It seems that locals and visitors frequently flock towards the seashore, often making for a crowded beach at most sunsets. We assumed that sort of habit would spill over on New Year's Eve. It did.
By 10:45 PM we were fighting the crowds in order to move! I never saw such a number of motorbikes in one place in my life. We walked up the Double Six road. The next hour and a half were spent, squeezing through motorcycles and pedestrians, listening to loud music thumping, and avoiding the sparks of live fireworks. We walked to an area with a few packed gay bars and returned to walk along the beach to ring in the actual stroke of midnight.
Drinking in public is allowed and, of course, people were. Some lots. I hadn't seen fireworks for sale, but they are also allowed, not just little firecrackers but huge rockets for multiple displays. Everywhere up and down the beach, was the firing zone. I wondered a little if combat feels the same. The fireworks display went on for hours both before and after midnight. These factors made for a very interesting evening. We saw not a single policeman or security officer during the night. As we left, the crush of cars, motorcycles, and people was large but all proceeded along towards home (I presume) smoothly. People's actions rather than laws and restrictions made for a safe evening.
Last night was one 'change of year' that I'll not soon forget.
