I've never been overly keen on circuses, they've never been on the top of my priority list as entertainment. I don't particularly like animal acts because there is always the thought in my mind that cruelty has been involved in the training process somewhere and anyway, isn't it demeaning to parade around a bear dressed like a little girl wearing a leather muzzle? Isn't it? Better than being confined to a cage for the extraction of bile juices I hear you say... well yes... true.

However, on the cnr of Pham Ngu Lao and Nguyen Trai Sts there's a permanent big top that once a year puts on a circus gala performance and until last Sunday night, I'd never been to one. A couple of my friends had recommended it to me over the years but, I was reluctant. Finally making it to the ticket counter increased my reluctance when I saw the price of a ticket, but what the hey, we gave it a go anyway and, apart from the few animal acts and one rather weak magician, I was pleasantly surprised.

The magician was good, very very good, at showing the audience exactly where he was pulling his tricks from under his cape that is. But the jugglers, clowns, trapeze artists, and gymnasts were excellent. All in all a great evenings entertainment, worth the admission price after all and next time there's a circus gala in town they've got me.

Apologies in advance for the image quality, lighting you know!