - a standard mojito - was much better and our pizzas were tasty too. By the time it got to 11pm, the place was packed and it was getting harder (and slower) to get any bar service. So shortly after 11:30, we decided to venture over to KLCC Park and get in position for the midnight countdown and fireworks.

The Petronas Towers lit up at night

In the space of just a couple of hours, KLCC Park had filled with people and now a crowd was slowly surging from Jalan Ampang around Suria KLCC towards the fountains. Men, women, young families and elderly people, tourists and locals, everyone had that same sense of anticipation and excitement that happens on NYE all around the world. A guy walked around selling horns and judging by the noise, plenty of people had already bought one! For the most part, people just sat and waited patiently.

I thought of my friends and family in Sydney who would have already celebrated midnight, one of the first cities in the world to do so, and my brothers who were in Tokyo and Chicago tonight and wondered what they would be doing to mark the beginning of 2012.

Then the fireworks started. Our view was partly blocked by a tree but we oohed and aahed with the crowd anyway and I joined the thousands of people taking pictures on their cameras and mobile phones.

NYE fireworks above KLCC Park

NYE fireworks above KLCC Park

While not as large-scale and spectacular as those that light up Sydney Harbour each year, there is no doubt that fireworks are always exciting, no matter when or where they happen.

Capturing the moment

After the fireworks were over, we decided to call it a night - The Boy and I were dead on our feet from a day of cleaning and running around for office supplies, and Aussie Guy had an early flight to Singapore the next day. Unlike in Sydney, we weren't faced with a long trip home, just an easy 10-minute walk.

Home in bed by 12:30am, The Boy and I fell asleep to the street sounds of horns and cheers as excited KLites welcomed a new year.