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Marina Bay New Year Countdown 2012: celebrating New Year, the Singaporean way

As a Singaporean who participated in a number of CountDown parties held at Marina Bay (Marina Bay New Year Countdown), it takes no rocket scientist to come out with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Singapore way of celebrating and ushering in a new year. First on the SOP: have a sumptuous dinner on 31st of December with your family members, relatives, friends and loved ones at a good restaurant and have a joyous chit-chat till 9pm or 10pm.
Next on the SOP, leave the restaurant and head down to Marina Bay and squeeze with the thousands of Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, Foreigners, New Citizens and stand for around 1 hour to 2 hours and wait for 0000 hrs 1st January to arrive. The third and final instalment of the SOP starts 10 seconds to 0000 hrs when you hear a lot of people shouting “10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1” and then everyone zap the stunning fireworks with their cameras while shouting and greeting one another with “Happy New Year!”
After watching the fireworks, it is time for a race to the nearest MRT station or back to your car before the other thousands of people catch up with you. Along the way, be careful, especially ladies for people who suddenly pour foam to your head and bodies and maybe steal a touch or so on your bodies or wallets!
Aforementioned is the Singaporean ritual of ushering in a brand new year!  Often I find that though the thousands of people squeezing your bodies at such countdown parties and functions at Marina Bay sand area is a challenge, it is really a good way to celebrate and usher a brand new year with your fellow Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion.
When the fireworks rise and sparkle in the sky, 31 December of a year turns into a brand new year once more! Singapore does not have four seasons but I feel the cold weather of December welcoming though it is getting hotter than before due to climate change.
Let us set New Goals for the coming year and SUCCEED in these goals!

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