On an ascending escalator, do you climb the steps or do you wait to be carried to the top? In my experience, responses are varied and variable. I'm one of the walkers. But right here, this Friday 6 pm in Bondi Junction, I had the shock of my life. As I came out of the train, I saw everyone, and I mean everyone, walking up the steps - some feverishly (was it because of the week-end coming up?), others not so fast, but not one static bundle was to be found blocking the twin marching lines. Flabbergasted, I then reflected that here in Bondi, fitness is almost a religion. Whether it's through Pilates, jogging, walking, surfing, swimming, yoga, martial arts, biking, gym, weightlifting, dance or whatever, fitness appears as both a means and an end. A bit monolithic for me. When I got back to the station at 9 pm that same evening, I saw this lonely boy going down the escalator, quietly standing there. In a way, I took to liking him. I have a contradictory mind.
7 comments:
Nice shot! Been there, done that! I just go for the ride and let the harried pass by. :-)
I usually just stand there. but when I hear the noise of the comming train..I ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun:)
Few do more than stand --- unless running late. Once Bondi Junction was full of people who were naturally fit. There were no gyms or joggers. 'Pilates' would have been assumed to to be a misprint of 'pirates'. Yoga and martial arts Weren't to be found. Bikes were there, but as part of normal transport or for organised sport.
Now we lead such sedentary lives we need artificial training exercises to try to become "fit". Meanwhile, most stand blocking escalators, looking disapprovingly at an old man politely asking permission to pass. The second largest group look for a lift. Only a small minority do something once quite common, called contimuing to walk.
LOL. On Monday morning I sometimes trudge up those escalators (well the ones at Central), but not often - usually I'm clinging to the left hand side trying to finish the page of the book I've been reading on the train! On Friday arvo I'm inclined to bound down them though!!
ahh the escalators.. aren't they fun?
I am a walker too Nathalie, I prefer to climb up. We don't have sky scrapers here in Chennai. 14 stories is the tallest. City authoraties slapped a ban on high rise. Largely due to water scarecity.
Everybody has a contradictory mind Nathalie. No Worries. Incidentally 'no worries' is a beautiful Australian film, I loved it.
The middle barrier (?) looks inviting to beginner rock climbers, no?
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