Sitting at a café and watching the masses walk by is a popular activity which, if you think about it, has spawned a huge industry around the globe. Just imagine how many cups of java are sold worldwide every day to feed this most pleasurable, idle pursuit, and how many people find gainful employment this way.
The other day I had to be at the King Shaka International Airport at sparrow’s to catch a local flight and, as I didn’t know the layout of the joint, decided to get their a little early.
This, of course, gave me the perfect chance to grab a cup of coffee at the rear end of one of the swish coffee shops in the boarding area, and indulge in a spot of people watching. Being at the airport at 5.30am is not really a lot of fun it has to be said, particularly for those folk living south of the city (gone are the days when they could just nip in at the last minute), a little less so for us blessed Ridge folk.
As a result of all this early morning activity you get some really interesting looking characters walking or mooching about, waiting for that flight that’ll take them to where they need to be to get cracking with their day.
I like to divide these break of dawn travellers into a few succinct categories:
1 The captain of industry. Calm and collected, completely disinterested in surroundings. Quietly reads a paper or checks mail on Blackberry. Avoids interaction with fellow travellers.
2 Business traveller, happy to be there. This guy or gal is bright and chirpy, confident about the day ahead, and likes to chat and wave to fellow travellers.
3 Business traveller, stoic and uncomplaining. Would really rather be in bed, but endures the early morning and crowds without too many gripes. Keeps busy in the airport catching up on work, playing around with Facebook, Tweeting, Buzzing or whatever.
4 Unhappy business traveller. Does not want to be there, hates getting up in the morning, is not overly enthusiastic about the day’s prospects. Complains to anyone who will listen.
5 Hung over. What more do you need to say? Tired, bleary eyes, a bit smelly. Excessive use of cologne, drags body about the terminal.
6. Personal traveller. Casually dressed, usually very chilled out. Could be anxious if dealing with stressful family affairs.
In the cold, artificial light of morning it’s a lot of fun watching them buzz around, whether calm and collected, grim and determined, bright and chirpy, or harassed and in a terrible, mad rush.
Anyway, you have to doff your cap to these airport warriors – particularly the regulars – many of whom do more than their bit to keep our under fire economy ticking along. And well done to the people at Acsa . . . isn’t the King Shaka International Airport, or KSIA if you’re into acronyms, a fantastic venue at which to watch the crowds go by? – Garth Johnstone
Send us your comments. Till next time.