HLM -Chapter 1347 Impressive

No matter what tickets the others had, Wang Bo had managed to get enough Arctic shrimp oil, so it was time to head home.

Dale still looked reluctant. “Brother-in-law, aren’t we staying for Christmas?”

Wang Bo replied, “We are. We’ll return after Christmas, but Iceland isn’t Finland. Christmas here isn’t all that exciting.”

After seeing the festive splendor in Finland, Christmas elsewhere truly felt underwhelming—just a big party, a major shopping event.

Iceland’s Christmas is known for its long duration. When they arrived, the island had already entered the Christmas season. Every household had put up a tree, and many shopping centers had started Christmas promotions. So by the actual day of Christmas, there wasn’t much novelty left.

Wang Bo had originally planned to casually go to a bar to hang out for a while, but when he learned that the Parliament Square was holding a grand fireworks display, Dale perked up and insisted on going.

Of course, they had to go. Since settling in New Zealand, Old Wang had almost forgotten what grand fireworks looked like—except for Christmas and New Year, fireworks weren’t allowed at other times.

Even during holidays in New Zealand, fireworks were tightly restricted, which frustrated Old Wang.

With the promise made, Dale was overjoyed and practically bounced with excitement. “Since coming here, I haven’t been able to go anywhere at night—just read books. It’s been awful!”

Normally, Wang Bo and Eva would go to nightclubs or bars in the evening, but they couldn’t bring the kids.

As night fell, the fireworks show began.

The square was crowded, shoulder to shoulder. Many tourists were spending Christmas in Iceland, and Wang Bo saw numerous Chinese faces, occasionally hearing Chinese spoken.

Seeing fellow Chinese in a foreign city naturally made everyone feel closer. Father Bo chatted with an elderly man and discovered they were from the same hometown.

Domestic tourists in Iceland naturally wanted to take lots of photos. Wang Bo played the role of photographer, helping many people capture memories.

As a salute rocket exploded in the sky, green fireworks ignited the crowd’s excitement, prompting cheers from all directions.

A middle-aged man beside Wang Bo made the sign of the cross and said, “God bless you. Merry Christmas.”

“The same blessings to you, sir. May God always be with you, and may His protection be with you in the days to come!” Eva replied with a smile.

As fireworks soared into the sky, a faint green shimmer suddenly appeared on the distant horizon.

At that moment, the crowd erupted louder than ever. “God! The aurora is here!”

Auroras can appear in Iceland from November to March, but they require the right weather, so sightings aren’t guaranteed. Wang Bo’s group had been there for over a week and hadn’t seen the aurora yet.

By chance, it appeared on a perfect day.

Seeing the aurora on Christmas Day is considered an auspicious sign by Icelanders.

For tourists, it was even better—a perfect highlight to their holiday.

Wang Bo had seen the aurora before, but seeing it on Christmas Day made him genuinely happy.

The green aurora spread across the sky like swirling clouds, then, as if an army were advancing, moved slowly and majestically across the night sky, growing more brilliant.

Wang Bo tilted his head to admire it, and unintentionally glanced back. His parents, Eva, Dale, and even the youngest child, still too little to fully understand, were all looking up, fully absorbed in the spectacle.

The scene made his heart skip a beat. He gently held Eva’s hand, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment.

He knew that even ten or fifty years from now, he would probably never forget this moment…

The aurora elevated the square’s atmosphere to a peak. Compared to the grandeur of nature, the man-made fireworks were like fireflies against the full moon—almost insignificant.

The aurora continued until midnight, then faded. People, satisfied, began leaving to continue their celebrations elsewhere.

That night, most shops in Reykjavik kept their lights on. The entire city plunged into all-night revelry!

After Christmas, they had one day to rest before Wang Bo and his group took a flight home.

Taking the Arctic shrimp oil was simple—he just placed it in the castle’s basement to retrieve later.

Having practically traversed half the globe from the Arctic to the Antarctic, they finally saw the Triumphal Arch of Sunset Town.

“This landmark is really nice,” Father Bo said with a smile.

Wang Bo nodded in agreement. “Too bad we don’t have enough landmarks. We have to keep building!”

At the same time, Sunset Town was entering the peak of its annual tourist season.

Christmas is a long holiday, and many New Zealand families go on vacation. Thanks to the Christmas amusement park, Sunset Town had become a prime destination.

Upon landing, Bowen, who had come to pick them up, excitedly said, “Hey, boss! I’ve got good news—during Christmas and the two days around it, the number of tourists we received exceeded Queenstown!”

The news thrilled Wang Bo. “Wow, that many? Is that even possible? More than Queenstown?!”

Bowen nodded. “Yes, the stats are accurate. Every attraction was full, every restaurant and hotel was packed, and the cars passing through the town all stopped here at least briefly.”

Queenstown is eight times larger than Sunset Town in terms of area, though both have populations of just over 10,000.

Sunset Town mainly used ranches and farms to accommodate the large influx of tourists. Ranch cuisine, the Christmas amusement park, and Coral Lake became key features of New Zealand’s Christmas tourism.

For a town only six or seven years old to surpass Queenstown—a long-established tourism hub in New Zealand—in tourism was major news.

Queenstown’s tourism relies on its scenery as its backbone, but Sunset Town’s backbone was even more substantial, with scenery that rivaled anywhere.

In spring and summer, Sunset Town boasts green mountains, clear waters, high sun, mountain forests, extensive ranches and farms, the world’s longest flower road, and the largest lavender garden.

As for tourism activities, Queenstown offers bungee jumping, white-water rafting, jet boating, hot-air balloons, and outdoor adventures, which are excellent.

However, for Oceania locals, these attractions had long lost some appeal.

Sunset Town? The Christmas amusement park had opened just a year ago, freshwater coral was discovered only a year ago, and the starry wormhole, though discovered earlier, limits visitor numbers, so many hadn’t seen it yet.

Additionally, there were newly relocated old buildings, various wild parties, underground cabin lodges, and mountain BACHs. For sports enthusiasts, the South Island’s largest training ground and shooting range were operational.

Most importantly, Sunset Town had a unique advantage unmatched elsewhere: food and beverages.

Nowadays, travelers value gastronomy, and Sunset Town’s culinary scene surpassed every other tourist destination in the world, making it irresistibly attractive.