It’s a New Year’s gong show as a giant bell is struck at Tokyo’s Zojoji temple. (Katsumi Kasahara / Associated Press)
Japan
The celebration at the Buddhist temple drew a packed crowd on Wednesday. (Katsumi Kasahara / Associated Press)
Malaysia
Partygoers dance in front of a laser-and-water display that spells out “2009” during celebrations in Petaling Jaya. (Lai Seng Sin / Associated Press)
Korea
New Year’s Eve brings crowds of South Koreans out to watch fireworks light up the sky in Seoul. (Kim Jae-Hwan / AFP/Getty Images)
United Kingdom
Lee Dingsdale, a police constable, gets a kiss from Aiden Cooper as revelers take to Princes Street to celebrate New Year in Edinburgh, Scotland. Around 100,000 people were expected to brave freezing temperatures for the party. (Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images)
New Zealand
A couple share a kiss at the stroke of midnight during the Highlife New Year’s Eve Experience at a park in Matakana. (Sandra Mu / Getty Images)
Singapore
Giving sparklers a twirl, residents of Singapore mark the end of 2008. (Roslan Rahman / AFP/Getty Images)
