The toffee apple

Strolling past the bumper cars, I spotted something which I believe optimises the carnival. A half eaten, yellowing apple covered in gooey, sticky toffee. Stuck to the toffee were pieces of grass and dirt, as well as a random, stained serviette. Maybe it was thrown there, maybe it was dropped. Either way, some kid wasn't happy.

The herring

The Dutch are very interesting people, and so is the Holland tent. The one thing I couldn't get my head around though, was the "horring" stall. People were queueing up to buy these raw, smelly, headless fish still with their tails and scales intact. Almost as disgusting as the fish themselves, was the way people were grabbing by their tails and eating them like a seal.

The chips

Nothing is as prevalent at a carnival as the smell of potato chips frying in three month old oil, which will in time be paired with a cheap, sickly sweet, finger staining excuse for tomato sauce. These seem to be available at every stall, regardless of it's nationality. The pale, soggy chips and pinkish, transparent goo make for an excellent  MSG injected snack.

The calamari caravan

Following a very toxic smell, my nose lead me to a caravan stall. The oil splatters on the glass, as well as the metal basins jammed with greasy calamari and rancid chicken strips filled the air with the thick smell of fish oil and grime.

The ride

Watching the ride, I observed how the inner cogs and machinery creak, groan and grind under its weight. As well as how the grease, grime, oil and dirt work together to keep this ancient and run down machine going. I find myself in disbelief that anyone would risk their lives by getting on this rusting piece of scrap metal.

The vomit

Walking through the Chinese stall, I spotted a very suspect piece of cardboard. I kicked it aside, to reveal what once would have possibly been sweet and sour chicken. It now took on the form of a steaming, multicoloured, lumpy pile of vomit. What a treat for the surrounding customers, who where trying to enjoy their oil soaked spring rolls and noodles.

The braai stall

No South African carnival would be complete without a token braai stall, with it's 6 half barrel's frying boerewors and chops. The most interesting part of this stall is the preparation table... littered with plastic beer cups, oily oven tray's, meat encrusted knives and a 5 litre bottle of oil. Just what you need to get your taste buds flowing.