Bun Festival 2011
Yesterday was the day of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, which is staged to mark the 8th day of the 4th Moon in the Chinese calendar, and coincides with the local celebration of Buddha's Birthday. This festival draws tons of local and overseas tourists every year. The center piece of the festival are the "Bun Towers", giant 60-feet bamboo towers covered with buns (now made with plastic buns). It is these bun-covered towers that give the festival its name. However, we didn't make it to that part of the island.
So how do people celebrate this annual Bun Festival? Apparently by renting "Junks", which are actually nice boats,and spending a day on the ocean and stopping by Cheung Chau Island to watch the parade. Did I mention it is holiday and no one has to work? Sign me up!
Here is our Junk "Kitty"
Oldest Junk in HK:
Relaxing at sea, trying to get a tan on this NYC winter skin:
The back part of Cheung Chau Island where we had lunch and took a dip
The parade started at 2:00 so we headed over to the other part of the island where all the action was. Cheung Chau is mainly known as a Fishing Island, hence all the fishing boats
Trying to find a spot where we can see the parade, but the locals don't seem to want to put down their umbrellas, which are blocking out the sun, but also our view. After some heckling, we finally convince them to take them down
This is definitely not like any American Parade I have ever seen. Some parade participants were lighting up cigarettes as they went along. They also allowed street vendors to walk in the parade and sold bottled waters as they went along. Definitely a bit more of a relaxed parade than I am used to seeing- to say the least
The main attraction of the parade is really the "ghosts" which are 3-4 years old that they hoist up on poles and float them over the crowd. Strange but somehow very appealing
Oh yes ladies and gents, this is sweat on Matt's shirt. Some people just have a harder time adjusting to this heat
As we head back to the boat, we get to see some fishermen laying out fish to dry as well as a man fishing with string
Back to the boat. Thanks Ron and Luci for a wonderful day!!!
For more information on this festival, check out the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival
So how do people celebrate this annual Bun Festival? Apparently by renting "Junks", which are actually nice boats,and spending a day on the ocean and stopping by Cheung Chau Island to watch the parade. Did I mention it is holiday and no one has to work? Sign me up!
Here is our Junk "Kitty"
Relaxing at sea, trying to get a tan on this NYC winter skin:
The back part of Cheung Chau Island where we had lunch and took a dip
The parade started at 2:00 so we headed over to the other part of the island where all the action was. Cheung Chau is mainly known as a Fishing Island, hence all the fishing boats
Trying to find a spot where we can see the parade, but the locals don't seem to want to put down their umbrellas, which are blocking out the sun, but also our view. After some heckling, we finally convince them to take them down
This is definitely not like any American Parade I have ever seen. Some parade participants were lighting up cigarettes as they went along. They also allowed street vendors to walk in the parade and sold bottled waters as they went along. Definitely a bit more of a relaxed parade than I am used to seeing- to say the least
The main attraction of the parade is really the "ghosts" which are 3-4 years old that they hoist up on poles and float them over the crowd. Strange but somehow very appealing
Oh yes ladies and gents, this is sweat on Matt's shirt. Some people just have a harder time adjusting to this heat
As we head back to the boat, we get to see some fishermen laying out fish to dry as well as a man fishing with string
Back to the boat. Thanks Ron and Luci for a wonderful day!!!
For more information on this festival, check out the Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheung_Chau_Bun_Festival
It's so awesome you got experience the bun festival, loving all the pictures!!
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