Cheung Chau’s annual Bun Carnival is back and it’s bigger than ever – and it don’t want none unless you got buns, hun. With the carnival comes the big finish, the Bun Scrambling Competition held late at night (11:30pm) on May 14.
Do you feel confident in your climbing skills, exhibit a strong avidity in buns and are over 18 years of age? You might just become one of the competition’s twelve finalists: applications are accepted starting from today until March 23. Don’t enter too late, as only a maximum of 200 entrants will be taken. Go to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) website for more info and the application forms, which have to be handed in by snail mail or by hand. (What, did you expect efficiency and convenience from the LCSD?)
Want to join but have no bun scrambling experience? The Chinese Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union (CHKMCU) has got your back. They will be holding training sessions for applicants on the prevention of falls and safety in bun tower climbing on April 24.
Either way, you must attend a session in order to enter the “finalist selection exercise”, held the afternoon of May 1. The contest has also eliminated the maximum quota for women climbers, in order “to allow female participants to compete merely based on their capability”. Yes, you read that right: the number of women was previously limited. *facepalm*
Participants compete for points by climbing up the tower and grabbing buns – which are assigned different numbers of points based on their location on the tower – within the time limit. However, the participant who doesn’t give a shit about the points and bags the most buns will win the “Full Pockets of Lucky Buns” prize. We also assume the winner will be the butt of “Are you happy to see me or are your pockets just full of lucky buns?” jokes for at least the next year.
The female and male athletes who manage to win the overall bun scrambling competition will be respectively crowned the “Queen of Queens” and the “King of Kings”.
If you have a crippling fear of heights and/or a severe gluten allergy, fret not: the carnival will also see numerous game stalls, handicrafts and variety shows promoting local customs. Festival-goers can also climb the bun tower without having to take part in the competition – under the supervision of the CHKMCU, of course.
Better start practicing your bun grabbing now!
