Down Victoria St this evening...

... was the Vietnamese community's Lunar New Year street party. Victoria Street was blocked from Hoddle Street to about Church street. Heaps of street vendors selling junk, food, junk, drinks, junk, junk, and more junk. When I say junk, what I mean is.... well... junk. Stuff you neither need nor want, but apparently are likely to buy if it's offered up to you from some stall at a street party. Good luck to the vendors - they're obviously meeting demand.

There were also heaps of carnival type attractions. Rides for the kids and adults, a big inflatable slide thing in the shape of a sinking ship, plus lots of games where you had a chance to win large, low quality stuffed toys. Empirical data suggests the preferred stuffed toy was a large, bright yellow chicken. It was a bit cute I guess.... although I'm not sure what I would do with one.

The food on offer looked pretty good... but unhealthy. The deep fried calamari was tempting, but then I'd already had dinner. And had I not been full I would have tried my favourite south east Asian drink - fresh crushed sugar cane juice. Not something I've seen a lot of in Australia, but there were at least three vendors selling it this evening.

Next year, I'll try to remember to visit the street party for dinner!