GOVERNOR Wichai Prasa-ngob loves an event and clearly enjoyed opening this one with a flourish. But there was no doubting the real star - the Phuket pineapple.

Not for nothing is the event named after its star . . . the Phuket Pineapple and Flower Festival 2010. Last year, Governor Wichai named his scheme for island volunteers ''the thousand eyes of the pineapple.''

By our count, he may have been exaggerating just a little . . . but at least visitors who join the throng of plant and food lovers at the huge Saphan Hin public park, which hugs the coast in Phuket City, can find a pineapple easily and count its eyes for themselves.

There are plenty of other delights, too. Orchids, roses, trees, ornaments, and food, plenty of food, as there always is at every Saphan Hin event.

Is the Phuket pineapple the sweetest in the world? Judging by the sabarot pieces and the pineapple juice at Saphan Hin, without a doubt. Most of those pineapple eyes are winking.

And if you are not sure whether a pineapple grows on a tree or is some kind of vegetable . . . now's your chance to solve the mystery and enjoy a juicy reward.

The fair runs each evening until July 18.