Tour Down Under 2012... Adelaide in Hot Pants

I've actually been struggling a little of late to dedicate time to the blogs... not least of all due to preparing our house (and lives) for the arrival of our new baby. However, life isn't all about babies. Still, it's hard to get time to not only do blogging, but also do things to blog about. One thing about Adelaide is that whilst it's a relatively small city, come the warmer months of Jan - March in particular, there's lots of things to see and do. One of those things is the Santos Tour Down Under. For those that aren't into cycling, I should perhaps explain a little.

The Tour Down Under is the first (Australian) leg of the UCI World Cycling Tour... It started in 1999 - not long after Adelaide lost the Grand Prix, and since that time has grown from strength to strength, and has become the biggest cycling event in the Southern Hemisphere. That sounds impressive, but the reality is that the world tour remains dominated by the European countries.

It's run over 7 days (the first day being a warm-up act on the first Sunday). Each day there's a different leg that features beautiful Adelaide countryside, and also some harsh Adelaide weather. The race features:

• Day 0 - 51 km  (East End)
• Day 1 - 149km (Clare)
• Day 2 - 148 km (Adelaide Hills)
• Day 3 - 134.5 km (Victor Harbour)
• Day 4 - 134 km (Barossa Valley)
• Day 6 - 151km (McLaren Vale)
• Day 7 - 90 km (North Adelaide)

A Total of 857.5km over 7 days, or approximately 120 km per day. In the scheme of the Tour de France (which covers about 3,500km) it's only a baby event... but what it lacks in distance, or alps, it makes up in temperatures... with some riders experiencing 50+ degrees on the roads.

But I don't get a chance to watch much cycling these days, but I was able to pop into the city to see the last stage on Day 7 (on Sunday, the 22nd January).

It was a hot day (around 35+ degrees celsius), and the riders were initially taking it easy. In this sort of criterium racing there's little to be gained by trying to race too hard, except for points in the sprints (or if you're brave, in a breakaway). The race itself runs down King William Road, before bearing left down War Memorial Drive then up through Montifiore Road and then through North Adelaide until it returned back on to War Memorial Drive and on to the start/finish straight on King William again.

I won't discuss too much about the race, but I will say that it's a fun event with lots of people and lots of colour. Perhaps it was the heat, but this year it felt like the crowds were down a bit (and I still find it hard to believe that many of the shops in Adelaide's city centre didn't open on such a busy event day.... still, that's Adelaide for you). The good news was that this meant there were still quite a lot of good vantage points to find, though they weren't always the best for photography.

I won't write too much, but please check out the Tour's official website (linked above) to find out more...

It was good however for me to practice a different type of photography... the sports action variety. Not something that I normally do, and not something that's particularly easy to do. Very hard on cameras to focus when there's so much in frame, going so fast, and all over the shop distance wise. Still, I managed to take a couple of ok shots.

Even though riding in the peleton (the large group of cyclists that form naturally in such races) is not as difficult as it might appear averaging around 45km/hr... it's still hard work negotiating corners en-masse. 

I have to say, it was hard work out there on the bikes... and a lot of the riders were working quite hard.

And some looked like they were in real pain...

Others were doing all they could to keep it going...

And others were just gritting teeth and getting on with it.

The thing about cycling races is that it's rarely ever a solo effort. Whilst the attention almost always goes to the sprinter, or the climber, or their lead rider, it's always a team effort to get that rider where they need to be. Domestiques, or servants are there to do just that... to provide support, slip-streaming, intelligence, morale, covering breakaways, and even to use themselves like two-wheeled battering rams to clear a path to the desired place in the peloton if needed.

 In a race like the Tour Down Under, their role is less critical (than say the Tour de France), however, it remains very much a team focus. Something that can often be the difference between success and failure. But at the end of the day, it's the big guns that win tours.

And the winners, after about 2 hours of riding... well the stage was won by André Greipel (from Germany... a sprint superstar) ... but the overall general classification win, over the 6 stages, was won by Simon Gerrans of Australia in Team GreenEDGE. This is the first Australia World Tour team, and it was amazing that they should win their first tour event, at home! Well done team, and well done Simon!

Overall, it was a hot day outside, but not too bad (you could always find a shady spot), and I had a blast. You don't need to be into cycling to get sucked up by the atmosphere either. If you were in/around Adelaide at the time, I hope you enjoyed some of the racing... otherwise, there's always next year. 

2011 Christmas Pageant - The Parade of Parades!

Christmas time is for families... but especially for children. That's not to say that it's not important for a whole lot of reasons (obviously, if you're Christian, it's a lot more than a time to give presents). Still, for children, it's a time to just be... well.. children. Now - why am I talking about Christmas. It's only just turned mid-November... well, last weekend we had the Adelaide (Credit Union) Christmas Pageant. So that's why.

What's the Christmas Pageant I hear you ask? Well, it's an old Adelaide tradition that's been around since 1933. Back then it was the grand event organised by a local department store, John Martins... but with the demise of that store, it's seen a number of sponsors with finally the Credit Unions coming to the fore.

This was going to be L-kun's first Pageant... and whilst he had been looking forward to it, he was a little unsure of what to expect.

I have to admit something... it was my first Christmas Pageant too. Even though I've live in or around Adelaide for most of my life, I guess I'd just never been in the right place at the right time (i.e. in the middle of Adelaide come mid November each year). This was going to be an adventure for me as well. As it was to the nearly half a million other people did (335,000 lining the streets, and another 150,000 watching on TV).

From the official website.

The pageant starts at 9:30 am, and whilst we knew that people come in to get the best seat positions from before 6am, we didn't leave home till about 8:30. Amazingly we were able to find a park (off Hutt St) and also managed to find a half decent spot to watch the parade on Wakefield St. The Pageant starts off at South Terrace, and meanders it's way along 3.5 km of city streets before ending up in front of David Jones Department Store. The Magic Cave.

Finally 9:30 arrives, and before long the Pageant starts to make it's way past our position.

The Pageant is a combination of floats, figures, bands, and of course clowns. I'm not sure what the clowns have to do with anything, but I guess it reinforces the inclusiveness of the Pageant - it's not really about any specific religious meaning.... unless you count Father Christmas as being religious that is. But it is fun.

And that's coming from someone that never really got into the whole clown thing either. But in the Christmas context, who could not love a clown... even the giant Pogo below...

The one thing that's amazing about the Pageant is that the participants are by-and-large employees (and employers) at the various Credit Unions. They take the responsibility of being in the Pageant seriously - seriously fun that is.

And there's a few well known characters that make an appearance as well... hey, Puss'n'Boots.

And not to mention the pirates (clearly they've heard that Santa's stash is hidden somewhere nearby)...

And no - this isn't a tribute to Monsters Inc, but rather Bruto the adorable (child-stealing) monster who has a heart of gold, and a belly full of... well... I'm sure he'll give back those children sooner or later.

I'd be guessing this was Puff the Magic Dragon... although I've no idea how magical that stuff was that he was exhaling. He did look like he was having a merry old time however.

What a great idea - the Naughty-Or-Nice-O-Meter. This was one of the new floats this year that had actually been designed by one of the local primary schools.

Though not all of those clowns were falling on the "Nice" side of the ledger....

As mentioned before - the role of the Pageant is to be as inclusive as possible, so there's a number of multi-cultural floats. Even one celebrating - as far as I can tell - Bollywood (the Hollywood of India in small scale). 

If you hadn't already picked it - one of the real stars of the whole day isn't actually on the street at all... but rather lining the streets. Adelaide at this time of the year has wonderful displays of Jacaranda trees, with their fantastic purple blooms. My favourites. And of course, there's also some Australiana there as well.

And Funi and Wang-Wang (our rather expensive friends at the Adelaide Zoo... or is that the Westpac Zoo?) were there as well... with some support form a very local lifeguard.

Just to show that it wasn't all about the colour and pageantry ... here's some B&W shots.

Even vampires celebrate Christmas... apparently.

Ah - back to safe ground... the clowns again!

Though some appeared to be taking their job almost too casually. Did you want a pillow with that?... 

actually, as I mentioned, these guys are mostly volunteers from the Credit Unions (along with some external performers). They really are stars of the show...

But there's no escaping it. It is Christmas, and for many children that means one of two things. Christmas Presents... and Father Christmas. Well - here comes the presents...

And perhaps the subtext for all of this is that Christmas is a time to give love...

And it is a time to celebrate childhood and it's innocence...

... and purity...

And to tell children that whilst the world might not be such a safe place, or that that times are tough financially, or that bad things happen even to good people... just for one period of the year, children can forget all of that "adult" stuff, and just have a laugh and enjoy the moment.

It's an important thing you learn as a parent. Sometimes you just need to let the magic free.

And who better to do that, than that ancient bearded fellow in the red pyjamas. Santa Claus aka Father Christmas. He finishes off the pageant every year, before taking up residence in the Magic Cave. Conveniently next to the toy shop... Still - as adults we can laugh about the commercialism of the season. But we didn't always do that.

We used to just like our son... looking up to this mysterious adult, knowing that he was something special and he had the power to make it everything better. Now L-kun had been to a couple of local Christmas Pageants, and hadn't really shown much of an interest in them. It could be that at four years of age this year, he was able to appreciate it more. Or it could be that he felt the magic of the day.

All I know is that he loved the whole thing.

Thanks Santa. Thanks sponsors: The Credit Unions... and especially thanks to all of the people that volunteered there time, and talent, to make a truly enjoyable day. We'll definitely be back again next year Santa!

Now - I've missed a lot of photos from the Pageant... but that gives me something to post about in 12 months time. Hope you'll join me again then... and even though it's early. Have a Merry November Christmas!

Of Martial Arts and Matsuri Arts

Continuing on from the Matsuri on Mobara theme again... the day was a strange in the way that Spring days can some times be. It was slightly overcast but warm - indeed, verging on hot. The air was quite thick, and I'm sure that it was a hard day for some of the participants.

Especially the martial artists... one of the more visually impressive being the practitioners of Iaido - or the art of drawing the sword.

And of course - we can't forget that the sword-drawing was in only part of the equation. Cutting in clean, efficient and determined way was very much an exercise in concentration and skill. And this is where I do a little poetic licence with photoshop...(not my normal thing).

And of course - it's not all sword-work.

I'm quite fond of the principles and methods used in Aikido - though a relatively recent martial art (coming from the 1920s). It's emphasis on defensive redirection of your opponents force in combination with throws, and joint-locking holds is a much less aggressive form of self-defence.

Indeed, one of it's fundamental tenets is defence whilst also reducing the harm to your attacker. Now that's an unusual twist for a martial art... although perhaps in the same way, Aikido is often criticised for it's lack of realism.

Aikido also has it's roots in a more fundamental religious core, being based on a form of Shinto found in pre-war Japan of the 20's... it became not so much a martial art as a means of finding transcendence of the soul. Of course - at Mobara Matsuri, these were replaced with some very interesting kata demonstrations of the various techniques. Lots of fun.

 Of course the day isn't only about the martial arts of Japan... it's a day of all sorts of cultural and family enjoyments. And a good reason to get dressed in traditional clothes.

Of all sorts and styles.

  It's also a good day to sample some Japanese cuisine. Though don't expect the best of the best of Japanese food at any sort of outdoor festival. It's pretty basic "food court" sort of stuff.

And don't forget to grab some Ramune... one of the classic Japanese soft-drinks. It's a throwback to decades ago, and was for a time very difficult to get in Japan (or at least unpopular to drink). I suspect it's having somewhat of a minor resurgence - and it seems to be growing slightly in popularity here. Perhaps most of all for the unique ball-based sealing mechanism.

And it wouldn't be a Japanese festival without a tea-ceremony

 It's a art-form that is as much about the process as the end-product (and infact perhaps more so).

 And there's nothing like a nice relaxing drink of tea to ease your worries. Ok... beer might also be acceptable....

And lets not forget the beautiful washi, or japanese paper... hand made cards (hmmm for $4... not sure if that was a bargain).

And whilst we're talking about paper. You could have a go at some shūji, or Japanese calligraphy. The idea is to write (japanese of course) with direct and unhesitating style - flowing and elegant. Of course - you could get someone else to do it for you. 

 A classic Japanese ningyō or dolls - especially the geisha variety - are widespread in popularity. An icon of Japanese culture (and tourist shops).

Another less traditional icon of course is Sonic... who was losing his head in the heat of the day.

Still it was all in a good cause. The children loved the characters (even when they were doing mock battles up on the stage).

And thus we come to the end of my quick photographic review of the day. It's a great day out - even if you don't have any direct relationship with Japan. But if you do have one, it's a perfect occasion to grab the family and reconnect with the community. 

It is after all still very much a family day. Enjoy!

See you all at Matsuri on Mobara 2012... it'll be here sooner than you think!