Happy 2006 Everyone!

Last year ended up with a tragedy, just right happened at the first minute of the last day. I fell off from the stair and sprang my left ankle.

It hurt but wasn't too terrible. I still could get up and walk into the house, and went back and forward from my room and dinning room to get ice and stuff. But the next morning when I woke up, my ankle was more swollen than earlier and even hurt. I got a meeting on Saturday morning so I sitll went to the office. I still walked here and there, up and down in my office building, and even practice a bit dance for our year end party... but just lamely and handicappedly.

Good thing is doctor said my muscle and tendon are fine, the swall is just due to a lot of extravasation. He suggested me taking rests and not going anywhere in 2 days.

That was the new year's eve. I planned to find a good spot on elephant mountain to see 101. I couldn't do nothing but only staying in the house in front of TV, at the last day of the year. I could still walk. I had to go out.

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8 o'colck, 2 bikes 4 people got together in front of family mart. Having ensured everything's ready-- alcohols, chips, flash light, camara-- we set off our journey to worship the rave show on our tallest building at the last day of the year.

It's not exagerated at all that I called it 'worship'. Everyone seemed to get together for only seeing the building and firework, but not really caring about new year countdown. On the way to the mountain we happened to drive to a big empty space in a residential area where nothing blocked the view of the tallest building. Everyone was just excited about the good view and got off from cars or scooters to take pictures of it, or in front of it. The building straights up from the empty ground solely in the middle of the dark black universe, with blue tingling twinkle light embelished its outline, what accompanying along with this scenery was only cool night breeze and tranquille air. No shouting crowds, no thundering music, no packed traffic. Once in a while I felt like standing in an art gallery looking at a photograph of the night view of a litup building. We even came out an idea that to bring chairs and table and tea pot and just sitting on the road side waiting for the firework at midnight.

After several shuts we hop up the scooters and kept driving. 40 mins later we reached the mountain and surpised how close it is to the Hsin Yi area and 101. On the top of the trail there're 3 huge rocks where is the closest spot to the area and we could even hear the music of the city hall event from there! There's no free lunch in the world tho, you want to get the best spot you gotta 1) hike for 20 mins, 2) come up early like at 8am in the morning to take up the space. Yes that what some people did, so when we got there all the rock top and edge of the cliffs had been fully occupied! Not only people everywhere, but also camaras and tripods and 腳架一個比一個大! Now it's not about the new year count down, it's more like we're invading in photographers' territory!

Anyway we didn't stay there but came down from the trail for another flat terrace where is further but also has good view. We sat there chatting and waiting. It was quiet and nice, some young people were doing BBQ and some were playing firecrackers behind us. Everyone's waiting for the moment. Then when the lights on the building started to fade up, and lit up again layer by layer... 7,6,5,4,3,2,1... firework show started to burst... Happy new year!

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This is the 3rd year I did the countdown in front of 101. The past 2 years I was inside the crowds in front of the concert and the building in city hall. One year I was with anna and jason and other friends and the next one I was with my ex. I had great time in those 2 even tho the post-event situation wasn't pleasant at all-- traffic and long walk back home. We all got drunk and sang silly songs and talked silly things. We swung on the street and shouted happy new year to people. We laughed out loud and enjoyed the first day of the year with close friends. Those are wonderful unforgetable time.

This year the count down was a big quiet. We didn't have to be sqeezed in the crowds and wondered if we would be killed at last min of the year inside the shoal of sartine. We could get good pictures of the firework and good view of the whole city in which no stranger heads or arms or buildings or tree leaves pop up. We had a peaceful time enjoying the firework show with friends. Everything is supposed to be good but on the contrary I felt something missing.

Perhaps we paid too much attention on the show, we forgot the most important point of the meaning on new year's eve. We're supposed to celebrate the new year with friends or family, but not staring at a building at the first 2 mins of the new year. I didn't feel the moment unforgetable, it's just like watching a show and then left when it's finished. I even didn't get drunk or sing silly songs or talk silly things or laugh out loud. And don't forget I broke my ankle. Everything is just so unusual to me, and I started to regret a little bit.

Oh well, just see it as a learning process. People should be the most important, location is not. Next time in big days, I will only spend with friends, and I'm sure wherever we celebrate the days, we'll have great time together.

Happy new year to all my dear friends!