4 places in S'pore to avoid on New Year's Eve if you have a phobia of crowds

Introverts, take note.

Belmont Lay | December 31, 2017, 04:03 AM

Nothing screams, "Oh my god get me out of here", like an outdoor event touted as a New Year's Eve celebration in Singapore.

Without further ado, here are four places you must avoid like the plague if you have a phobia of too many bodies congregated at one particular area:

1. Marina Bay Countdown 2018

The bay area is an absolute no-no for any self-respecting introvert.

This countdown event has been billed as “Singapore’s largest countdown celebration” year after year.

And true to form, it attracts tens and even hundreds of thousands of people who loiter and squeeze along the sidewalks and threaten to spill onto the roads, all in the name of ushering in the new year.

Hundreds of these people will be photographers who are lugging around tripods and huge lenses. They have no qualms stationing themselves at one particular spot for hours on end, and if you have to make your way around them, you just do.

And when they say the Marina Bay and Civic District will be transformed with light projection shows and firework displays, what they mean is that it will be sweaty while brighter than an average night.

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Merlion and ArtScience Museum will be crowded because people want to record down the fireworks display, which they would subsequently never watch again on their phones.

Meanwhile, an outdoor bazaar will be held at The Float @ Marina Bay, where you can shop and picnic, but in all likelihood, you'd spend your time wondering how much is surge pricing later on.

2. Marina Bay Carnival

On a regular weekend, this place is packed with thousands of people.

In the first week, some 250,000 people showed up and everyone just got hustled along.

Look at how much fun they are having:

The carnival will be open from 3pm to 2am at The Promontory and Bayfront Event Space on New Year's Eve, so you can just imagine 11 hours of non-stop human beings packed to the brim thinking it is all worthwhile because it is only once a year.

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3. Siloso Beach Party

If you are so done with squeezing with people on the mainland, well, you should know that there is always the option of squeezing with as many people in an even smaller island south of Singapore.

Yup, your eyes are not playing tricks on you: The photo does show thousands of people with their hands in the air like they just don't care, which is due to their extroversion.

Sand between their toes, sand in all their crevices.

For those who feel that the crowds are getting to them on the beach can then opt to do bungee-jumping off the 15-storey AJ Hackett tower, which overlooks the Siloso Beach Party at Sentosa.

There are a variety of bungee jumps to momentarily get away from the crowd below -- before joining them back again because a bungee jump takes seconds while the crowd on the beach will be there for hours until 7am perhaps.

4. Countdown By The Quay: A Wander Soiree

The clubs at Clarke Quay will be packed.

The area outside the clubs will also be packed.

So, it doesn't really matter if you are inside or outside the club.

Therefore, the most obvious benefit of standing outside is the closer proximity to a transportation option.

All the best and have a subdued start to 2018.