Memorable moment: Bangkok for New Year's Eve

We knew that there would be fireworks over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok for New Year’s Eve…but we had no idea where or exactly how close we would be. And to think we almost missed them altogether…

Dateline: 31 December 2015

We’ve spent several New Year’s Eves away from home, including possibly the most memorable of all…NYE 2012 when we were on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, along with about 8 million other people. 🙂

So, having experienced the chaos of a SE Asian city New Year’s Eve once before, I was reluctant to venture out of our Bangkok hotel (The Chatrium Riverside Hotel) onto the streets, especially as we had only arrived from Melbourne the day prior, and we were still suffering from the four hour time difference.

When we found out that the balcony of our apartment at The Chatrium had a box seat for the midnight fireworks at Asiatique, The Riverfront on the Chao Phraya River we were rapt. Plus there was a NYE party at The Chatrium right below our balcony that also had fireworks planned.

After dinner we came back to the hotel and sat ourselves out on the balcony with a bottle of wine, soaked up the balmy evening, and enjoyed watching the party boats going up and down the river. By 10pm (2am Melbourne time), our resolve was flagging. Both of the girls had gone off to bed ‘for a nap’ and The Poolboy and I thought we’d do the same. Just a little nap…and we set the alarm for 11.45pm so we could get up to watch the fireworks.

At least, we *thought* we’d set the alarm…

At 11.55pm, for some inexplicable reason, The Poolboy woke with a start and sat bolt upright. ‘Get up! Get up!’ he shouted. ‘We’re going to miss it!!’

Queenie, The Poolboy and I all raced to the balcony, just in time to see a multitude of premature explosions of local fireworks right across the Bangkok outskirts, followed by a mass midnight display right in front of us. Because we were on a high floor, it was almost as if we were among the fireworks, especially when they started going off from the party below us. Those ones were exploding what seemed like mere metres away from us.

It was worth waking up for. A most memorable moment.