The countdown to 2017 has begun. Will you bring in the New Year amid a festive blast of confetti and trumpets? Or the eerie calm of a desert oasis? ForbesLife India suggests a few favourites
Rock Islands, Palau, South PacificAn enchanting array of over 200 forest-capped islands surrounded by turquoise lagoons. The warm waters all year round make it an excellent diving spot, the pristine reefs and marine life even more so. If this wasn&rsquot enough, there&rsquos a marine lake full of stingless jellyfish to dive into.
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Edinburgh, Scotland Feel the buzz at the city&rsquos legendary Hogmanay (Scot for New Year&rsquos Eve) celebrations. Relish a warming single malt, and join the street party that goes on for three days. Follow the torchlit procession, which finishes with the burning of a Viking longship&mdasha reference to a warrior&rsquos courage. The burning of the longship indicates that they have destr
Image by Russell Cheyne / Reuters
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Vienna, AustriaWaltz into the New Year in style at the New Year Eve&rsquos Ball at the iconic Hofburg Palace, once the seat of Austrian monarchs. If you are lucky enough to get hold of a ticket (they are given out via a draw of lots), don&rsquot miss the Vienna Philharmonic&rsquos New Year&rsquos Day concert. Finish off the evening by raising a toast to your fellow gastronomes at a gala d
Image by herwig Prammer / Reuters
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Mingsha Shan & Yueya Quan, Dunhuang, ChinaThe setting may seem like a mirage at first: A fresh water spring in the shape of a crescent moon set in the middle of vast echoing sand mountains along the famous Silk Route. But it&rsquos not. Climb up the dunes surrounding the lake, and when the wind is a little more than a light breeze, you&rsquoll hear the sand produce a musical tone. Slide d
Image by Feng Li / Getty Images
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Galápagos Islands, EcuadorIt&rsquoll take a while to get to this remote island chain but it is worth it. Here, a unique wildlife hasn&rsquot learnt to fear humans. That&rsquos why you&rsquoll have to watch your feet while walking the park&rsquos trails to avoid stepping on iguanas or nesting birds. Wake up on the New Year morning and swim next to sea lions and turtles. This pristine stret
Image by Michael DeFreitas / McPhoto / Ullstein bild vie Getty Images
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New Orleans, USAIf it&rsquos Mississippi, can a trumpet blast be far behind? Enjoy the local music that accompanies the fleur-de-lis (a stylised lily) drop by the Mississippi river. On New Year&rsquos Eve, a large baby sculpture&mdashwith the fleur-de-lis symbol on its headgear&mdashis lowered from a pole or a building. You can also groove into Jackson Square and Bourbon Street, or take y
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Las Vegas, USAYou can bet that this will be one non-stop party on the Strip. Dynamic action on the dance floor is guaranteed by big-ticket DJs and the hip-hop stars you&rsquove been gawking at in videos. Bring that stash of wads along with your close drinking buddies, dress to impress (everyone here does) and hop on the roulette. (PS: Drake&rsquos taking the stage at Hakkasan at MGM Grand
Image by David Becker / WireImage via Getty Images
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Sossusvlei, Namib desert, NamibiaThe intense orange of the dunes set against the salt and clay pans makes for a surreal desert landscape that has made Sossusvlei the most photographed place in Namibia. Watch the sunrise on a hot air balloon over this landscape or go on a guided walk to see the flora and fauna. If all the pampering at the luxury desert lodges isn&rsquot enough, there&rsquo
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Cappadocia, TurkeyFloat in the sky on a hot air balloon for a glimpse of a spectacular volcanic landscape sculpted by erosion and minaret-like rock formations. Get a grand welcome on touchdown with a glass of champagne. That should help you on your way to exploring a landscape littered with underground cave dwellings, a legacy dating back to the 4th century.
