Get your greens

Silverview Centre may just be turning into the trendier part of town. A new yoga and pilates studio has taken over the former antique shop and now a new shop selling organic vegetables and fruit juices has opened there too. 

Allan, who runs it, is really friendly and can advise you on what's new in stock. He said his boss is part of a Tai O family, so you can also get the famous shrimp paste and dried seafood at the shop too.  

Fruit juices are HK$22 (add HK$6 for mixed fruits). I had the grape juice and I could taste all that antioxidants just coursing down my veins.

If you're facing the dimsum restaurant, the shop will be to your right.

Lights on at Silvermine Beach Resort

I must say Silvermine Beach Resort is looking much better under new management. This Cinderella coach (which is inexplicably towing a sleigh) is really pretty.

Not sure about the decorated paddle boat, though. But at least they're making an effort.

Silvermine Bay Music Festival 2013

Love seeing Mui Wo come alive!

 If only this could be a monthly flea market.

Overheard in South Lantau

Guy A: So, you live here?
Guy B: Yup
Guy A: Lucky sod

Dragonboat festival 2013

This year's dragonboat race took place during a Very Hot weather warning. So don't expect too many photos from me.

 I was too busy taking cover under the shade.

And munching on burgers from Silvermine Beach Hotel. I always look forward to events on the beach now because the hotel sets up a kiosk outside with very basic but very yummy burgers (HK$30 each).

Mui Wo rocks!

We may not have a bun festival which goes back hundreds of years but we do have a hip music festival that's into its seventh year. This year, despite the typhoon, there was a huge turn out for the weekend's bash. I even spotted metal barriers at the ferry pier... surely a first?

They also had more music stations, starting with one just outside the seafood centre. That was good because it set the mood for those coming off the ferry and heading to the beach. 

And the bands were good. This one, particularly... I think they were called Buskic. They didn't have expensive equipment – their drum box was just that, a box – but they managed to attract a large crowd. The lead singer had a lovely voice.

Silvermine Beach Resort, one of the festival sponsors, really got into the spirit of things. Their pub and snack store did a roaring business.

Apparently, they had quite a few famous local and Taiwanese bands playing over the weekend but I'm not savvy with the Cantopop scene. The leaflet mentioned ToNick, Yellow, Kolor, Killer Soap, Supper Moment and Ignite the Hope... must go and google them.

People had fun, and I think that was the most important thing.

Famous band being interviewed. Anyone know who they are?

Hope the festival will be even bigger next year!

The Silverminebay Music Festival is on!

Because of Typhoon Kai-tak, the fate of the outdoor festival hung on the balance for a while. In fact, Friday's festivities had to be suspended because of thunderstorm warnings. But things are back in swing again and the music has started.

Passing by the beach, I saw it dotted with so many more people than usual. And the entertainment starts just off the ferry pier.

It's so exciting. We're off to grab a late lunch and then chill out by the beach. Join us?

Resort tea

Silvermine Beach Resort is looking better under new management so we decided to give the restaurant a second try. The prices are slightly higher than cha chaan teng prices in the village. 

But the atmosphere and view is definitely nicer. 

The food was okay, better than when we were first here two years ago. But still, a word of caution. Go for the local stuff because the chefs are obviously local.

Don't bother with the more exotic Southeast Asian food because they simply can't get it right here. This is supposed to be char kway teow, a Malaysian specialty. Instead, it was just rice noodles fried with curry powder, the way they do the spurious "Singapore noodles" everywhere in Hong Kong. It tastes weird, to say the least. 

 Their black pepper beef hor fun, a local specialty, tasted so much better.

Service still leaves a lot to be desired. We had to go and call our waiter and when he turned up eventually, he gave us only one menu to be shared between us. The food took half an hour to arrive.

I must say though, they were consistently slow throughout - the bill took forever to come and we could have walked off for all the staff cared.

Setting up stalls

The stalls beside Silvermine Beach Resort appear to have all been taken up. They have some pretty stuff there, from jewellery to wooden boxes handpainted with cute cats.

 I think they'll be making a roaring business at the Dragonboat Festival tomorrow.

Silvermine Hotel's new lease of life

I must admit I was pretty sceptical about the rebranding of Silvermine Beach Resort, especially since people who've stayed there tell me the rooms are just the same, just more expensive.

But they are trying. And I like the idea of refreshment kiosks. 

The kiosks are open only on weekends and are only about a month old so it's too early to gauge the response yet. But I think they'll do a roaring business during the upcoming dragonboat races.

I tried the lime slush for HK$10 and it really hit the spot on a hot day.

Even better, the hotel is also offering free space outdoors for people wanting to set up their own stalls... a great idea for summer.

Buffalo Wilbur and I are wondering what we can sell to take advantage of the free space. Any suggestions?