Ah Boon.Net 阿文

Across the globe, people gathered for parties, shot off fireworks and held out hopes for a peaceful and prosperous 2008. Let’s see how the world welcome the new year.

Sydney — one of the first cities to celebrate the New Year — one million revelers cheered as fireworks sprayed from the iconic Harbor Bridge. Fireworks displays were being repeated at the stroke of midnight in cities around the world.

Fireworks erupt from a building at the stroke of midnight during the New Years eve celebration at Times Square in New York

Festivities in Paris centered on the famous Champs-Elysees avenue and the Eiffel Tower, where about 4,500 police and 140 rescue officials patrolled the streets.

In London, people gathered in Trafalgar Square and along the banks of the River Thames to watch a fireworks display and hear Big Ben — Parliament’s iconic bell — welcome the New Year with 12 resounding bongs.

Moscow, thousands gathered in Red Square, watching a concert beneath the colorful onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, and fireworks above.

China started its Olympic year with a New Year party including fireworks, singing and dancing put on by the organizers of the Summer Olympics.

In Singapore, fireworks explode over above the skyline of Marina Bay, with downtown financial district’s office as backdrop.

Fireworks light up the sky over Munich, Germany on new year’s eve.

Fireworks illuminate the ancient Parthenon atop the Acropolis Hill in Athens, Greece at the start of the New Year.

In Taiwan, people celebrating the count down in front of the world;s tallest completed skyscraper, Taipei 101.

New Year celebrations were held in Bangkok, despite the bombing which wounded 27 people in the hotel and nightlife area of Sungai Kolok in Southern part of Thailand.

Indonesians crowd into the main street of Indonesia capital, Jakarta to welcome 2008

Baghdad witnessed something Iraq had not seen since before the invasion of 2003 — people publicly partying to welcome in a new year.

In Brazil, about 2 million people gathered at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, witnessing a fireworks display that lasted nearly 20 minutes.

A New Year’s Eve fireworks show called ‘The Grand Finale’ was set off on the edge of Ottawa River below Parliament Hill to mark the end of the 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria annoucing Ottawa as the capital of Canada.

Translucent balloons were released to mark the new year at the Zojoji Temple in Tokyo, Japan

Wishing you all the best in the new year!

Over 2500 unique products from Japan — click now!

Technorati Tags: 2008, World, Celebrate, New York, Time Square, Sydney, Harbor Bridge, Paris, London, Big Ben, China, Olympic Year, Olympic, Ottawa, Moscow, Red Square, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Trackback This Post | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed