Christmas shopping frenzy at Sunset Fair!

Handicraft stalls reported bumper sales last Friday (December 10th) as visitors chose to buy local for Xmas presents this year. Laden with bags full of tais, baskets, soaps, coffee, etc., the happy shoppers then took a breather at the restaurant stalls to compare purchases and consume a well-earned drink and a bite to eat. The Caz Bar sold out of Tiger beer and  had to send back to the restaurant for more stock! If you haven't started your Christmas shopping yet, you have one more chance this Friday, which is the Sunset Fair closing night for the 2010 season. We expect a big night, with some great entertainment and a special closing ceremony. Watch this space for more details.

The Basket Ladies of Maubara are rushed off their feet as their stall is packed with customers (above) as the scene is repeated throughout the handicrafts zone of the Sunset Fair

Hafoti has a good range of Timorese-made nibbles - great for parties - banana and cassava chips, fiery Timorese chili sauce and peanuts

Some good ideas for stocking fillers from Hafoti - tamarind sweets and Timorese coffee in an attractive tais pouch

Creative basket work from Maubara

Tiny, cute bootees made from Tais on sale at Women's Woven Art
Even if you don't have a new baby due in the family, they are hard to resist. One customer bought a pair to hang from the rear-view mirror of her car!

Something different from Bali - and Timor Telecom recharge cards - on offer at  Blue Ocean restaurant

A Holy Family statuette, appropriately on sale at Kristu Rei. Just what you need for your nativity scene.
From a selection on sale at the Congregasaun Misionariu Verbo Divino (SVD) stall.

A warm welcome to a Sunset Fair newcomer - the Maubere Restaurant - serving favourites like katupa (coconut rice parcels), satay and noodles

Sunset Fair is gearing up for Christmas with great gift ideas

There's  no better way to do your Christmas shopping in Dili than to stroll around the Sunset Fair. All the best handicrafts are there and you can sit down and take a breather at one of the restaurant stalls in between purchases. You'll find lots of ideas for gifts from just a few dollars as well as hand-made Christmas cards. A one-stop-shop, stress-free approach!.

These are special... hand-made Christmas cards (even the paper is made by hand) from Kor Timor

Hand-made original dolls from Atauro: "Boneka Atauro" - available from Kor Timor
Better than Barbie. Why not start a family?

The good thing about Kor Timor gifts is that you don't have to spend extra time and money on wrapping them.
Lovely, hand-made paper and gift boxes covered in traditional Timorese weavings. Coconut oil (great for massage,  above) and soaps (with natural perfumes, for soft skin, below), and fine Kafe Timor (below that).

It's the season to put on the bling.  Two passers-by volunteered to model sparkly party clothes available at the Associacao Empresarial Das Mulheres de Timor-Leste (above). There's also a big range of glittering jewellery and some rather elegant  tais... which have so many different uses that we sometimes forget that they are meant to be worn! 

Beautiful traditional silver jewellery

Now you can wear Arte Moris ("Living Art") with their new range of t-shirts and bags, out just in time for Christmas. Designs based on original artwork from Timorese artists. Also available is a range of greeting cards (below). 

  

You can even stock up your drinks cabinet for the festive season. New to the Sunset Fair - Silver Label Whisky, Gin and Vodka, bottled in Timor-Leste and on sale at VERY reasonable prices. Cheers!
And when you've finished all your Christmas shopping, put your feet up and enjoy a fresh juice made for you on the spot from delicious local fruit. 

Don't forget - only TWO Sunset Fair shopping days until Christmas - Friday, December 10th and the night of our closing ceremony for 2010 - Friday, December 17th.  Don't miss it!

  

The latest promo video for the Sunset Fair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtOt_ka83zI

A great night at the Sunset Fair... Boy Clemens, MAC Criancas Unidas and a surprise visit from the Prime Minister

Boy Clemens performed at the Sunset Fair's opening night in September and this week he came back for an encore. But this time, when he sang the Sunset Fair anthem "Areia Branca", the crowd sang along with him. This great song has been getting a lot of exposure lately. Boy also had some backing vocals from the Timorese childrens' choir, MAC Criancas Unidas, who were rehearsing with Boy for a concert that is being organised by UNESCO in Dili this Friday.

The picture shows Boy Clemens at keyboards, with MAC Criancas Unidas, as the Sunset Fair Patron, Kirsty Sword Gusmao looks on. Kirsty is also Chair of the National UNESCO Commission (amongst other things) and is the wife of the Timor-Leste Prime Minister (standing at the back, beard and khaki shirt), Xanana Gusmao.

Meanwhile, Kirsty (and the Prime Minister) were being followed by a film crew who are making a fly-on-the-wall documentary about her life and work. In turn, they were being followed by me and other members of the public taking photos of the whole thing.

Kirsty clowns with the film crew and takes a stroll with her husband during a break in the filming

It was a good night, with plenty of delicious food, great music and only one very quick rain shower. We were happy to welcome the One More Bar back to the Fair. Gill has become a favourite with FairGoers, for his excellent sausages. He now has a new partner, Rob, who calls himself the Wurst Meister: he makes a big range of different types of sausages and cures his own bacon.

 Rob and Gill show off their sizzling sausages

There were a couple of Sunset Fair first-timers, selling BBQ chicken.... and religious statues. 

A beautiful sunset....

The ever-popular bouncy castle...

Opportunities for some early Christmas shopping...

A chance to catch up with friends....

Grab a bite to eat...

... and to welcome back a Sunset Fair friend and sponsor, Boy Clemens

Don't forget, next week the Sunset Fair moves to Fridays.... starting November 26th through to closing night on December 17th.  TGI Friday!