We had a great Christmas with the family, then we took off for New Year's Eve at the famous Patong fireworks night. We were joined there by many yachts etc, it was standing room only! Lorraine and Graeme joined us so did Alpha Centauri 11 another Crowther.Once ashore we met up with others for pre dinner drinks which became dinner of roast suckling pig, chicken fish, prawns etc all for $8 per head, not bad for us Aussies all hit with the bad financial situation.
At about 9.30 back on the dinghys and out to Katani to await the fireworks. We all sat on the huge front deck in deck chairs {as you do} with a front stalls view of the whole beach. The fireworks and hot air lanterns were already underway!! Thousands of ricepaper lanterns with a small flame inside and these wonderful balloons filled the sky, gently drifting on the breeze. The fireworks did NOT STOP for over 3 hours. All along the beach were separate displays going off. Some huge fireworks that filled the sky, we have never seen anything like it.
The only downside to Patong was the 9am to 5pm constant noise of jet skis, speed boats towing parachutes, all coming as close to the boats as possible, we had to go ashore to avoid going nuts!!