10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Happy New Year!!! New Year's Eve 2006-2007 is approaching so time has finally come to plan this year's celebrations. All around the globe, people celebrate 31st December by going to parties or gathering in public places. Most people stay up and party the whole morning or till late, but the minority group are out till just after midnight. The question now is which major cities should you choose to celebrate your New Year’s Eve 2006-2007? Is it Sydney, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Macau, Edinburgh or Glasgow? All these places are among people’s favorites as they are illuminated with fireworks and much noise.

According to the time zone, Sydney is the second major city in the world to celebrate New Years after New Zealand. Every year, over a million people of which few hundred thousands are tourists would unite around the Sydney Harbour Bridge or Darling Harbour on New Year’s Eve. This year the theme is diamond because it will the 75th Anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2007 since its opening, therefore, the evening will be called "A Diamond Night in Emerald City”.

World Trade Center Plaza is the most popular area in Bangkok for New Year’s Eve 2006-2007 Countdown. Few hundred thousands people gather here every year to countdown and wish their family and friends, “Happy New Year”. For those who prefer a smaller crowd, there are many alternative places such as the National Stadium and Sanam Luang. On New Year’s Eve, nightclubs are open till early morning, usually 6 am or later, rather than the usual 2 am. Club Astra will be happening with live performances, while Narcissus on Sukhumvit 23 road will be playing techno. DJ Charles Schilling will be playing at the Bed Supperclub on Sukhumvit Soi 11, whereas Q Bar plans to keep the entire crowd moving till 6 am.

Many hotels in Bangkok also have parties planned out for New Year's Eve 2006-2007. There will be live jazz music at the Sheraton Grande Hotel on Sukhumvit 12 road. The Conrad Hotel on Lumpini road will have Latin dance and live music at the Diplomat Bar. The Bangkok Marriott Resort, Oriental, Peninsula, Royal Orchid Sheraton, Shangri-La and many other hotels are hosting dinner cruises on the Chao Phraya River with views of the spectacular fireworks to make the night a memorable one.

Singapore is another hotspot to spend New Year’s Eve 2006-2007. Whether it is Mardi Gras at Clark Quay or Express Place, Singapore’s New Year’s Eve celebration includes the best dining, wines and entertainments. The city’s Times Square at Suntec City will have hundreds of travelers gathered to watch laser lighting. The Marina Bay New Year's Eve Countdown along the Esplanade will have large crowds watching Singapore’s favorite fireworks display. The Sky Symphony Countdown Party at the Jewel Box on Mount Faber will display the city’s longest fireworks at 20 minutes. The Siloso Splash at Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island, Singapore's largest tourist place receives 15,000 people every year for a beach party that lasts till 6 am.

This New Year, Hong Kong will have the biggest celebration in China or maybe in the world. People usually gather at Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront to watch the fireworks and countdown at the famous Times Square and Ocean Terminal. Other places that are hosting a Countdown Carnival are Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall, Victoria Park and Culture Center. Hotels in Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay are easily booked out especially during New Years so make your booking soon.

New Year's Eve in London can range from an elegant night out to a hardcore party scene. People usually gather at the London Eye to watch the huge 10 minutes fireworks every year or go on a River Thames cruise with superb meal, live jazz and fireworks explosion along the river. In London, all the DJ Bars and clubs are really on the top on New Year’s Eve. In London, people usually celebrate New Year’s Eve at London Eye with a huge 10 minute fireworks every year. Hotels usually offer special packages on New Year’s Eve night. It is recommended to stay at Conrad London Hotel at River Thames to get magnificent views of the night.

In Tokyo, people celebrate New Years from December 31st to January 3rd as it is a very auspicious occasion. The city is lively with people dancing, singing and eating. The clubbing scenes will be hot especially in places like Velfarre. Yellow, Maniac Love, Old Imperial Bar, KISSA GINZA and Bullets. There are also great bars, taverns and pubs. For some local Japanese people, New Years is a time of prayers and joyous greetings. It has a unique significance filled with traditional activities that will hopefully result in a more successful year for the people. Housewives work hard to prepare various special dishes, clean the house excessively and make decorations. Japanese people visit Shinto shrines especially the Hatsumairi on New Year's Day. Bells are stroked 108 times at the temples of every region all over Japan. The people believe that human has 108 wordly desires and by striking the bell 108 times, it can get rid of them.
In Kuala Lumpur, the countdown event at the Twin Towers, the second tallest towers in the world are amazing. The view of the city and the fireworks from the towers cannot get any better. On New Year’s Eve, the city's Merdeka Square has good shows and Kuala Lumpur itself have various elegant restaurants and partying places open till early morning on 31st December.

Shanghai is hosting a New Year's Eve event called the 2006-2007 Xintiandi Countdown Party. The theme is "As You Dream You Shall Become". Shanghai has a new countdown device shaped like the giant white magnolia flower symbolizing the city. Like Hong Kong, Macau is also going to host a Countdown Carnival. The 6th Carlos Maia Countdown Show is the biggest event with dances and fashion shows. Fireworks will take place in the Macau Tower area.

In cities across Scotland especially Edinburg and Glasgow, there are major celebrations called Hogmanay, the last day of the year attended by tourists from all over the world. Edinburgh’s and Glasgow’s Hogmanay is a four-day festival. There are many customs associated with Hogmanay including the practice of first-footing, which involves being the first person to cross the threshold of a friend or neighbor and involves giving gifts such as shortbread, whisky, fruit pudding that brings different luck to the person. It also involves the lighting of bonfires and rolling blazing tar barrels down the hill. The Scottish Hogmanay includes magical fireworks display in the cities.