I still recall a New Year’s Eve when I was at home and I was watching fireworks on the TV and was having a rationalization that it does not matter where you are during the time of the clock striking twelve. I was wrong.

A couple of years ago I celebrated the New Year in one of the foreign squares crowded with strangers but became old friends by the end of the night. Ever since, I do have one thought about it: there are places to visit that are worth the trip during New Year's Eve.

New Year is not only a date in a calendar. It's a feeling. It is that weird combination of thoughtfulness, anticipation and optimism that is even intensified when you are in a foreign place.

No matter which place you decide to travel for the new year, one thing that you need to ensure is before travelling you book meet and greet at stansted as it will help you set a smooth pace for your trip ahead.

Watching the Ball Drop: New York City, USA.

It is strange to be present in Times Square on a New Year's Eve. I shall not say that it is comfortable. It's cold, crowded, and loud. However, as the giant ball starts falling, it appears like the whole city stops to get a second.

I recall my position there with numb toes and eating snacks with a Brazilian couple and laughing with strangers that I met that very night. As the time of midnight came, the confetti was falling, and it all seemed to be worth it.

In case crowds are not your thing, New York does not fail on other aspects. Roof top parties, silent Brooklyn street vistas, early morning strolls in Central Park on New Years day provide a more relaxing beginning. The city sparks the New Year big and bold which is what some individuals seek.

A Midnight Moment, the Seine: Paris, France.

The atmosphere in Paris on New Year's Eve is relaxing and close. One New Year I was walking along the Seine and saw the lights of the city being reflected in the water and people holding bottles of champagne in their hands. There were no huge fireworks and loud countdowns, just laughter, music and the sense that everybody was enjoying the moment.

First Firing of Fireworks: Sydney, Australia.

Sydney is not waiting patiently till the New Year. It proclaims it in high tones, in bright colors, and with perfect confidence. There is a reason why the fireworks in Sydney Harbour are popular. I observed them in one of the parks after spending many hours sitting on the grass, conversing with travelers of other continents.

The most notable is the expectation. The day is full of picnics, food sharing and counting down with the fireworks illuminating the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Spending the New Year in Japan: Welcoming the New Year in Silence, Tokyo.

The Japanese approach to the New Year is very different in Tokyo. Many individuals go to visit temples in place of parties during Hatsumode, the first shrine of the year. I recall the silence of the walk and the ringing of bells and the placid expressions on the faces of people as the hour of midnight drew near.

You write on slips of luck, you draw slips of luck, you stop to think. It's peaceful and grounding. Tokyo teaches you that the new year does not have to be a noisy one.

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Singing Into the Cold: Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Hogmanay in Edinburgh is uncouth and unnatural. There are torchlight processions in the streets, live shows are shown everywhere, and people who do not know each other sing. I recall how I was standing in the cold, singing the songs I hardly knew, and the fireworks were blazing in the background of the castle.

When the Sky Becomes the Celebration: Dubai, UAE.

Dubai does not play around with New Year eve. The skyline becomes a glowing backdrop with fireworks on the Burj Khalifa and the whole city appears to stand and stare. One day I was looking at the exhibition through a secluded area close to the beach, and I heard people shouting across the water.

Dubai is unique in his contrast. One night, you can have a lively party and the next night on the same night, a quiet desert night. It is a destination that promotes big dreams and radical starts.

Every time I start the year somewhere new then I come back with clearer thoughts and lighter expectations. Sometimes the best way to begin again is simply to be somewhere you’ve never been before.