ENERGETIC celebrations of New Year early today and a more sombre religious greeting for 2011 in daylight this morning were tempered by Phuket's first holiday road death.

The circumstances of the first fatal crash remained mysterious as the morning became afternoon. All that police know is that a man died when his motorcycle left the road and ended up in a canal at Thalang. He became the first tragedy of Phuket's 2011.

About 1000 people turned out today in Phuket to join 227 monks in a Buddhist ceremony at Queen Sirikit Park in Phuket City.

Others may not have been able to recover movement quite so early. Participants at countdowns in Phuket City at Saphan Hin, on the west coast at Patong, and down south at Rawai, all reported hearty welcomes for the New Year.

At Phuket's most exclusive gathering, behind walls at the Amanpuri Resort, guests and a select group of invited residents were treated to a spectacle aimed at rivalling an Olympic Games opening.

More than 2000 fireworks were discharged in an elaborate display that brought plenty of ''ooohs'' and ''ahhhs.'' The hope is that the surprises in 2011 will continue to be pleasant for all of Phuket.