Thailand 2010 Starts the Countdown to Taiwan 2013

Just last week, the world once again captured the hearts and eyes of many while ending one year and continuing another. This occurred from one of the first 2013 celebrations over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to one of the last by San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge; from something as universally epic as Times Square’s confetti to something as local as Sam Mickail’s first of many to come New Year’s celebrations right here in West Orange. While New Year's can be many things for many people, for me it is always the time to reflect on those telling moments of New Year's Eves from the past. These memories make the current celebration that much more exciting, purposeful, and real. 

While it is almost always hard to believe that another year has passed, it truly hit me this time around. As this New Year approached, it felt like just yesterday that I was waiting for 2010 to begin. That's right, 2010, not 2012. It was not too far back in history that the world witnessed the end to the infamously lovely decade of the “noughties”. My specific celebration of the 2009-10 New Year involved one flight, an over-night train and two boats to reach the epic Full Moon Party of Thailand's Koh Phangan island. I watched the dying moments of a decade disintegrate into the chaos of flare shows, hooliganism and idiotic dancing, and the event was well worth the trip. More importantly, this New Year's memory is where it all began, and by “it”, I mean the reason for where, how, and why I graciously enjoyed this year’s bringing in of 2013.

I slept off the remnants of the past ten years, or rather the beginning moments of the next ten, on the sandy shores of this filthily glittering Koh Phangan island. It was not long after the sun rose that my friend and I dragged ourselves to the first mini speedboat back to the neighboring island of Koh Samui. We reached our $20 a night bungalow and I lay down on the bed. Lazily, with my last drop of energy, I flipped on the teleivison. I vaguely remember the news showing highlights of New Year’s celebrations around the globe, but I specifially and clearly remember the clip of Taipei and the fireworks pouring out of its shockingly tall 101 building.

The crowds of Taipei and its wondrous skyscraper looked magical. Despite the wave of exhaustion that had me pinned down to this eastern Thai island mattress, I felt uplifted and like I was a part of what I was watching on this television screen. Unbeknownst to me, three years later I would be a part of it. This moment in the bungalow when Taipei's celebratory images captured my mind was the first time in a while that I had thought about this tiny island east of China. Admittedly, I did not know much about Taiwan. There had been so much confusion about its role in the world, its state of sovereignty, and the truth behind its strange smelling food. After that groggy New Year’s morning, though, I began to do some research, curious about this tiny place that seemed to have had such an extravagant 2010 celebration. Upon finding out more information, most of which seemed positive, Taiwan always remained in the back of my mind for another possible location to extend my adventures teaching abroad. As time continued to pass, and I spent more and more time in living in Korea, my interest in Taiwan only grew.

Three years later, I was more than settled in, living in an apartment just outside of Taipei. This holiday season, funnily enough, I spent some more time in Thailand, much like I had in 2009-2010. This time, though, there was no Koh Phangan for me. The Full Moon Party, as I had attended for New Year's 2010, was in my opinion a one time thing. I chose to limit this year's trip to Bangkok and Koh Phi Phi - an island off of the western coast. Besides, I wanted to be back in Taiwan for New Year’s to see the famous 101 fireworks that had drawn me to there in the first place. So, then, on New Year’s Eve 2012, there I stood on the rooftop of a building that a friend of a friend happened to have an office in. I stared several stories below me at the condensed crowds pushing together; their i-phones glowed in unison like fireflies in December, and the gorgeous behemoth of a skyscraper, Taipei 101, hovered over them. It was hard to believe that I had first witnessed this on screen three years back, and it is why, upon waiting for the countdown, the memories of my 2009-10 New Year’s celebration traveled through my mind with crystal clear quality.

Alas, it was time for this year’s memories to be created. Sooner than later, we all counted down from ten to zero, as the somewhat familiar red, pink and blue fiery glaze poured out of 101’s top. It looked like an overgrown and oddly amazing busted fire hydrant on a winter’s night. Following the short but sweet display of fiery wonder was the golden shower that covered the building from head to toe, displaying a “Happy New Year” in dark lettering, contrasting the absolute golden cover behind it.

I was informed by some of my friends, both local Taiwanese and long term expats, that compared to other New Years in Taiwan, this had been a disappointing performance. For me, though, it was nothing less than I had hoped for; it was more of a confirmation that I was indeed here, that the brief fantasy I shared in that tiny bungalow bed had in fact become a reality. My life was now here, in the new year beginning before my eyes and in the presence of the world’s second tallest building. I would not have wished for this 2013 to have started off any other way. I look forward to the day, be it New Year’s 2014, or later down the line, when this specific memory is jolted.