Unique Experiences – Travel with KKday

Where Should You Go for New Year’s Eve?

Out of all the holidays in the year, New Year’s Eve is the loudest and most celebrated of all. Spanning countries and cultures, each city has its own way of ushering in the new year. Here are our top picks for the best cities to celebrate.

Sydney, Australia

As one of the first cities in the world to enter the new year, Sydney constantly sets the bar high for celebrations across the world. As the whole city gears up to celebrate, you’ll find indigenous smoking ceremonies, mini-light shows, and boat parades. Cruise along Sydney Harbour, and see the city come to life with a brilliant light show before Sydney sets its sky ablaze with an incredible fireworks display.

Book theNew Year’s Eve 2018 Fireworks Cruise with KKday over here.

Paris, France

At the City of Lights, thousands gather to witness the Eiffel Tower explore into light as fireworks burst from the Parisian symbol to usher in the new year. The night is full of music and dancing, as Parisians and travelers celebrate all over the city with Champagne bottles in hand. But if you’re looking for a quieter place to share that New Year’s kiss, take a romantic boat ride and cruise along the Seine, where you’ll see the fireworks reflect magnificently on the river.

With KKday, you can book an Eiffel Tower Tour + Seine River Cruise with just a click!
Or opt for the Paris Seine River Cruise over here.

London, England

Milk the New Year’s celebration down to the last second when you head to London. Three hours before midnight, the city comes alive as residents and some 10,000 performers sing along to “Auld Lang Syne,” before gathering at the banks of the River Thames. There, you’ll witness a spectacular light show as Big Ben chimes in the New Year. Of course, for a truly unique view, take a ride on the famous London Eye. When you wake up the next morning, head out into the streets to witness the London’s New Year’s Day Parade.

Tokyo, Japan

For health and happiness, feast on a piping bowl of buckwheat noodles and listen to the temple bells ringing. Known as Joya No Kane, the Japanese-Buddhist tradition of ringing temple bells 108 times is said to banish evil passions and desires so we can begin the new year cleansed and renewed. Visit a temple to ring a bell and make a wish. And if you can, linger on until January 2 and visit the Imperial Palace—only one of the two days a year the Emperor opens the grounds to the public.

Visit some of Japan’s most beautiful Buddhist temples with a KKday temple hopping tour.

Rio, Brazil

For the best New Year’s Party, head to Rio. On December 31, its famous Copacabana Beach is filled with loud music, colorful costumes, live performances and attractions, and wild events that make for the world’s biggest beach party. For good fortune, come dressed in white and toss flowers into ocean as an offering to Yemanja, the Goddess of the Sea. Afterwards, drink and dance the night away, but pause to see the small fleet of boats set off incredible fireworks over the ocean.

New York City, New York

Best New Year's Celebrations in the World: New York City — New Year’s Eve: New York City (Flickr/Peter Stevens)

Last, but definitely not the least: New York City. The city that never sleeps is an exciting place year-round with over 80 attractions to see, but it pulls all the stops on December 31 with its blazing neon lights, fireworks, and of course: the crystal ball drop. For over 100 years, millions have elbowed their way past the crowds of Broadway and Seventh Avenue to see the Waterford crystal LED ball drop to usher in the new year. Don’t settle for the live stream this year, and experience one of America’s favorite traditions yourself.

This Winter is Your Best Chance to See the Northern Lights

When it comes to the Northern Lights, photos just don’t do them justice.

Also known as the Aurora Borealis, this celestial spectacle constantly makes its way onto every traveler’s Bucket List. This natural phenomenon occurs when gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere collide with charged particles from the sun. The result? Grand aural displays of rippling curtains, shooting rays, and scattered clouds in all sorts of brilliant colors.

Why you should see them now

Scientists and explorers have been enchanted by the northern lights for centuries. Contrary to popular belief, they aren’t disappearing. But scientists have discovered that auroral activity comes in cycles, peaking roughly every 11 years. And with every passing year until 2025, we’ll be seeing less lights and more dark, empty skies.

As the name implies, the Northern Lights are best seen close to the north pole in the Arctic Circle. And the best season to catch them is between the months of September and March, where the skies are dark and cloudless. Of course, the light show can vary from day to day, even within this season so it’s best to check out the auroral forecast.

If you’re ready to tick this experience off your lifetime bucket list, here are the best places to see the lights.

Fairbanks, Alaska

The main draw of Alaska is its accessibility, especially if you’re coming from America. But compared to the other places on our list, Fairbanks suffers from more light pollution—not ideal for catching the lights.

Fortunately, clearer skies are just a short drive away. Book a hotel or Airbnb in Fairbanks, and drive out to the Chena Hot Springs, a world renowned resort that’s also great viewing spot for the northern lights.

Reykjavik, Iceland

If you’re worried about the frigid cold, then head to Iceland. Yes, it sounds oxymoronic, but the warm waters of the Gulf Stream make for pleasantly mild climate.

Apart from the Aurora Borealis, Iceland is full of untapped natural wonders, from its numerous active volcanoes, underground lava formations, and geysers.

Tromsø, Norway

If you’re looking for a festival experience, then head to Tromsø, Norway: Aurora Borealis, Norway. Thanks to the tourist boom of the Aurora Borealis, this small city has developed a lively nightlife and is a friendly place for tourists.

Just outside the city are the majestic arctic fjords, which make for a truly great Aurora Lights experience. Enjoy a traditional Norwegian dinner on the deck of a historic ship as you see the colorful lights shoot from the glassy-ice cliffs.

Abisko, Sweden

Last but not least, there’s the small and secluded Abisko town in Sweden. With its unique micro-climate and low urbanization, Abisko is the best place to see the Northern Lights in all their celestial grandeur.

There are a number of ways to see the lights here. You can rent a private car and go Aurora chasing on your own, or take ride a snowmobile. But for a truly intimate viewing experience, head to the Aurora Sky take a chairlift up to mountaintop. Up this high, you’ll feel like you can catch the light with your bare hands.

There’s so much to see and do when you head up north. Be sure to check out our website for more Aurora Borealis Tours, and keep reading our blog for more exciting guides!

Asia’s Most Haunting Sites

We know what makes a good scare—whether it’s the terrifying encounter with the 7 Deadly Sins at Universal Studios Singapore’s Halloween Night, or a look into history’s most notorious serial killer. This Halloween, we’ve got a lot of tricks up our sleeves and to start off, here are Asia’s Most Haunted Places.

Chibichiri Cave, Okinawa, Japan

Haunted Halloween in Okinawa, Japan: Chibichiri Cave

Japan has lots of somber memorials from the war, like the Hiroshima Memorial.The Battle of Okinawa left behind a number of haunted caves and when the Japanese lost the war, they were told to kill themselves rather than surrender to the Americans. So many soldiers—and even civilians—took this to heart and killed themselves in the Okinawa caves. Today the skull sculptures are kept as a memorial of the war, and a number of visitors come to pray for family members. But the claustrophobic caves and skulls protruding from the walls continue to be a harrowing sight.

Gonjian Psychiatric Hospital, South Korea

Haunted Halloween: Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital (123RF/Vincent St. Thomas)

Up until 1995, the Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital was a fully functioning asylum. But after a number of mysterious deaths that authorities could not pinpoint, it was forced to shut down. In the last twenty years since its closure, the building—together with the hospital beds and equipment—have rotted nastily, leaving a haunting look to passerby today.

Many have claimed they can still hear disembodied cries through the cracked windows. The grounds have been closed off to the public since the hospital was shut down, but a number of thrill-seekers find a way to sneak in and explore.

Tak Tak School, Hong Kong

This old abandoned school have earned a notorious reputation for being the most haunted place in Hong Kong. It’s built on a mass grave where local residents were killed by the British for resisting eviction. When the school closed in 1998, a rumour went around that the headmistress hanged herself in the girl’s toilet which wearing a red dress dress—thus spinning stories of a red-clothed spirit wandering the grounds. Until now, the school is the source of many stories of paranormal activities.

Lawang Sewu, Indonesia

Haunted Halloween in Indonesia: Lawang Sewu

Apart from great Bali Beaches, Indonesia has a few other secrets. The building may look like any other old building, but Lawang Sewu, which was built during the Dutch occupation, is rife with tragedy. During its early days, the building was already tainted with stories of headless ghosts and paranormal activity, the most famous one of a Dutch woman committing suicide. But its most infamous event was during World War II, when it became an actual battleground. Indonesia and Japanese troops clashed right at this site, and supposedly a number of soldiers were held captive and tortured within Lawang Sewu’s walls.

Clark Hospital, Philippines

Clark Air Base after Mt. Pinatubo's eruption — The Clark Air Base following Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption. This led to the the hospital closing down.

This former US Army Hospital is said to be haunted by the ghosts of soldiers. During World War II and the Vietnam War, it served as an asylum for the injured and dying troops. Because it was a war-time hospital, many of these deaths were violent and brutal. The hospital was abandoned following the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, but locals say you can still see and hear the screams of the spirits.

These places are not for the faint-hearted. But for anyone just looking from some fun thrills and chills without risking bringing home any evil spirits, then be sure to attend Universal Studios Singapore’s Halloween Horror Nights 7.

Haunted Halloween: Universal Studios Singapore (image from Universal Studios Singapore)

Book a ticket with us and get access to over five haunted houses, two scare zones, and two night shows! Book your Halloween Horror Night right here!