WORLD WATCH
Amazing images that celebrate the beauty and diversity of the incredible world we all share.
Moving photos from all across the world.
LONDON, ENGLAND
All Saints church in Haggerston, London, was awash with colour as clowns and entertainers gathered to attend the annual memorial of the iconic British clown, Joseph Grimaldi. The service of remembrance has been held annually since 1947 – and this year it attracted scores of curly-haired, rednosed devotees, many of whom had travelled from as far afield as Ireland, Scotland, France and Canada.
Bright balloons and bunting hung over the normally sombre pews – and instead of the traditional black garb, guests came wearing bold patterns in every colour of the rainbow. There were also jumbo shoes, themed hats, novelty flowers and oversized bow ties aplenty. Some clowns arrived on unicycles, rolling up and down the aisles, while other fans sat holding custard pies throughout the service.
Recognised as the ‘king of clowns’, Joseph Grimaldi was an English stage performer who lived from 1778 to 1837. An actor, comedian and dancer, he starred in pantomimes – notably in London’s West End – and is credited with inventing the look of the whitefaced clown with colourful clothes. Famous for his athletic and acrobatic ability on stage, as well as singing stage songs with audience participation, he soon became one of the most popular English entertainers of the Regency era. He dominated the comic stage to such an extent that the role of clown became known as ‘Joey’. Both the nickname and Grimaldi’s now characteristic make-up design are still used to this day.
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Do clowns make you laugh? Well, that giggle might just be good for you. We reveal seven surprising reasons why people – particularly adults – should be laughing more every day. mindfood.com/reasons-to-laugh
SUMEDANG, WEST JAVA
A Javan slow loris observes its new surroundings after being released back into its natural habitat in the Tampomas conservation forest in Sumedang, West Java. International Animal Rescue (IAR) released 29 of the animals following their rescue from illegal traders.
The nocturnal primates are defined as endangered species by both the government of Indonesia and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). While they’re placed at risk due to habitat loss from deforestation, road construction and slash-and-burn agriculture; they’re also under threat from the wildlife trade – including the exotic pet trade.
Due to their cute appearance, slow lorises are extremely popular in Japan; and they are also smuggled to China, Taiwan, Europe and Saudi Arabia to be kept domestically. Demand for the exotic pets is only rising, and slow lorises are no longer just captured opportunistically, but are now hunted on a commercial scale. However, the animals suffer greatly as a result. “It is not uncommon for lorises to die from stress, dehydration, and malnutrition as a result of being kept and transported in cramped, dirty boxes,” says Wendi Prameswari, from IAR Indonesia.
While it is illegal to import slow lorises for commercial sale, the animals receive poor protection because enforcement of the international trade ban is difficult and the penalties are minor. This is why the work of IAR and supporting agencies is so vital in maintaining and increasing the dwindling wild loris population.
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Illegal trade of the hawksbill turtle in the AsiaPacific region has become a huge concern. Now an adoption programme offers new hope to these beautiful creatures. mindfood.com/hawksbill-turtles
HANGZHOU, CHINA
Hot pot is a popular Chinese cooking style – but Hangzhou’s First World Hotel in China’s Zhejiang province is now serving it with a twist. As part of a special promotion, guests are being invited to unwind in their very own human hot pot.
Hangzhou is home to an abundance of thermal springs, and one of them feeds directly into the First World Hotel. While the natural hot spring baths usually just offer guests a chance to lie back and relax, hotel staff have taken one of these pools to the next level, designing it to look like a giant hot pot – complete with fruits and vegetables for tourists to bathe alongside. The rectangular hot spring bath has been divided into compartments, and each is filled with a different produce – including apples, bananas, corn, limes, mushrooms and lettuce. But this food isn’t meant to be consumed – it’s purely for show. Rather, the guests bathing in this ‘hot pot’ get to feast on massive skewers of barbecued meat and vegetables that lie across the wooden compartments.
Traditionally, a hot pot meal is shared with friends or family members, with the diners cooking sliced meat, vegetables and fresh noodles in a pot of spicy soup. The First World Hotel’s version reflects this communal dining ethos, as guests come together to dine as they bathe. According to the Chinese news site, Sohu.com, the hot spring ‘hot pot’ is designed to promote a healthy lifestyle in the Lunar New Year. But whether or not it achieves this, it’s at least a chance for guests to pig out in the Year of the Pig.
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Feeling inspired to make a delicious hot pot in your own home? Try this Kiwi take on the popular Chinese dish: Loan & Merc SlowCooked Lamb Shoulder and Bean Hot Pot. mindfood.com/lamb-hot-pot