Countdown to 2009

Words and translated by Diva Yang
Photos provided by Taipei City Government and Andy Lin

While another year barely stops to wave goodbye as it races towards the finish, Taipei-ers are looking for creative ways to mark the beginning of 2009. Well, not just creative--but cheap, too! With a few hard economic hits, everyone is looking for an inexpensive way to have a good time. With a little bit of planning and Taiwan Fun at your side, you can kiss 2008 goodbye in style--whether you're looking to join in the roaring party or cruising for a tucked-away corner for two.

New Year's Eve Party sponsored by Taipei City Government: Countdown to 2009
Since 1996, ringing in the New Year in front of Taipei City Hall has become a tradition for many Taipei residents. In fact, more and more visitors from all over Taiwan flock to Taipei City Hall for the festivities every year. Last year, more than 600,000 people crowded into Civic Plaza for the NYE countdown and this year the party goes on. The Taipei City Government has announced that Countdown to 2009 will be hosted by veteran TV hosts Hu Gua and Pauline Lan. The lineup includes performances by Taiwan diva A-Mei and Taiwan's No.1 rock band Mayday. This free outdoor concert, a cheap and fun way to welcome 2009, is only made possible through government sponsorship.

Though the celebration at Taipei City Hall is a great way to welcome the new year, it is not without its difficulties. Like any large-scale public event, the Countdown to 2009 will not be accident-free. Don't be surprised to see people pushing and shoving their way to the exits; don't be shocked when your large group of friends disappears into the crowd during the countdown, leaving you to wander home alone.

If you do plan on heading to Taipei City Hall, wear warm, casual and comfortable clothes that are easy to move around in. It's also best to put on a hat and gloves. For safety reasons, you should bring a raincoat instead of umbrella if it rains. Due to the strict traffic control on NYE, it's best to take public transportation around the city. If you do get behind the wheel, you will get stuck in traffic and end up counting down to a new year in the comfort of your own vehicle. The Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation will extend its operation hours accordingly to ensure the safety of Countdown 2009 participants as well.

If you're not ringing in the new year at City Hall, then where are you going to celebrate? If you're not sure, maybe you can take a look into what other people your age are doing:

20-somethings: House Party

Rachel An, the 20-something daughter of a foreign affairs worker, has been making friends all over the world for two decades. A life abroad has made her to be the social event organizer for Oriented, a networking company with 30,000 worldwide members worldwide. For NYE, Rachel is taking advantage of this social network to throw an internationally-themed house party.

She is going to invite friends over for a potluck dinner; everyone will bring a dish--preferably homemade--from his or her own culture or country. This way, people can try food from Russia, Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, the U.S., Australia and, of course, Taiwan. Even the best restaurant in the world can't compare with that kind of variety!

Rachel is also keeping in mind the time difference between Taiwan and places where her other friends live. She and her party guests will communicate via webcam to friends in other countries and, starting at 9 p.m., have an hourly toast and countdown; this way, they will cover everyone from Sydney and Guam to Islamabad, Mumbai and Portland. Each hour will bring a jubilant celebration. This kind of potluck party can be pretty fun--even without the international celebrations. It's a good idea for those who are a bit strapped for cash but still like to party, i.e. twenty-somethings.

30-somethings: Catered Parties in prime locations, bar hopping

My name is Diva. I'm 35 years old and I'm a party animal. It's true. Before reaching the legal drinking age, I was already a frequent visitor at various night spots in San Francisco. When I was still a college student I once said, "I actually spend more time partying than I do in class" I have to admit that I not only enjoy going out at night but I'm also good at throwing theme parties.

Last year, a friend and I co-organized a New Year's Eve countdown party on the roof of his office building. As a thirty-something, you and your friends have probably had a bit more time in the workforce and are more of an "adult", whatever that means. As a result, the ante is upped. To make you really shine as a party host, you'll need a bit extra. For our rooftop party, we hired a catering service, purchased all kinds of alcoholic beverages from wholesale stores, and booked a professional DJ to spin party music for dancing. Because of the size of our venue, we could only have 200 guests, so we started to accept RSVPs in late November.

On New Year's Eve, people were coming out of the woodwork with their entire family--even the pets! The office building, right across from the Taipei World Trade Center, offered a great view of the Taipei 101 fireworks. Being on the rooftop kept us out of the throngs on the streets below and the DJ kept everyone dancing--we even had a our own miniature fireworks show.

For counting down to 2009, I want to continue the rooftop thing, since I'm only a few blocks away from Taipei 101. After some champagne and the 101 fireworks, we'll head to Taipei's version of Lan-Kwai-Fong. It's going to be an all-night party along AnHo Road and everyone is going to be out, bar hopping by foot. Every time we pass by a bar, pub or club we'll go in for a round of drinks before moving on to the next. This bar hopping will last till dawn and our final stop will be breakfast at N.Y. Bagels Cafe. I am firm believer in staying up all night long on NYE, as it brings good luck for the new year. I recall staying up till dawn on Chinese New Year's Eve when I was little. My grandmother always said it was for longevity.

40-somethings Married with Children: A family-oriented NYE

Originally from the U.S., Keith and Julie now call Taiwan home and live in Tien-Mou with their two young children. As Christians, the end of December is an important part of the year for them, and they like to spend their holidays surrounded by family. However, since they've moved a lot and celebrated holidays everywhere, from Washington, D.C., and Vienna to Guangzhou, China, "celebrating with the family" usually means just Keith, Julie and their two children. That's fine with them, however, as they love watching the fireworks from the comfort of their own home and sipping hot cocoa.

If you want to watch live fireworks, but the streets of Taipei and the pulsing hordes of party-goers are too much for you and your family, there is another option. This safe option is less crowded and offers pretty much the best view you could imagine. Where is this place, you ask? Why, it's the Taipei 101 89th floor observation deck! That would certainly be an extraordinary and unforgettable New Year's Eve experience for you and your loved ones.

The best places to kiss on New Year's Eve

You know the tradition--the best way to start off the new year is with a little good luck kiss! Though this is a long-standing tradition in a lot of Western countries, the trend is just catching on in Taiwan. To help foster in this new era of Auld Lang Syne embraces, Diva is here to give you the scoop on the best places to get a NYE smooch from your honey.

If you're looking for a high-rise, rooftop type of thing, look no further than the 89th floor observation deck or 85th floor restaurants in Taipei 101. You can also consider the Ferris wheel in Da-Zhi, on the back road of Cultural University, and Chingtienkang on Yangmingshan.

The film critic/author/blogger that goes by the handle Mr. Poor Boy recommends a pucker place, a convenient spot that all taxpayers have the right to use--intersection overpasses! Though this may not sounds like a very romantic spot, think about it: hand in hand with your sweetheart, watching Taipei 101 tower fireworks on a Xinyi district skywalk is really a lovely time, though it's not very discreet. The newly-renovated overpass that crosses HuanHe North Road has an observation deck with a 270-degree view; you can see as far as Dan Shui River! It's an ideal kissing spot for couples who are madly in love and worry about peeping toms. There is also the airport runway by Sung Shan Domestic Airport. Love birds can watch takeoffs and landings as they get their own engines going.

Saying 'Bon Voyage' to 2008

Taiwan, along with the rest of the world, is almost finished weathering the ups and downs of the last 12 months. Letting 2008 go in style and on a budget is a great way to set an example for the rest of the year. After all, what better time than New Year's to look toward a brighter future? When you're ready to count down to last 10 seconds of 2008, just close your eyes and repeat, "Everything will be great...next year!" And if that doesn't work out, there's always 2010.

Taiwan Fun Magazine is required by government regulations to remind you not to drink and drive.

Preparing a house party for New Year's Eve

This year's economic downturn may be also taking a toll on New Year celebrations. Instead of attending extravagant countdown parties, many are instead considering organizing their own house parties. However, planning a dinner party is never easy, especially for those who don't cook. As a veteran party hostess, I think the key to a successful house party is not your cooking skills but, rather, your knowledge of what to purchase for the festivities. If you read on, you'll realize that you don't even need to turn on the stove in order to throw a good party!

Bread & cheese are the basic elements of any party. But real good bread is hard to find in Taiwan. One suggestion is country bread and French baguettes from Maison Kayser, which go well with any cheese, or simply with olive oil and vinaigrette.

Finger food, or bite-sized snacks, is the ideal serving option when it's not a sit-down formal party. Dean & Deluca catering has many cold and warm hors d'oeuvres to choose from. Once you confirm the number of your party guests, this business will prepare accordingly.
When it comes to sweets, serving chocolate fondue with marshmallows and fresh fruit will keep your guests warm on New Year's Eve. Heat up the fondue pot from Cacao et Chocolat in a microwave for just two minutes and, voila, you have the perfect dessert for a group of six to seven people.

Last, and most importantly, you'll need champagne for toasting in the new year. Moet et Chandon is the brand that literally stands for champagne. If you would like something with less than 12% alcoholic content, sparking wines are great substitutes with only about 6%.