The Backpacker

Have you tried watching people? Oh, I do not mean the ones at the bus stands or the airports or even the railway stations waiting for their transport. I mean, people at work, or rather just out of work in a place called Media City!

It is a pleasurable way of engaging time, if you have any and if you dont, it is a good enough reason to find time just to watch people.

People, I always maintain, follow a pattern. It matters not their colour, nature of job, their nationality or race. They will behave just like any other. The only noticeable difference between one and the other is the manner of display. Display, I dare say. Yes, for that is what it amounts to in the end. Display of self.

Watch the women leaving work. I mean one goes home from work, dont they? So for what earthly reason one must address their hair or lipstick, sandals, heels or coats which have served their purpose through the day! Forget the make up. It is the walk I find most interesting. Especially those of the women. With the walk comes the observation of the shoes, excuse me, no, not shoes but evil and dangerous protrusions that merely cup the heel and make hideous tick-ticking sounds on the roads while the female body attached to it sways dangerously on the sidewalk. Of course, there is a good reason to sway. For if you cast an eye around you will also notice many of the male species looking just for that oppurtunity to lend a hand in steadying the swaying female.

I watch, yes, I do. Oh, love watching people. I gives me an insight to the human mind. Hercule Poirot would have been proud of me. I always wonder if it is right for a right handed man to wear a watch on his right hand, I watch the colour of the shoes, the movement of the eyes, the laughter, I watch which side a woman carries a bag, I wonder what the miniscule bag contains, why the lipstick shines, why the sudden flattening of tummy in the presence of the other sex, why the quick smile and jerky laughter, the slightly loud and ill-informed talks of world issues, the swinging of the car keys when the car itself is parked few hundred meters away? the change of accent (this common among the Asians especially in the presence of the European counterpart). Oh yes, watching people has its merits.

Then there is the very garment that asks for attention. The skirts that run up the thighs without hesitation or the large necklaces which come as a relief to the exposed upper body...suits worn unnecessarily over the mis-matching inner...this again a very peculiar Asian trait. Oh, I wonder, yes, I do why one must so display ones ignorance in style? I mean what is so wrong about wearing comfortable clothing without sticking out a mile in discomfort!

Then there is what is called watching the watchers. That domain is almost exclusively male dominated. You can be sure to find them all over the place. Their reaction when they are caught "watching" is rather more interesting. No man or woman like to be caught staring or oogling or merely watching a pair of uncovered legs or inside open t-shirts as the case maybe. The shy, conspiratorial grin that follows upon being caught is worth the wait. You should make it a point to catch the 'watcher' off guard.

But when all this happens in a place that has a multiple-coloured people, things hot up. Everyone is vying for attention and Media City's the one place I have seen when no one minds being oogled at. You do not hear someone rush up to a watcher and call him/her a creep or a waster. Here it is a part of the game. A game of making the right match. For whatever reason.