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[cosmictravel]

So instead of having a day off to recover (as I originally planned) I decided to go with a friend (gossip for you there!) to one of the outlying Islands in Hong Kong – Cheung Chau. There was an annual “Bun” Festival and I curious about what happened in a Chinese bun festival (oh and I’ve never been to the island before). On the local tv breakfast news it mentioned that there was large crowds already queuing for the ferry over to the Island. However as it was about 32c and very humid, I wasn’t expected that many people to attend - however I was completely wrong, and we had to queue up with thousands of other people to join the ferry and head over to the island – the news report was correct!

The island was crowded with locals with their families and the occasional western tourist. I don’t think I have ever seen so many high spec digital cameras in the same place. There where enormous bamboo towers studded with white Chinese buns and effigies of three gods which dominated the square near the Pak Tai Temple, where the lion dances and bands performed.  At midnight there is a competition for people to climb the bamboo towers and grape as many of the buns as possible… not sure of the history behind the competition except it was banned for twenty five years until a few years ago!

After walking around the island and the beach, it was time to take our position in the very narrow street to watch the colourful street procession, which featured the strange sight of costumed children on stilts and a whole series of lion dances, bands and dancers. The funny thing was that about ten minutes before the parade started, the police walked along with the ‘do not cross’ tape and tied it around about one in five people to make a barrier! So I was wrapped up in do not cross tape and had to still in the same position for two hours as the parade passed by, it was really hot and humid. The majority of people taking part in the parade looked very hot, exhausted and really cheesed off (actually most of them where swearing constantly in Cantonese!).

(31.05.07)