NYE '10 @ Cloudland

Last year we celebrated our NYE in spectacular style on the James Craig on Sydney Harbour.  Brisbane's NYE is basically just a repeat of Riverfire - fireworks, music, etc at South Bank.  We figured that if there was nothing that grabbed our imagination & we couldn't be in Sydney, we'd rather just spend a quiet night at home, just the 2 of us - maybe our neighbor, Dearna, joining us for a bbq.  I know that sounds rather boring, but we'd had an absolutely fabulous Xmas with family & friends and didn't mind having a quiet one.  So that was the plan.....

I was browsing the 'net on the evening of the 30th, looking up a local band who we'd seen at the Multicultural Festival.  One site led to another, and I came across this advert....

“When the first dark had fallen around them

And the leaves were weary of praise

In the clear silence Beauty found them

And showed them all her ways.

At midnight in the heavenly garden

Where the angels played with the birds,

Beauty, before their hearts could harden,

Had taught them heavenly words.

And when day wearied and night grew stronger,

and they slept as they must,

Then Eve waited a little longer,

And blossomed from their dust…”

New Years Eve 2010 will see Cloudland transformed into a Utopian ‘Garden of Eden’- showcasing a symphony for the senses that will shine through to the next decade.

Our gorgeous garden nymphs, striking centaurs and a Utopian Adam & Eve will be at your beck and call – serving a decadent package of cocktails, canapes, midi meals and the heady delight of French Champagne at the stroke of Midnight!

Performance artists will rove Cloudland’s gardens all evening – sometimes in awe inspiring aerial displays - showering you with laughs, gasps and jaw dropping, spine tingling moments.

Musical pleasures are an exciting mixture of sultry salsa sounds from live bands and funky and electric DJ’s all night long.

New Years Eve 2010 is the time for a new year, new beginnings and a refreshing new style of party…

Please join us for other-worldly delights in a celebration that embraces all things wonderfully natural and pure with a temptingly wicked edge!

 Now THAT had my imagination doing pirouettes on the high wire!  On the spur of the moment, I booked our tickets!  The following pics are ones I took of the internet 'cos my pics just didn't do the place justice.

 

The front of the building - we actually had seen this place before when we went to the Valley Market.

 

I love all the organic shapes...

 

All the plants are living - no fake plastic dust gatherers!

  

The whole roof is retractable and is quite amazing when it's open

  

  

  

The China Bar downstairs is made from 14 tons of creamy marble from China.

 

Upstairs this Glass Ball Bar is made of 19,000 hand strung glass balls.  Absolutely spectacular with the light shining through.

Dress code was smart.  A bit of a scramble at such a late date, but fun getting dressed up for a change.

 

The front again - that centre glass piece has water constantly flowing down like a waterfall - beautiful!

  

  

We'd been at the party for a few minutes when these two wended their way through the crowd.  The scary guy on stilts came up to me and with a great flourish, handed me a beautiful shiny red apple.  I took it somewhat shyly, thanked him and put it down on the table in front of me because everyone was watching.  He wouldn't leave though, he kept gesturing and miming for me to take a bite.  Eve and the evil serpent in Eden crossed my mind....  That was when I decided to jump in with both feet & get into the swing of the party.  Life's too short to be self conscious!  I took a great big bite of the shiny red apple and he made a great show of applauding and getting everyone else to applaud me.  :-)   

A great icebreaker if there ever was one!  

  

There was always something happening.  All night. 

  

  

What skill.....  what muscles....  mmmmm......

  

We heard drumming from upstairs......

  

With salsa carnival dancers...

  

Scott upstairs - enjoying one of many glasses of champagne

  

Ah!  I love parties where they just keep topping up those glasses!

  

Looking towards the door from the China Bar

  

Scott ordering a cocktail at the China Bar

  

There was a mermaid!

  

Cocktails!

  

Scott liked the mermaid

  

Scott really liked the mermaid

  

She was gorgeous!

  

Champagne anyone?

  

A hooluhoopin' bunny wabbit

  

The mermaid dancing in a sea of bubbles

  

Adam...? 

  

The nymphs, the bunny wabbit & the bed of nails...

  

The scary guy on stilts, the nymphs, Adam, the bunny wabbit & the bed of nails...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Very scary! 

  

  

  

The scary guy giving out more apples

  

The revellers

  

Adam & Eve...

  

  

  

    

....  did a whole aerial show which was really hard to capture!  

  

After all the champagne, I headed to the ladies.....  I felt like Alice in Wonderland!!!  If you look carefully, you can see the hand dryers about halfway down - the mirror wall is just after that.  The person at the end was standing behind me!  Figure that one out!

  

Inside the cubicles were these beautiful wall tiles with a curved mosaic ceiling.  Absolutely stunning!

  

Scott on the dance floor with the scary guy & his temptress

  

His makeup was absolutely incredible!  The detail was astounding - look at his fingers.  His tongue had also been black - this must've been quite late because it wasn't as dark as it had been.

  

She was gorgeous - reminded me of Tori Amos with that red hair

  

  

 

A lovely couple who had been at a dinner in the private dining room upstairs.  They cam down for a bit of dancing and we had a great time with them.

 And finally, here are a few clips of video I took on the night.  Enjoy!