Norwich Daily Photo

Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

Jong & Isko

Meet the newest caterers in town - Jong and Isko. Here you see them doing a market research on Filipino food. Ever tried a Filipino dish?

Sunday, May 11th, 2008

Morris Dance

Out and about on a Saturday in the city centre, one is sure to find interesting things happening in Norwich. Like people doing the Morris Dance!

From Wiki:

A morris dance is a form of English folk dance usually accompanied by music. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers. Implements such as sticks, swords, and handkerchiefs may also be wielded by the dancers. In a small number of dances for one or two men, steps are performed near and across a pair of clay tobacco pipes laid across each other on the floor.

There are claims that English records of the morris dance dating back to 1448 exist, but these are open to dispute. There is no mention of “morris” dancing earlier than the late 15th century, although early records such as Bishops’ “Visitation Articles” mention sword dancing, guising and other dancing activities as well as mumming plays. Furthermore, the earliest records invariably mention “Morys” in a court setting, and both men and women are mentioned as dancing, and a little later in the Lord Mayors’ Processions in London. It is only later that it begins to be mentioned as something performed in the parishes. There is certainly no evidence that it is a pre-Christian ritual, as is often claimed.

In the modern day, it is commonly thought of as a uniquely English activity, although there are around 150 morris sides (or teams) in the United States. British expatriates form a larger part of the morris tradition in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, and there are isolated groups in other countries, for example that in Utrecht, Netherlands, and Alsace, France.

Monday, April 7th, 2008

Pig Farmers

They call themselves endangered species, but being pescotarian it was a bit difficult for me to sympathize with them. And tomorrow, you’ll see why.

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

Parkour

Before last week, I have not heard of this extreme sport called parkour.

From Wiki:

Parkour (sometimes abbreviated to PK) or l’art du déplacement (English: the art of displacement) is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body. It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment — from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls — and can be practiced in both rural and urban areas. Parkour practitioners are referred to as traceurs, or traceuses for females.

 

Founded by David Belle in France, parkour focuses on practicing efficient movements to develop one’s body and mind to be able to overcome obstacles in an emergency.

 

Parkour is a physical activity which is difficult to categorize. It is not an extreme sport, but an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the martial arts. According to David Belle, “the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it.” Thus, when faced with a hostile confrontation with a person, one will be able to speak, fight, or flee. As martial arts are a form of training for the fight, parkour is a form of training for the flight. Because of its unique nature, it is often said that parkour is in its own category: “parkour is parkour.”

 

An important characteristic of parkour is efficiency. Practitioners move not only as fast as they can, but also in the least energy-consuming and most direct way possible. This characteristic distinguishes it from the similar practice of free running, which places more emphasis on freedom of movements, such as acrobatics. Efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, short and long-term, part of why parkour’s unofficial motto is être et durer (to be and to last).

 

Traceurs claim that parkour also influences one’s thought process by enhancing critical thinking skills that allow one to overcome everyday physical and mental obstacles.

This is the first traceur I have met, and he is amazing. He would probably be grounded if he were my son, and I know that his mom certainly doesn’t approve.

I have seen him climb walls, go over and under rails, jump on and over tall structures. Each time my heart stopped and I wanted to scream, “Be careful!”

Parkour anyone?

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

Prince’s Visit

Some of you wanted to see a few more ‘treasures’ at the East Anglian Film Archive. So I went back and took a few more snaps.

This is a film of the Prince of Wales, Edward VIII, before he became king and abdicated the throne to be with his American wife, Wallis Simpson. Here he visits Great Yarmouth, which has become a thriving fishing town.