Bui O Primary School fair

I'm a bit behind the times. I didn't find out about the fair until yesterday but thank goodness for the Mui Wo to Tai O Families Facebook page.

 

Still, I didn't miss it and that's the main thing. There were flea market, games, books and food stalls. And a bouncy castle. No prizes for guessing which ones I gravitated to.

Gordon from Bombay Cafe has given up his restaurant and is now concentrating on selling really lovely accessories from India.

Silvermine Bay Carnival 2011

Last year, we didn't know what to expect so we went to the Silvermine Bay Carnival after lunch.

Big mistake as we didn't get a chance to fully appreciate the free local fare they were dishing out. This year, we went there for lunch... and I saw a lot of people had the same idea.

The noodles and roasted pork were yummy. And there was also the local favourite: Swiss chicken (actually sweet soya sauce chicken).

But just in case you think I am all stomach, here are some pictures from the fair. These pretty dancers perked up the crowd.

The most popular games stall was the fishing one. Maybe that shouldn't be much of a surprise seeing as Mui Wo used to be a fishing village?

Village fair on Sunday

Village fairs always bring to mind the famous Craggy Island Fun Land in Father Ted, which had attractions such as Spin the Cat, Whirly-Go-Round and The Crane of Death.

Sunday's Silvermine Bay Carnival at the open area next to the municipal services building has tamer stuff:

But, with any luck, there might be some Freak Pointing at 10am.

Sports carnival

A smattering of stalls, a clown making balloon shapes, a bouncy castle and some games stations in the huge basketball field. It wasn't much but hey, it was all free and the kiddies loved it.

Plus I got a free fragrance sachet to take home so the sports carnival was a success in my books at least.

Village carnival

It was our first Mui Wo carnival and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The setting was not very exciting – a concrete ground with patches of grass smelling of dog poo.

But the energy and charm was amazing.

There was a bouncy castle, bonsai exhibits, games stalls, a series of weird papier mache animals made with stools. And the entertainment was basic – a lion dance, a taekwondo exhibition, recitals and singing by the students of Mui Wo Primary School and Little Owls Kindergarten – but the fun was infectious.

The best bit was that the food was free! I had come armed with lots of coins to buy samples of the local cuisine but I didn't have to pull out my purse at all.

So, never one to pass up on free food, I was one of the firsts in the queue.

I passed on the chicken feet but the rest were good, especially the spring rolls and soya sauce chicken. There were even people walking among the crowd dispensing milk tea.

Bring on the next carnival... especially if there's more free food!

Sports carnival

Who says just because you live in the Outlying Islands all the fun activities pass you by? I spotted this banner in Pui O today advertising a sports carnival with games booths, free gifts, clowns and an "air bouncer" (lightweight security guards perhaps?).

The one at the Mui Wo playground will be from on the morning of January 30 and the carnival will then move on to the Pui O playground.

And tomorrow, there is the Mui Wo carnival to look forward to. Gosh, what a whirl of activity in this small town!