il Giardino Romantico

周日下午臨時接到一通友人的電話，說附近的公園正在舉辦『非洲音樂祭』，問我有沒有興趣參加。我心裡想：雖然天氣不穩定，但是不去也還是宅在家裡。為什麼不去？於是就答應了。半小時後，五人同行，跑去附近的店家買了各自的啤酒後，搭乘計程車來到Sefton Park。其實步行也可抵達，只是可能大家都懶懶的，加上天氣也不太穩定。五個人分計程車的錢比坐公車還划算。所以就這樣輕而易舉的來到Sefton Park。

抵達之後，才見挖塞！原來人還不少呢！有吃的、有玩的、有看的、當然也有聽的！雖然尚未有緣去到非洲，來這兒稍微體驗一下也是不錯的經驗啦！何況，與幾位好友小酌幾瓶，快樂的星期天，就是要這樣渡過的啦。

Sunday afternoon, I received a call from a friend, saying that there is this African Music Festival being held at Sefton Park.  He asked me if I would be interested.  I thought to myself, I really had no good reason to refuse.  Why not?  Half an hour later, a group of five people gathered in front of our hall, bought some booze at a nearby offy, and headed down to Sefton Park in a cab.  It was a walkable distance, but we were all pretty lazy, and seeing the weather wasn't very predictable, getting a cab was probably the best option there was to get there. 

When we arrived, we found a large crowd there.  There were things to play with, things to see, things to eat, and of course, most importantly, music to listen to.  Although I have yet to set foot in Africa, it was a great opportunity to absorb a bit of their culture.  Plus, I've got my friends, and booze.  How else could you spend a happy Sunday evening?


有點詭異的遊樂設施...
Strange looking slide...


他老兄一個人也唱的很high！
Enjoying singing on his own...


為了拍照特地笑給我看的哩！
Smiling because I was about to take a picture of him...


朋友點的肋排飯。
Ribs and rice.

三位朋友一到這，就開始覓食。其他兩人吃的，我來不及照。買完食物，我們找了個地方坐下來喝啤酒，他們吃他們的。同時也聽了一陣子的非洲音樂。環繞著我們的人群，隨著節奏開心的跳著舞。或許是我們來的比較晚，酒精還沒開始奏效，就不是很想跟著跳。

後來下了點小雨。還好有兩把傘加上一件雨衣，使得我們不用淪落到落湯雞。雨停了之後，我加上另外一位友人肚子也餓了，所以就離開了原本的位置，起來繼續覓食。不過在此之前，我們都先去上了洗手間。或許你會覺得奇怪。為什麼連上洗手間也要報告？因為很神奇的是，來到這種地方，你一定會早有心裡準備要上廁所的話，一定得使用那種很髒很臭很噁心的馬桶。不過呢，在我們幾人紛紛辦完事出來以後，每一個人第一句說得話就是：『你有沒有覺得那廁所好乾淨啊！！』除了沒有臭味以外，衛生紙也間間都有！最奇妙的是，每一間都還有提供『乾洗手液』，讓你即使辦完了事，還是可以盡情的用手抓食物吃！真是貼心啊！

The first thing that three of my friends did when we arrived was food hunting.  I only got a chance to take a picture of the ribs meal.  After that, we found a place on the grass, sat down, drank our booze and those who got food, ate their food.  Of course, there was a lot of enjoyable African music.  People around us were dancing cheerfully.  I suspect that because we had just arrived, and had not consumed enough alcohol, none of us were really interested in dancing, despite the tempting rhythm.

It rained for a bit, but we had umbrellas and a waterproof coat, so none of us risked getting soaking wet.  When the rain stopped, my other friend and I got hungry, so we left our place and went for a second round of food hunting.  Before that, however, we went to the loo.  You might be wondering why I must mention this minute detail.  It is worth mentioning, because as we got out of it one by one, each one of us made a comment on how surprisingly clean we thought the toilets were.  What was even more shocking, was the fact that they had provided 'hand wash' in each toilet!  How thoughtful!

有事沒事就會出現的德國香腸攤...
German sausage stand seems to appear in every 'fair'.


各式各樣的美食攤位
All kinds of food stalls...


可力餅也有
They also have crepe.


忘了記下來是哪兒的美食
Forgot to jot down what this was.  Looked interesting, nonetheless.


我點的餐點
What I ordered.

說實在的我覺得有點被騙到。加不加雞肉好像都是一樣的價錢。這樣即使我不吃，我也會想點來送我朋友吃也好。不過呢，我當時是想說：如果難吃，再來跟他計較。結論是：真好吃！這一份，我全部吃光了！但重點來了：點這餐的時候才七點多。我這天明明三點多才吃了一大碗麵的，我竟然還把他吃的精光！可見褲子漸漸的越穿越緊，不是沒有原因的...

At first I felt a bit ripped off.  If I had ordered chicken along with this, it cost the same, I think.  It kind of makes you want to order it anyway.  However, since the rice was amazingly delicious, I decided to let them off the hook.  The thing is, this was around seven.  I had already eaten a large bowl of noodles at three, and I was still able to finish this big portion of food.  No wonder my trousers are getting tighter and tighter...



吃飽喝足後，就到場地的另外一邊去瞧瞧。其實這種活動似乎已經失去了原有的意義。因為雖然是非洲音樂祭，不過我們也有看到印度啦，泥泊爾等等的飾品啊。還是說，這是騙人家不懂哩！？不過，也別那麼計較了。反正只要是好玩就好了是吧！？

After the food and the booze, we went to the other side to look at what they were selling.  I think these events have lost a bit of their original intentions.  It was an 'African Music Festival', but we also found stuff from India and Nepal...  Or, did they think that people wouldn't be able to notice?  Well, it was still fun.  So I guess, I should let them off the hood as well.



上左右：各式各樣的包包。Top left and right: Bags of all kinds.
下左：木頭雕刻品。Bottom left: Wood carvings.
下右：非拍不可的貓咪小物。Bottom right: Kitty cats


連馬殺雞都有....
Huh??


愛耍寶的兩個人。左邊那位老兄，問價錢時還問老闆說：『這附有抗UV嗎？』....
Me mate at the left there, asked the vendor if those offered UV protection...



這就是有好玩、好吃、好看、好聽的小型音樂祭。雖然天氣不算太給面子。不過，下雨又如何呢？只要心中永遠出大太陽，就不會被外頭的天氣影響啦！

Well, this was a rather fun way to end the week.  Although the weather wasn't exactly very agreeable, I guess if you allow the sun in your heart to shine all the time, you will be less affected by the weather outside!

天仙念：結束之後，我們步行到市區，看了我今年看的第二部電影『變形金剛 II』。這部片是少數在英國先上映的電影。平時我們都是等美國[或是全球其他地區]上映好幾個禮拜後才看的到...