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).

Water dragons

This year is the Year of the Water Dragon and it certainly looks like it at Mui Wo's Dragonboat Festival. The morning session was a bit of a washout.

But in the afternoon, the sun came out and the party atmosphere picked up.

I may be biased but I think Mui Wo has the best dragonboat races because you can watch the entire race from the shore. In other places, you only just get to see the boats come in.

Check out the action.

It's dragonboat time again

Mui Wo's dragonboat races are set for June 10. Last year we had loads of fun at the races so am looking forward to them again...

 ... especially when they create lots of excitement in the weeks before. I was dozing off on a lazy Sunday afternoon when I heard some commotion in the sea off the dock. Turns out they were unloading a dragonboat in preparation for the race.

 I wasn't in time to catch the boat being unloaded. But I'll probably be seeing it again come June 10.

Dragonboat festival

We were woken up early today to the rhythmic sound of gongs. It's Tuen Ng festival again – let the battle of the dragonboats and who-has-the-longest-lens begin!

The weather was absolutely perfect for a day of watching the races... blue sunny skies and a nice stiff wind to keep temperatures down.

There was a carnival feel in the air. Even the sad old dragon at the entrance to the beach got its ceremonial garb out.

Apparently there's some secret illegal betting going on and the rivalry between the local fishing teams and the sponsored (mostly expat) teams is bitter.

You can tell which ones have the most money by their coordinating outfits. The poorer ones just make do with a motley bunch of T-shirts.

But for spectators like us, who don't have a particular team to root for, it was just a fun, colourful event.

It even prompted Buffalo Wilbur, always the last to be picked out for playground football teams, to want to join a dragonboat team too.

He wants to join only the most unfit, it's-not-the-winning-it's-the-taking-part team because he's worried his team-mates might just kick sand in his face.




For some people, though, it was just business as usual.