I am a frequent visitor to Hong Kong. One of my Hong Kong trips with 3 beautiful young ladies and 2 other NUS lady professors in May 2005 was a very unique experience. The 3 young ladies were my daughter and 2 nieces.

We were lucky to have witnessed the recently revived tradition called Bun Festival at Cheung Chau in early May. Cheung Chau meaning "long island" in Cantonese is an island 12km southwest of Hong Kong island that took us about 40 minutes by boat. The festival was highlighted with the erection of giant bamboo towers comprising edible buns at the courtyard of Pak Tai Temple.

The buns were individually wrapped and handed out for good luck in an orderly manner to participants of the festival. We also witnessed the parade with locals dressed in colourful costumes holding big banners with the 'floating children'. These children with heavy make up were hoisted up on stilts and paraded through the crowds. The festive mood was further culminated with Chinese operas and lion dances joining in the street procession.