Dutchmen's Landing Park in Catskill, New York

Located in Greene County in the mid-Hudson Valley, Dutchmen's Landing Park is a short drive from Catskill's Main Street area. This peaceful mid-Hudson Valley park is right on the Hudson River, and the park's four launch ramps make it a mecca for boaters. There's a lot to see at Dutchmen's Landing, and on a summer afternoon you can spot a variety of interesting boats of all sizes making their way up and down the Hudson.

Dutchmen's Landing is an ideal spot for that family reunion or summer get together. The park is fully equipped with barbeques, picnic tables and benches, and a playground for the kids. The snack bar at Dutchmen' Landing serves the usual summer fare like hamburgers, sandwiches, French fries and onion rings, as well as ice cream and cold drinks. Also check out the summer concert series at Dutchmen's Landing for great live music by popular local bands and performers.

While visiting Dutchmen's Landing in Catskill, don't forget to look across the river to Olana. The Persian castle that was the home of Hudson River School painter Frederic Church is visible in the distance.

The Historic Catskill Point in Catskill, New York

Just a few steps away from Dutchmen's Landing, The Historic Catskill Point is a hub of summer activity in Catskill. Located at the bottom of Main Street and just a short walk from Dutchmen's Landing, The Historic Catskill Point is host to a number of fun, warm weather events.

The warehouse building at The Historic Catskill Point is the location for the Riverside Farmer's and Artisan's Market held on Saturdays during the summer and early fall. There you will find a variety of goods for sale, including fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and baked goods, as well as locally produced art and crafts. Visitors to the Market enjoy music performances as part of “Music at the Market” presented by the Greene County Council on the Arts.

The Historic Catskill Point also hosts a number of festivals throughout the season, such as the Catskill Mountain Ginseng/Medicinal Herb Festival and the Shad Festival. Theatrical performances given by Classics at the Point theater ensemble in the Warehouse at the Point are a highlight of the summer. The popular group returns to The Historic Catskill Point each summer, performing classic plays in a riverside setting.

Catskill Point Park, adjacent to the historic Warehouse at the Point, is a perfect place to sit and enjoy the river. This park is one of those intimate mid-Hudson Valley locations where the visitor is just steps from the Hudson, and the Point offers unobstructed views of the river. During your trip to the park, check out the small maritime center at The Historic Catskill Point that documents the history of the area.

Catskill Point offers no picnicking facilities or refreshments at the park; however, Catskill Point Restaurant and Bar is right next door. Enjoy drinks and dinner from the deck of the Catskill Point Restaurant while you take in the magnificent Hudson River views.

Athens Riverside Park in Athens, New York

The village of Athens is one of the sleepiest little towns in upstate New York; however, it boasts one of the most beautiful, peaceful riverside parks in the mid-Hudson Valley. Located adjacent to The Stewart House hotel and restaurant, the park in Athens offers incredible, clear views of the Hudson River.

There are no picnicking facilities available at Athens Park, but the park offers a pavilion and benches that are a few steps from the Hudson River. The park in Athens is a lovely spot to sit awhile and enjoy the Hudson; after spending time in the park, walk across the street and enjoy a meal at The Stewart House.

Some Athens trivia: the village (and the waterfront area) was a film location for Steven Spielberg's movie War of the Worlds.

Hudson Waterfront Park in Hudson, New York

Hudson Waterfront Park in Hudson, New York is one of the newer riverside parks in the mid-Hudson Valley. Newly created by the City of Hudson and located at the bottom of Warren Street near the Amtrak Station, the Hudson Waterfront Park is a tiny, very intimate recreational area that puts the visitor right on the water.

The most prominent feature of Hudson Waterfront Park is the gazebo, which hosts musical performances and other special events. There are no refreshments or picnicking facilities available at the park, just areas of green and benches that are situated right at the river's edge. This small park provides open views of the mid-Hudson Valley's Hudson Athens Lighthouse in the distance, and the Hudson Boat Club is conveniently located right next door. Watch the boats cruise up and down the beautiful Hudson or sign up to take your own Hudson River excursion with Hudson Cruises, also near the Hudson Waterfront Park.

After enjoying time at Hudson Riverfront Park, don't forget to walk along Hudson's Warren Street area, often referred to as the “antiques capital of the Northeast.” On the mile long stretch of Warren Street, you'll find antiques and collectibles, as well as art galleries, fine dining, home furnishings and other unique sights and shops.

Clermont State Park in Clermont, New York

Many visitors to the mid-Hudson Valley don't realize that a beautiful riverside park is tucked away just off Route 9G in Germantown, New York (near Tivoli.) If you see the sign for Clermont State Historic Site, turn in to experience sweeping views of the Hudson River in a peaceful setting.

Clermont was home to many generations of the prominent Livingston family, and their mansion and grounds are now open to the public as a New York State historic site. House tours of the Clermont mansion are given during the summer season, a great way to learn about the history of the Livingston family and the mid-Hudson Valley. While you're there, also check out the garden, the Visitor's Center and the museum gift shop at Clermont State Historic Site.

One of the best features of Clermont is the beautiful park-like setting with many green meadows and pastoral views of the Hudson River. The park that surrounds Clermont State Historic Site isn't steps from the river; however, the way the trees and grounds frame the Hudson from atop the rolling hills makes the location feel very intimate.

Clermont State Historic Site is a perfect place to spread out a blanket and enjoy a picnic on a summer afternoon. Bring some art supplies and sketch or paint scenes of the mansion and river. Consider attending one of the many mid-Hudson Valley festivals and events at Clermont in the warmer months, like Steamboat Days or the annual Fourth of July Celebration. Clermont is ideal for families because it offers an opportunity to learn about mid-Hudson Valley history while enjoying nature and some stunning views of the Hudson River.

1. See a Show - For me, this meant Broadway, but of course, there are many great off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway shows to see. Our choices were Legally Blonde (for her) and A Bronx Tale (for me.) Even for people who ordinarily wouldn't countenance a visit to the theatre I would heartily recommend taking in a show when visiting the city. On Broadway, the production values are so high and the performances so accomplished that there is something for everyone to enjoy.
2. Go to a Comedy Club - This was something that I had been looking forward to and, looking back on my trip, I would say was one of the highlights. I visited The Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village. The comics were uniformly excellent and the atmosphere was great. The only thing missing from my mental image of this sort of club, garnered from years of television and movie watching, was a smoky haze lingering over the low-lit tables, but I can't say I was overly disappointed about that. One thing worth mentioning is that any shy and retiring types who are thinking about visiting should opt for a table at the back, or risk becoming part of the show as I did!
3. Go Really Really High! - That is, visit either the Empire State Building (ESB) or the Top of the Rock (TOTR) at the Rockefeller centre. I went up both buildings and wouldn't like to say which I preferred. I can certainly see why many people have expressed a preference for TOTR, given the overall more visitor friendly experience that it offers, from the interesting documentaries showing as you make your way to the top, to the Perspex barriers that offer unobstructed views of the city, as opposed to the wrought iron barriers at the ESB. Of course, you also get to view the bigger building from afar which is also a thrill, and the views of Central Park are breathtaking. However, the ESB is taller and that will be enough for many people. Whichever you choose to visit though it really is a thrill being so high, especially if you hail, as I do, from somewhere where the tallest buildings are no more than a few hundred feet in height. Ideally, if your budget allows, I would recommend visiting one in daylight and one at night time, to get the best of both worlds.
4. Take a Walk in the Park - Central Park is a gorgeous leafy idyll in the middle of the concrete jungle that is Manhattan, and as such, is something you should explore as fully as possible. I saw too little of it really, and should I go back to New York, as I sincerely hope to, I shall try and see more. You can take a romantic (if short and expensive) horse and carriage ride in the park if you so wish, ice-skate (in winter), or simply take a walk and enjoy the views. The snow that fell whilst I was there, made for some truly memorable views of the park, and it was really all quite magical, seeing a landscape you have seen on celluloid dozens of times blanketed in a pure, white veneer of snow. (Though we did get rather cold after a while!) So if possible, go when it snows!
5. Walk the Bridge - A lot of the things that I did in NYC cost a pretty penny, despite often being well worth it, but they say the best things in life are free, and walking the Brooklyn bridge, like the park, is a must-do, and best of all won't cost you a thing. The views looking back towards Manhattan island are breathtaking and make for some great photographs, especially if you do it on a cloudless day as we did. I only wish we had skipped breakfast though, so as to grab a pizza at Grimaldi's across the water. Reports from a couple of close friends suggest this alone is worth the walk.
6. Grand Central Terminal - A handsome building from the outside, with nothing short of a breathtaking interior. The main concourse, with it's 150ft high vaulted ceiling, is decorated with a representation of the stars of the night sky. For me, always associated as being the scene of the frantic dénouement of Carlito's Way, and doubtless featured in dozens of other films, this cavernous room is awe-inspiring. See if you can spot the one darkened patch in the ceiling left after the restoration to remind the public how dirty it once was. Also, visit the "whispering wall" where you can stand in opposite corners and hold a conversation in no more than a whisper thanks to an acoustic anomaly with the buildings vaulted walls. Aside from the concourse there are numerous shops and restaurants to visit, including the famous Oyster bar which I wanted to check out but again, my appetite failed me. Oh, I almost forgot, Grand Central is also a functioning train station!
7. Visit Lady Liberty and follow in the footsteps of millions of immigrants - Although an obvious choice, I thoroughly enjoyed taking the ferry out to Liberty Island to see "Liberty Enlightening the World." It's very interesting to see something in the flesh, so to speak, that you have seen a million times in books and on television etc. The museum is well thought out and the views from the pedestal great, though it's a shame you can no longer access the statue itself. The immigration centre at Ellis Island is thought-provoking and has some very interesting exhibits, notably actual belongings that early immigrants brought with them on their long journey to their new lives. Through the museum, you get a real sense of what it would have been like to be an immigrant coming to New York, one hundred years ago. I particularly admire the way the main registry room, on the second floor has been left bare, leaving you to imagine the hustle and bustle that would surely have taken place there all those years ago. We took the first ferry of the day and would advise anyone else to do the same, to avoid the longest queues. If you are on a tight budget and are giving the islands a miss, I would definitely recommend the Staten Island ferry which is free and offers comparable views of Manhattan. Plus, you get to tick another of the five boroughs off your list!
8. Times Square Baby! - Now, here's an attraction that a lot of people tend to get a little sniffy about but which your average tourist will love. I grant you that you will not want to spend too much time here and those who live in the city or have visited many times before may avoid it altogether. However, if you have seen the neon 100ft signs of Times Square immortalised on celluloid your entire life then it is somewhere you will definitely want to see. It certainly is not a disappointment as regards the size and buzz of the place; it really is as vibrant as it seems on screen, and for the first few hours many will be as bewildered as I was. The fact is you simply cannot stop looking up and around you. Yes, it's a tourist trap, and the shops, bars and restaurants are so themed but hey, what a tourist trap?! When you have grown up with the ubiquitous image of Times Square as New York then you have to allow yourself a little time to indulge in some crass commercialism; buy the I love NY tees, grab some Hershey bars, go nuts for M&Ms (ha-ha.) Don't however, eat at the Hard Rock Café or Appleby's, you can do better than this.
9. Eat, drink and be merry - One of the things I was most looking forward to about New York was the wealth of dining options. I made some reservations before I arrived and had some terrific meals, most notably at The Red Cat and Maze by Gordon Ramsay at the London. It wasn't just fine dining however that I relished but just the whole New York vibe, again, dare I say, influenced by movies, of being able to decide at any time of the day to have, say, Polish food and being able to find it. I ate eggs over easy with home fries in a diner, then hotdogs from street vendors and huge porterhouse steaks from upmarket steakhouses. And I loved it. It was everything I had imagined and more. Little things like having a beer in a small bar like Jimmy's Corner and then midnight club sandwiches in a diner made me really very happy. Call me easy to please but these were the things that I envisaged doing when I visited NYC and I was happy that it was as I imagined.
10. Shop till you Drop! - When asked whether I was going to do a lot of shopping in New York, I tended to answer in the negative, reasoning that I could shop anywhere and that I had more important things to see and do than walk round shops all day. Then I got there. Boy, can you shop in the Big Apple. To come from the UK, where prices for most consumer items are considerably more, we would have been crazy not to splash out; especially given the great exchange rate us Brits are receiving currently against the dollar. We bought mainly clothes and gifts for friends and family, as well as tourist tat like the aforementioned I Heart NY t-shirts and a huge Hershey's mug that I couldn't resist despite not liking the peanut butter filled chocolate cups that it was filled with. In short, NYC is a shopper's dream, from the boutiques of Greenwich Village to the world's largest department store (Macy's).

Phew! So that's my list of my favourite things to do in New York. All Manhattan I'm afraid, but I will be sure to get into the other boroughs on my return. But wait there's more; a couple of things that I was disappointed with and would thus not recommend to other people:

1. New York Cheesecake - Sure to be a controversial choice and it may be a cultural thing but, hailing from England, I say, “Sponge base on cheesecake?!!” Not for me I'm afraid
2. Chinatown - I wanted: a vibrant local ethnic community with great restaurants and Chinese food stores. I got: street hawkers selling every counterfeit item under the sun.
3. The Museum of Natural History - We had time for one museum and my other half enjoys natural history museums. How I wish we had gone to the Met. Uninspiring and, frankly, dull.

Contemporary Gallery has been born with the exhibition, “Whimsy: Celebrating the Power of "Why Not?"” The temporary contemporary art gallery opens June 11 at 230 Harrison Street in Downtown Syracuse, thanks to the support of J.F. Real Estate. The opening reception is on Friday the 13th in conjunction with the opening of the Everson Biennial down the street. Designed as an afterparty for the Biennial, the reception will run on June 13th from 7 - 10 PM. The exhibition will continue through Friday, July 18 with plenty of special events to be announced on the gallery's website.

The art featured in “Whimsy: Celebrating the Power of "Why Not?"” includes art books, drawings, fabric art, film, illustration, installation art, intaglio prints, works in mixed media, paintings, photo etchings, photography, sculpture, and video art. The majority of artists represented come from the New York State area. The theme “whimsy” is inspired by its definition: 1. The quality of being quaint, odd, or playfully humorous, especially in an endearing way; 2. An idea that has no immediately obvious reason to exist. Since the gallery itself was created on a whim as a labor of love, it seemed appropriate for the theme of the exhibition to exemplify these characteristics. A series of film screenings will share the same theme with films curated by John Craddock, Assistant Director of the Syracuse International Film Festival.

Contemporary Gallery Co-Founders Roslyn Esperon and Courtney Rile met in February of 2006. Esperon was interning at Delavan Art Gallery when Rile was invited back to Syracuse from traveling by Bill Delavan to be the Gallery Coordinator. Over two years later, the two have continued to work together at the Gallery in various capacities and have also become friends. They both thank Bill Delavan for his guidance and support.

When it comes to the timing, Rile says, “It worked out well because Delavan Art Gallery is closed for the summer and Roslyn will be moving away in the fall. We had a perfect window.” Roslyn Esperon just graduated this May with a BA in Art History from Syracuse University, where she received wide recognition as a Coronat, Remembrance, and Syracuse University Scholar. Esperon will be attending New York University in the fall to earn a Masters degree in Arts Administration.

Courtney Rile is currently Marketing and PR Coordinator at Delavan Art Gallery as well as Director of Communications at the Cultural Resources Council. She is also a freelance writer, curator, photographer, video editor and video professor at ITT Technical Institute in Liverpool. Rile earned a BFA in Video Art from SU in 2004 and went on to coordinate the “Greenberg In Syracuse: Then & Now” 2005 exhibition at ThINC's Company Gallery and curate video art at Ohm Lounge in Downtown Syracuse before traveling.

Contemporary Gallery will be open for regular business hours on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 11 AM - 7 PM with film screenings every Wednesday at 7 PM. There is an ambitious schedule of special events, including film screenings, a book launch, official Th3 afterparties in June and July as well as a healthy variety of surprises along the way. For a list of artists, more information about the gallery and to see an up-to-date list of events, visit the gallery online at http://contemporarygallery.wordpress.com.

Appetizer and Lunch

A waiter swiftly comes with a mouth-watering salad; you pick up a fork and dig in. The lettuce crunches in your mouth as you bite down on them. You look around and see other people eating many different things. The enriching smell over takes you as you look at your plate. You see an enchilada overflowing with seasoned meat. You take a bite and the taste almost makes you drool. The chefs must have taken forever preparing this for you. Then you realize the main course came to you in about fifteen minutes. You just shrug it off and continue your meal. Only half way done with your main course and you are stuffed like never before. After you finish with the enchilada, you notice a taco to the side. You take a several bites, and before you know it, the taco is gone. You yawn and slouch in you chair. You breathe in the aromas of the different spices. You realize that you cannot manage one more bite only to discover you have ordered dessert.

Dessert

Your eyes virtually pop out of your head. Your thoughts of being full vanish. You smell chocolate and ice cream blending together. You see a chocolate taco with ice cream and whip cream piled on top of each other. You grab your spoon and start shoveling the desert down your throat. You pick up the chocolate taco and bite into it: ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate melt into your mouth. The mouth-watering dessert is gone in a snap. Then you slouch back into your chair feeling sleepy. Then you hear a waiter saying that the bill is ready.

Bill

You slowly, oh so very slowly reach across the table. You grab a little black book. Then you open it slowly. You wish you had not eaten so much. Based on the quality of the food and the speed at which it arrived, this is probably going to be an expensive restaurant. Sweat rolls down your cheeks. The numbers on the check blur in your excitement. Then you come back to your senses. You look at the total and sigh. By some miracle, your appetizers, main course, and dessert were only twelve dollars!

Waiters

Like many restaurants, this could be one of the most enjoyable moments of your day with the atmosphere and delicious food. An additional benefit to eating here would be the ability to converse in Spanish with your waiter. It is not often you get this opportunity and, as the entire staff is Hispanic, they can cheerfully brush you up on your Spanish speaking skills.

Conclusion

At Don Jose, you get distinctly quality food at an amazingly affordable price. The tables are against the wall giving the restaurant a spacious feeling. If you wanted to, you could even eat outside on a patio. The waiters there are very friendly and provide fast service. The only down fall would be that the waiters can be hard to understand at times. They speak fluent English. What makes them hard to understand is their accent. This can cause confusion and sometimes mixed up orders.

There are some amusing opportunities that don't come with a prohibitive price tag and there are ways of enjoying even some of the pricier venues at less expensive rates, but you have to be in the know and a discriminating shopper, so to speak.

Okay, let's get to the tricks of the trade. TKTS, a notable relic in Manhattan offers two cogent alternatives to high-priced Broadway tickets. Same day ticket purchase at its midtown location on the West Side and a day in advance purchase at the South Street Seaport. Of course, you have to wait in line for an extensive period of time - sometimes up to three hours during the holiday season - but the half price tickets are often well worth the wait. The Theater Development Fund offers a $30 yearly subscription per person that entitles the bearer to discounts all year-round on the best of Broadway. All right, very often the tickets are for weeknight performances but a bargain is a bargain.

Then there are a multitude of museums in New York, each one with a prescribed price, but most people do not realize that paying full price is voluntary. Most museums will accept as little as a $1.00 admission fee and not dismiss your patronage out of hand.

There are art galleries to frequent gratis and performance art in Central Park for free during the summer months. Some designers offer sample sales on Seventh Avenue, which is a wonderful place to bargain shop if you have a discerning eye. You can find nice clothes for $10 a piece and a lot of terrific food, house and personal items at Jack's $.99 store on 32nd Street. Next, for the hungry wayfarer who has traversed the City in search of its sights and sounds, there is the food court in the Toys R Us building near Macy's that encompasses the tastiest ethnic foods from many countries - you've got a range from Mexican to Thai.

Also, once you become an aficionado of the department stores and you have at least a semi-permanent address, you can receive sales enticements in the mail and be weighted down with free gifts with purchase at the cosmetics counters. In fact, if you keep your antennae up, you can get two for one or one and a half at spas and salons or free treatments with the purchase of a particular treatment.

All in all New York is the hedonistic Mecca of the world. You can feel “free” to indulge with a restrained pocket if you keep your eyes and ears peeled to the secret underground of the Cheap New Yorker.

There are far too many fine Las Vegas hotel casinos to mention in one article. I've listed the casinos in the order below as you stroll from south to north on the strip. These are the ones I've visited. You will find your own pleasure palaces.

Mandalay Bay Hotel Casino

It's quite new and close to the airport. Like most things in Vegas, it's larger than life, containing a large tropical bay, complete with sandy beach. With 3,700 rooms, many restaurants, and two wedding chapels, and its own House of Blues, it's a world of its own.

Luxor Hotel Casino

Right next door is this black-glass pyramid, guarded by a huge sphinx. It has 4,400 rooms, not counting restaurants, spa, shops, and the replica of King Tut's tomb in the basement.

Excalibur Hotel Casino

For a change of pace, step along to the Excalibur Hotel Casino.

There are 4008 rooms in this huge white castle, which encompasses a complete medieval village. You want dragons, jesters and jousting? You want to take your sweetheart to the Excalibur chapel, become Henry VIII and marry your queen? You can do it here, and the marriage will be legal.

New York, New York

Let's walk past the Tropicana and the MGM Grand, and take a look at New York, New York.

Tourists from the Big Apple will feel quite at home - maybe - with the Statue of Liberty, the skyscrapers, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and Coney Island. You can eat New York food and watch Broadway shows in this small, exclusive (only 2035 rooms!) Hotel Casino.

Monte Carlo

Moving on, past the Aladdin, we reach the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. If you haven't visited the original, this will do nicely. You can visit restaurants, a spa, tennis courts. You can take the River Ride. And, of course, there's the ubiquitous wedding chapel.

Paris

See the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe. Almost 3000 rooms, and quite European. Much of the staff was ferried over from France when the place opened; I don't know how many are left. Don't try to drop a quarter into the more expensive slot machines. Those are $25 slugs being fed in by that (ex)-millionaire.

Bellagio

Pass beneath Bally's moving walkways and enter the Bellagio, a Florentine palace with thousands of fountains and a unique display of dancing waterspouts. Wander the gardens and gaze at the Italian villas. This impressive cathedral of a casino contains a host of restaurants, an art gallery, botanical gardens and two wedding chapels. Take in the shopping mall, the spa, and the aquatic show.

Caesar's Palace Hotel Casino

Caesar's Palace, with its ornate statues and unique design, opened in 1966. It is still one of the most spectacular sights in Las Vegas. It conjures up the grandeur of Imperial Rome, with 2,440 rooms, spa, shops, restaurants, a wedding palace and a circus. Caesar's has been a top attraction in Vegas for three generations of vacationers.

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

Continue past the Imperial Palace, the Mirage, with its erupting volcano, past Harrah's, and you will arrive at Treasure Island. Watch the naval battle, where the British and American navy battle to destruction. Guess which navy wins. There are restaurants and shows, and two wedding chapels, plus a full-sized replica of HMS Britannica, where weddings also take place.

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

Like to visit Venice and ride the canals on a gondola? You can do all that, amongst ornate palaces. Visit the shopping mall and the health spa, and enjoy the wax museum. The hotel has 3,000 rooms, and there are plans for building a 1,200 seat event center.

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

Past the New Frontier, the venerable Stardust, past the Hilton, you arrive at Circus, Circus, the first major casino to cater to families. This place is a circus, a theme park carnival, a casino, and a giant hotel in one exciting package.

We're almost at the end of the strip, now. We walk past the Riviera, the venerable Sahara, built in 1952, and the Palace Station Hotel and casino. What's left?

The Stratosphere

For the grand finale, we might as well soar. The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino anchors the strip, and, at 1081 feet, is the tallest building in Las Vegas. Here, you can dine at the top of the world, and look out at the strip, the downtown lights, and the desert beyond this glittering oasis. This stop is a fitting end to our tour of the sights of Las Vegas.

Now that I have tempted you into booking a flight to the USA immediately, its only fair that I inform you of what you will be treated to before you arrive…the flight. To demonstrate just what is in store, I would like to recount a recent flight I made to New York before catching a connection to Washington DC.

I set off for the airport early with the weather cool. The airport was blissfully quiet and after an uneventful check in, I was given "the forms". The forms provide, in my eyes, the first section of in flight entertainment! They consist of two pieces of bureaucracy. The first inquires about the value of the goods I am bringing into America and the other is the Visa Waiver. Basically, the waiver allows me to enter the US for 90 days to do whatever I want…except get a job, file for welfare, claim a pension or commit any crime (spoil sports). Furthermore, I have to swear that I'm not a terrorist, a communist, a spy, a criminal and that I've never been a Nazi. I have to wonder whether anyone has ever said "yes" to any of these questions. I'm always tempted to say "yes" in an attempt to be funny, however American immigration control…especially in New York, is famous for having large firearms and very little humour!

The flight was actually rather pleasant. The movies were poor, but it didn't matter as I was fortunately sat next to a very nice American lady. We chatted for several hours and after a while, I managed to forget that the seat in front of me had jammed my knees behind my ears and there was a baby screaming behind me.

Since the flight was a connection, I had a 90 minute layover in NY. I sat and read, listening to the permanently annoyed drawl of the New Yorkers rambling around me and boarded my flight at 5pm, heading to Washington DC. It was mercifully under booked and I had a window seat above the engine. I relaxed for nearly five minutes when the captain informed us that an emergency light had flickered to life as he was about to fire the engines and we had to pull off the runway. Suddenly, the window seat over thousands of gallons of jet fuel seemed less appealing. Still, I got a beautiful view of the clouds as we climbed through them and I was happy to be alive for the short flight. Landing in DC, I was amazed that I wasn't anally probed by customs...again, and I headed to the Metro stop, slightly disappointed that Customs had spared me my usual welcome to the US. It's not so bad when you get used to it!

So what have we learned about flying to America? Strike up a conversation with the person next to you whether they like it or not, try and enjoy the probing and never say you are a Nazi…even for a joke!

Malaysia

Like other parts of the world, Malaysia too, celebrates the New Year's Day with great excitement and joyful. Malaysians prefer to celebrate New Year's Eve with much merry-making at public squares like Dataran Merdeka, hotels and restaurants. Though Malaysia is a multi-racial country with races includes Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, Eurasians, Portuguese, indigenous people and other minority races, we are here celebrated the New Year's celebration in harmonious and tranquility, regardless of religions, customs, languages and races. This unity spirit marks the strong unity among the citizens of Malaysians without bios and racism, which highlights the beauty of Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysians gather one hour earlier at the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. Dataran Merdeka is just like the Times Square of New York. Almost all the restaurants and shops have their premises decorated with colorful bulbs, balloons and steamers. The Malaysian flag or “Jalur Gemilang” and the state's flags are swinging gracefully on top of the premises. People prefer to come out in the streets and stay until daybreak to cheer for the arrival of New Year rather than sit in front of the television, as they want to capture the full excitement moment in the mood of New Year's celebration. People will gather at stadiums, coffee shops, café, restaurants, KLCC, Genting Highlands and all parts of states in Malaysia shouting Happy New Year or “Selamat Tahun Baru” to each other when the clock strikes 12 at midnight.

The unique of Malaysians here are unity and family oriented. A day before the New Year in Malaysia, all family members from far of places return to their hometowns for the reunion dinners. We are proud to be Malaysians!

China

In the early morning on January 1, 2008, the Beijing Tiananmen held a grand flag-raising ceremony.

Flag-raising ceremony in China

People from all parts of China gathered here to watch the ceremony while greeting the arrival of 2008.

A child was sitting on the adult's shoulder while watching the flag-raising ceremony.

Japan

Every year on 1 January, Japanese celebrate their New Year or also known as Oshiogatsu or shogatsu. In general, the New Year in Japan commences on 31 December and lasts until 3 January. On every 31 December at the midnight, Buddhist temples ring their bells for 108 times on the last night of the passing year all over Japan. This event is also another major attraction called The Watched night bell held every year in Tokyo during the New Year's Day. The night bell is stricken 108 times symbolizes the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief and get rid of the 108 worldly desires regarding sense and feeling in every Japanese nation. Japanese believe that the tolling of the bells can get rid off their sins of the previous year.

Dezomenshiki in Japan

In Tokyo, the capital of Japan, people bid farewell to the past year and welcome the New Year by undertaking some activities such as Dezomeshiki (New Year's parade of firefighters. Traditional acrobatic stunts are performed by the firefighters of Tokyo in the parade during the New Year's Day in Tokyo) and Special Opening of the Imperial Palace Grounds.

Tokyo, Japan

Japanese eat Herring roe or fish egg (symbolizing fertility), black beans (symbolizing health), dried chestnuts (symbolizing success) and prawns as omens (symbolizing happiness) on the mood of celebrating the arrival of New Year. They also have their traditional mouthwatering delicacies called mochi or white rice cake breakfast called zouni.

Before the New Year's day, they sent cards to their relatives and friends but the postmen will keep them and only deliver the New Year's greeting cards or nengajo at one time on 1 January. All Japanese put on beautiful and finely knitted Japanese traditional costumes to greet their guests. Females will wear Kimono or Yugata on this day.

Japanese children play karuta or a card game, some play hanetsuki or a badminton type of game, and some have takoage or kite flying during New Year's Day. Parents give their children money or otoshidama on New Year's Day. In Japan, Japanese will do hatsu-mode by paying holly visits to Shinto temples and shrines to pray for a healthy and Happy New Year. They put decorations outside their house with pine and bamboo or Kado-matsu to celebrate New Year. They display a large steamed rice cake or Kagami-mochi in a place of importance in the house until 11 January.

South Korea

On 1 January, Korean people rush to sunrise sites in the eastern Gangwon Province and Southern city of Busan (the largest port city in the South Korea) to see the first sunrise of the New Year. Some gather at the east coast cities of Gangneung and Donghae to make wishes as the sun rose on the New Year. Korean Folk Village features at hosting some traditional games and events all over the Korea on New Year's Day. The festival mood of New Year's Eve Celebration includes a series of Korean cultural performances in central Seoul.

Watching sunrise in South Korea

Seoul, South Korea

On New Year's Eve, more than 150-thousand Korean people gather in Jongno district to witness the striking of an old temple bell at the Bosingak (Bonshingak, made in 1468,is the largest pavilion among the Korea's national treasures) pavilion. The bell rings 33 times to greet the coming of New Year. As the festive mood in Korea mounted, Korean people attend a variety of ceremonies and events, including parades, fireworks and traditional cultural performances till the end of the New Year's Day on 1 January every year.

United States of America

One of the unique and unusual New Year's celebrations in United States is the Mummer's Parade (This custom is brought to Philadephia by European settlers and dates back to medieval England, where troupes of costumed performers went house from house presenting a folk drama or Mummer's play at Christmas time. “Mummer” in German refers to a mask. The earliest known Mummer's club was formed in the 1840s and the first official "Mummer's Parade" was held in Philadelphia in 1901) held in Philadelphia on 1 January every year. This parade features at elaborating costumes with ornate costumes that rival those in Mardi Gras parades, comedy and string bands of accordions, saxes, drums, violins, banjos, bass fiddles, glockenspiels, and clarinets. A slide show of the parade is available from Mummer's museum while its photographs are available from Mummer's Picture Gallery.

New York Times Square, U.S.A

The New Year's celebration at Time Square, New York was the ball drop, and its streaming video clips are available at EarthCam.com. The first Ball lowering celebration held on headquarters in Times Square, New York on December 31, 1907 and has proceeded for the past 100 years.

The Waterford Ball is a geodesic sphere with six feet in diameter, and weighing approximately 1,070 pounds. During the New Year at Time Square, New York every year, people there lower the ball. There are 504 Waterford crystal triangles engraved with the names of those lost in the World Trade Center on the ball, with the decoration of 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high-density strobe lights and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors.

In celebrating the arrival of 2008, the Bow Tie of Time Square (42nd to 47th Sts. between Broadway and 7th Ave.) was unavailable to traffic. After lighting the New Year's Eve ball, city officials and guests at the Countdown Stage in the center of Times Square will ring a commemorative bell. By pushing the Waterford crystal button, it marked the final sixty-second countdown prior to the Ball Lowering. The numerals of the New Year “2008” shone high above Times Square, with the light bulbs on the New Year's Eve Ball turned off. A two-minute pyrotechnic display illuminated and glistered with the bursts of custom-mixed colors in the sky above One Times Square accompanying with special effects of computer. The release of the world-famous New Year's Eve confetti from the rooftops of buildings throughout Times Square marking the start of New Year and the people cheered happily and contentedly in the mood of New Year's celebration.

United Kingdom, U.K.

New Year in Britain is a time to drink, eat and dance either at homes or with friends in a club or pub when clock strikes 12 at midnight. Different countries and cities in Britain have their own unique ways to welcome the New Year but the spirit to celebrate the New Year in each person's heart is the same all over the Britain.

The other main feature of New Year in Britain is the tradition custom of “First Footers”, which believes that the first person over the threshold on the New Year's Day will dictate the luck to bring to the particular house on 1 January. Scotland and Northern Ireland had followed this tradition with the first footers bringing in a piece of coal, bread and whisky while crossing the threshold.

London, England

Chinese New Year's Day Parade, London

London's New Year's Day Parade, also known as Hogmanay is famous all over the world. Over thousands of people, more than 10,000 musicians, dancers, clowns and acrobats gather and feast at Trafalgar Square while waiting eagerly for the arrival of New Year. London is by far the best city to be on the New Year's Eve for some of its excellent bars and clubs. Last but not the least, is the traditional dragon dancing, music and entertainment at London's Chinatown.

Scotland

People celebrate Hogmanay (Hogmanay's culture roots back to the pagan practice of sun and fire worship in the deep mid-winter. This fire symbolizes how the light of the knowledge to be handed over from one year to the next, which carries forward the light of hope to a better world) or Scottish New Year on 31 December every year. It has become a great festive season at the large city of Glasgow and Edinburgh. To view “1000 pipers” gathered at Edinburg castle and piping their way down to Holyrood palace, go to Homnanay.com and click some of the video clips.

Fireworks display, Hogmanay's Street Party, Dornoch, Scotland

When the bells of Big Ben chimed at the midnight, everyone sang Auld Lang Syne with lots of kisses. The words to this song are as follows:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o'kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

Scotland “Firstfooting,” (Each year, groups of friends or families do a tour to each others' houses and each family takes turn to provide the meal for the group) and Ceilidhs (Scottish dances) took place in the most remote parts of Scotland. The children in Scotland went from house to house collecting oatcakes. Grand parties were held everywhere at this night, and people celebrated the arrival of New Year with Scottish dances or Ceilidhs.

Spain

Eating 12 grapes is a custom that makes New Year celebrations in Spain unique and New Year in Spain is worth visiting for his nightlife. The night view during the New Year's celebration is amazing, so make sure to be a part of the New Year in Madrid. Spanish people keep 12 grapes ready at the beginning of the New Year and eat one with each chime of the clock symbolizing the 12 months of the year. The grape eating custom dates back to the King of Spain, who gave grapes to everybody to eat on the New Year's Eve with jest and enthusiasm.

As soon as the clock strikes 12, people gather at the Puerta del Sol Square in Madrid cheered happily for the entry of the New Year. New Year in Spain indeed enchants the visitors with the atmosphere dipped in true festive mood, atmosphere and decorations all over the Spain.

In Barcelona, people also participate in 12 grapes eating tradition when clock strikes at 12 midnight. People here are having party, dance, music, drinking and feasting with great enjoyment, enlightening the New Year's atmosphere. Visitors may come to experience countless surprises while having rock band performances to salsa, and from ballroom dance to gourmet delights. Another feature of New Year celebrations include the arrival of Magos who distribute candies and lollipops to all in The Procession of the Three Kings, bottle rockets and other aerial fireworks are being shot off all over the city particularly in Barcelona, furnishing Spain with an aura of jollity and festive atmosphere.

Spanish people celebrated the arrival of the New Year or Año nuevo

A buffoon shakes his hands during a New Year's celebration in Spain's Madrid on December 31, 2007

Germany

In German language, “Silvester” refers to New Year's Eve as the name suggests that a pope who lived in the fourth century has his feast day of Saint Sylvester on 31 December. People here celebrate New Year by dancing, singing, drinking and getting merry. Many Germans prefer playing games to foretell the future of the arrival of the New Year. Dropping molten lead into cold water is one of the famous games that predicting the future according to the shapes it takes in the cold water. Some prefer to share this special moment with their friends and loved ones.

When the clock strikes at 12 midnight, Germans hug and wish each other Happy New Year. To celebrate New Year's Eve, Germans usually splash a bottle of fine champagne, burn eye-catching fireworks and party hard.

Germany Brandenburg Gate

In Frankfurt, a city rich in culture and tradition, the sky is dazzling with brilliant firework display. On the New Year's Eve, in almost all the pubs and clubs in Frankfurt, one cannot stop from munching the delicious almond cookies called Brenten, Bethmännchen and drinks like Kinderpunch and Apfelwein. On every 1 January, the traditional New Year's concert is held annually at Alte Oper with performances include Maurice Ravel's Alborada del Cracioso, Klavierkonzert G-Dur, Boris Blacher's Orchestervariationen über ein Thema von Paganini and Mazeppa. Meanwhile in Hamburg, as soon as the clock strikes 12 at midnight, the church bells toll and ships sound their horns, which marks the merriment of the New Year. New Year is a gala event where dance, party and usher in the New Year bidding adieu to the old in the stylist city of Germany has become an important festival in Hamburg, Germany.

France

The French celebrate New Year on 1 January by exchanging gifts, cards and goodies as if Americans celebrate Christmas. Initially, people celebrated the New Year's Day known as “La Saint Sylyestre” in France since 1582.

Paris, France

During the French New Year's Eve, people celebrate with grand pomp and show. Various cultural programs too, take place during the New Year's Day. French make every moment approaching New Year by partying hard with family and dear ones, and bid a joyful farewell to the past year while welcoming the New Year with sparkling success, glorious and excitement. The New Year's holidays in France ends on 6 January with a tradition of cutting cake and types of cakes are in varieties depends on the place where you are in France.

Australia

During New Year in Australia, the Sydney Harbor Bridge is dazzling with more than 80,000 fireworks lit at the Circular Quay in vicinity to the Sydney Opera House. During the New Year's Eve, from a 16km radius around Sydney, one can see the fireworks sparkling with glorious, joyful, and more than 300,000 tourists from all over the world who want to capture the glimpse of the famous fireworks set their legs in Sydney. Everyone set eyes on the clock waiting eagerly for the arrival of the New Year.

Sydney, Australia

Australians prefer to go on picnics, outing and camping on beaches as ways to bid farewell to the past year and at the same time welcoming the arrival of the New Year. Meanwhile, people enjoy themselves by having New Year Party, camping and enjoying bonfires in Sydney. As soon as the clock strikes at sharp 12 at midnight, they ring the Church bells with excitement. People there make loud noises, blow car horns, whistles and shouting Happy New Year to each other. The spirit to celebrate the New Year is the same no matter whether they are at the seaside, in a dance club, at home, in the shopping complex, in a hotel and any other places all over the Australia.

In celebrating the arrival of 2008, people have party along with their beloved family, relatives and friends in Melbourne accompanying with the hottest rock bands performing on Melbourne beaches. For the community of Chinese-Australia, spectacular Great Dragon appears in the streets of Melbourne, marking the arrival of the New Year.

Good-bye 2007, welcome 2008!