In with 400,000 bangs

Happy new year to all.
 
Having to return to work in Dubai between Christmas and New Year has some compensations. No rain for starters.
 
Last night I was on the beach watching this firework display about a mile from the closest part of the display
 
At midnight we could see the Burg Kalifa fireworks some 12 miles to the north (Most of the news channels seem to be showing that display), followed by another distant display, the the Palm World displayed followed, 400,000 fireworks in 6 minuites. To give it a sense of scale the Palm is 3.3 miles in diameter.I was on the "mainland" about a mile from the closest fireworks.
 
 

Is that the fireworks display that set the Guinness world record?  

One thing is they seemed to have missed out of some of the promotional value of this display. All the International news media I saw were concentrating on the separately organized display at the Burj Khalifa (worlds tallest building). Maybe it was because the record breaking event did not happen until 12:20 http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-sets-new-world-record-as-it-welcomes-in-2014-533062.html
 
I am not sure why, at the time I thought they were planning it so the events went in sequence but it seems it was not intentional. A possible cause was the traffic chaos caused by the authorities not enforcing the trafic restrictions and bus lanes. Apparenty many people missed the Sandance music festival with Emeli Sadne and Pete Tong at the end of the Palm because the shuttle busses were taking 3 hours rather than 10 minutes to make the journey.
 
I glad I only had a short walk from my apartment to the beach.