Ringing in the New Year

by Dana Martin

January 1st, 2013

Last night for New Year’s Eve we ate at Soup Dragon. The restaurant had three different levels and our table was reserved on the top floor looking over Pub Street. Pub Street is the main, crowded street in Siem Reap. We ordered a variety of pizzas to share as a group. The table was casual with lounge-like benches and pillows. The restaurant next to us was prepping for the new years party and had balloons, a dance floor and loud music that we were singing along to during dinner.  The girls bought matching Cambodian outfits and wore them to dinner. The outfits consisted of light, patterned pants and a light, white, long sleeve top. After dinner we walked along Pub Street and headed over to the Night Market where we had also been the night before. Everyone was complimenting on our outfits and it seemed to limit the amount of intense bargaining we had experienced the night before. After the Night Market, we walked back to the hotel and watched television and played cards in the room I share with Brooke.  We went to the large, outdoor lobby to count down to midnight. As we did, the streets became very loud and there were fireworks. The fireworks were colorful and very loud and near. Some that stood out to us were a heart shaped one, a smiley face one, and a green one that shimmered. Soon after, we all turned in for the night.