Remember in my last post I mentioned I have a fond memory of trains? I do...trains hold a special place in my heart. Okay, that sounds a little too mushy and now you're probably thinking...I need a new hobby. First, let me tell you why then you be the judge. :)
I love the thrill. Riding the train to me is like eating a bar of chocolate...gives you absolute delight, and a sugar high. Each time I catch the train, it takes me back to the first time I did. The best ride of my life that was. My dad decided that our annual family vacation one year would be a one week holiday in Mombasa and yap, we would be riding down in the train! Now my fellow Kenyans can appreciate that this is a treat of a lifetime... I mean..who at the tender age of 10 wouldn't have been totally excited! So down we went for about 12 hours from evening to morning. You see the thing about this train, it still had a pre-colonial touch to it. The service was really good and we had the good fortune of watching the vast savannah landscape as we went along. It was awesome. Never had another trip like it and I doubt I ever will. So you might wonder why am going back to the past instead of talking about present day experiences...well, don't all good stories begin with 'once upon a time?' So this is where my love for trains began...and now I have the absolute pleasure of riding them everyday. Joy!
Over the past one year, two months, I've ridden up and down to and from Perth city and I have made several observations. One, you meet a vast range of people...I mean, from jaw-dropping characters to your very friendly and may I add, chatty neighbor. Two, it's like a playground, there are rules. And three, if you don't disturb the peace, no one cares! You might look like you just dropped from outer space or maybe stink really bad (insert my own experience with a stinker, story of another day) but no one really gives... everyone is just minding their own business and that's okay. I observe one other thing, and it makes me smile. Readers.
In this era of Ipads and Iphones, people tend to prefer reading online or through Apps and downloaded e-books. It is however very refreshing to see that some still enjoy reading hard copy books and like me, may view this as a passion rather than past-time. It's become a habit of mine actually, once am in the train to take a quick scan and try to see how many people in my line of vision are reading books. Most times I find just about four or five out of maybe 30 of them which is good enough. I try at times to make out the name of the book they are reading but this is usually a bit hard and I wouldn't want to be caught 'snooping'. So after completing this ritual, I sit in and enjoy the ride whilst reading my book and of course, looking out for my stop!
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