Happy New Year!
I know its been a few days and my greetings are belated, but the sentiment is still genuine. Of course the late post means my new year’s resolution of not being late has been dashed early. I still have a few others so I’ll focus on those.
This New Year’s eve my friends Sam and Ryan and I went to ring in 2008 near Gwanamun station and close to the river walk and festival of lights. The streets were thronged with party goers and families jostling along crying out good tidings and screaming in delight. The hawkers were out peddling gloves, hats, scarves, flashlights, glow sticks, and a ton of fireworks.
Everywhere you turned someone had a tube of fireworks firing off in their hands or sparklers sparkling. We stopped at a convenience store and picked up some drinks to help ward off the cold. Those drinks were definitely necessary, because the temperature had to have been below zero. It was absolutely freezing, but that didn’t stop the crowd from dancing up a storm. In fact that dancing was probably more to keep warm than celebrating the new year.
At the center of the festivities there was a stage and several bands and dance groups entertaining the crowd. But, really, it was the crowd itself that was entertaining. Just watching the holiday spirit move strangers to hug and smile and dance with each other when any other day they probably would be muttering under their breath. New Year’s should be every day! Well, at least the spirit should be.
With the coming of midnight we broke out the champagne. Actually, the champagne came out way earlier, but we still had some when 2008 greeted us.
There were celebrations supposedly going on around the city in the streets, but I’d like to think the major action was where we were at.
Sam was definitely in the spirit, giving every passerby a new year’s hug.
It was so cold that soon after the new year was here everybody rushed for the subway. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people on the subway or waiting for it. The pictures just don’t convey the sheer numbers of people crammed in there. Thankfully everyone was in a great friendly mood so the whole experience was fun.
Here are a couple videos, enjoy!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA6Pvdzhh1I]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4fof_THEcM]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U9C8QXIZNw]
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I’m a blogger, writer, and teacher. I’ve been working in South Korea’s ESL field for the last three years. My one year contract has unexpectedly turned into a journey that I’m still on and loving.
Hi, Brian!</>Happy New Year!</>Actually we were same place at the moment. The New Year festivities stage was near Jong-gak station, No1 line. I was there. I couldn't see you and Ryan and Sam. We should have bumped into each other on the street. I went to there with my friends.</>See you soon!