snaking lines at the ferry terminal to Cheung Chau because it's a public holiday (the Buddha's birthday), and everyone wants to get there for the Bun Festival which falls on the same day
spotting the bun mountains (包山) as the ferry approaches the pier
the island was awash with psychedelic billboards, flags and banners
buns with the Chinese characters 平安 (safety) stamped on them, and that is exactly what they are believed to bring
biting into a custard-filled one
narrow lanes are lined with chairs and stools, and people scramble for prime seats to catch the street procession which will take place in the afternoon
the parade begins and will eventually wind its way to the Pak Tai Temple grounds where the bun mountains are
the parade's hottest draws are these kids, decked out in traditional costumes or as mythical characters, looking as though they are balancing precariously on the tips of swords, vases and columns of fragile items!
look, he's barely standing on the tip of a paper umbrella
and she, on a hoop, spear and lotus bed!
the little boy appears to be holding her aloft with nary an effort
everyone shouts and waves excitedly to get the kids' attention because they are just too darn cute
and the trick behind the illusion: they are perched on steel frames (although I still can't quite figure out exactly how...)
the riot of sounds and colours, plus the physical feats made for a really intense and fantastic experience
after the parade, we went hiking around the island, chilled out at a beach, and queued for hours to catch the bun-snatching race
at midnight, participants climb to the top of the bun mountain and fill their rucksacks with as many buns as they can within a stipulated time
a flurry of limbs and buns flying everywhere (the buns on this mountain are plastic; those on the three mountains behind are real, and are also removed at midnight for distribution the next day)