It was the final evening of 2011 and I was inside a Glenwood Avenue nightclub when the countdown to midnight began. At an age where one was still interested in finding the perfect new year’s smooch, I scanned the scene for options. When I realized that the only possible contenders had mullets for hair, I swore that I was done with New Year’s Eve in Raleigh. While I was gravely disappointed by the male population in the room that night, that wasn’t the only deal breaker. I was simply ready for a change of scene. And it was around this time that travel was becoming a real interest of mine. It was also an opportune time of year to travel with my work schedule. I never spent December 31 in Raleigh again.
In late 2012, my long time friend Adam and I traveled to Colorado. We left Denver for Estes Park, where we enjoyed a few days cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing (and hitching after getting lost in the park after sunset). I also visited Boulder and then Broomfield for a String Cheese Incident show where I reunited with some old Bonnaroo buddies, and New Years Eve was spent dancing to STS9 at the Fillmore Auditorium.
In 2013, I took the holiday abroad. After two previous stops, a few of us found ourselves in Berlin to ring in the new year, our friend Cassandra hosting for the occasion. We dressed in all black and purchased tickets for an event at Frannz Club. European clubbing was an experience unlike any I’d had in the States. At one point I got lost from our group and found myself leading a long conga line – and I swear this happened despite no one else seeing it! It was an epic night.
I took my first steps into Asia, arriving in Bangkok on December 31, 2014. I met Tara and Chase (same Bonnaroo friends from the Colorado NYE!) and we completed the Thai new year tradition of visiting nine temples for good fortune. Later that evening, I partied with a great crew on the infamous Khao San road. I wrote a blog post about the night because it was one for the books. Ever eaten a scorpion before? I have!
In 2015 I boarded an overnight junk boat in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. Cruising around the gorgeous limestone-pillared waters, with other guests from the UK, China, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and beyond, we listened to music, kayaked, danced, played cards, and even did yoga the next morning!
Asia became a theme, because I rung in the new year from El Nido, Philippines in 2016. That year’s festivities included an island boat tour with new friends, a pizza dinner, and a night at Pukka bar. It was steamy out so I decided to go for a night swim, with all my clothes on. I floated effortlessly in the calm waters, watching the fireworks over head. My evening concluded by playing chess with a Filipino family in the street. They served a pitcher of ice beer and chicken feet. I lost my shoes that night, a sure sign of a good time!
In 2017, I found myself in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. Consider this the ultimate laidback, beachside party town. I spent the day taking a surf lesson, watching a beautiful sunset over the local playa, and then going to dinner with some hostel friends. The town was wildly popular and sold out for the holiday so I had to sleep in a hammock that night. Not the worst setback with such pleasant December temperatures.
2018 took me back to Central America. Matt and I hiked Acatenango Volcano and camped at the top. I did not train for the trek, and it was one of the most difficult hikes I’ve ever done, but worth it for some incredible views. We watched the neighboring volcano spew lava throughout the night, and saw the many villages below shooting off fireworks at midnight. I was genuinely thrilled to celebrate an alternative NYE, and to challenge myself both physically and mentally.
Last year’s New Year’s Eve (2019) was spent in Luang Prabang, Laos, which might be one of the greatest small towns in southeast Asia. We sat outside for a delicious dinner and Beerlao’s, strolled through the market (buying slippers and tequila shots along the way), and ended up at the town’s New Year’s Eve party. The same officials who had bribed us at the airport hours earlier were MC-ing the event on the stage in front of us as the countdown to midnight began. Pure hilarity.
New Years 2020 will be spent in the States. My friend Heather and I are scheduled for Nashville later this week. It’s going to be quiet and subdued as we keep it low key in consideration of the pandemic, but I’m still looking forward to exploring a fun city with an old buddy.
I know December 31 is just another day, but there’s something about bidding farewell to the past 12 months and toasting the onset of a new beginning that brings me joy. Let us celebrate endings, for they precede fresh starts. Happy New Year 2021 to all!