LONDON NEW YEARS CHAOS

 As you all know the fantastic London new year's fireworks welcomed 2014. It was billed as a multi-sensory experience with flavoured mist, scented bubbles and snow. If you missed the fantastic firework display here it is: 

I was lucky enough to go and witness the fireworks live, although I was not able to enjoy the flavoured mist and scented bubbles I did get to see a wonderful fireworks display from a decent viewing area.This was the first time I decided to skip all the new year's parties and head down to London. The initial experience was incredibly enjoyable, people were having fun and enjoying the atmosphere even though we had been standing there for over three hours. As the final countdown to 2014 ended we were greeted by an excellent light show. However as soon as the fireworks ended and the BBC

source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk

cameras shut down, a whole new side of the London celebrations appeared.After the last firework went off hundreds of people, like cattle, moved towards the train stations. This in itself was a very hostile situation with broken champagne bottles littering the street, people who were drunk out of their mind falling down and being sick everywhere. There were people pushing and shoving causing other people to get angry and ultimately fights broke out. There were hundreds, no thousands of people walking frantically in different directions because they didn't know where to go, especially those who had travelled from different countries and those who were extremely drunk. Along with all this chaos there were mounted police everywhere and very few foot police, this made matters worse for people trying to find help because trying to shout your question above the roar of the crowd to a police officer who is already on a 5ft horse is extremely difficult. When I got into the line leading to Waterloo station things got worse. I was stuck in a 5 meter wide fence ,that went all the way to Waterloo, along with everyone who came too see the fireworks. It was so packed, at one point I couldn't breath because of people pushing forward. There were people lighting cigarettes  a

source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk

centimetre away from your face . On top of all that havoc you also face pickpockets who just blatantly steal whole purses and disappeared into the crowds, the police couldn't help the people who had been robbed because they were too busy trying to keep an agitated drunk crowd from getting out of control. Once I got to the station after standing in the queue for 3 hours things did get a little better, except for the fight that broke out between two girls which resulted in several people trying to break up this drunken brawl. One girl almost ended up on the tracks on more than one occasion whilst the train was approaching the station. 
         After experiencing that situation, I will now tell you the best way to watch the London fireworks. Firstly, go to a hotel the day before new year' s eve and make sure it has a view of the fireworks. Have a party in that hotel room and enjoy the firework experience. Or just book a London hotel and go really early to the fireworks but get an amazing viewing spot and afterwards instead of going to the station, go to your hotel room and sleep well knowing you have skipped out the chaos below. 

 RULES :
Never travel with young children
Do not mistake this event as a child friendly bonfire night atmosphere!

Travel in two's 
Do not take huge groups unless everyone in that group is capable to getting home if separated.

Do not carry fashion bags
only carry a small amount of cash, one credit card and ID. Put these items in a jacket pocket or small inconspicuous bag.Do not carry flashy useless fashion bags 

And finally Plan your visit 
Don't do what hundreds of other people are going to do. Make sure the experience for you is perfect by planning ahead and being organised. 

I have given my perspective on one of the most talked about event, what's your perspective? I know this is very different to all my other posts but these events are never as they seem so make sure you know what you are going to get. 
As always Seemal