Life on Wings...

Air travel has never failed to mesmerize me, much like the same way a booming train engine still draws my attention. Only that with air travel, I am getting to think about different dimensions of it rather than always getting carried away by the Bxxx and Azzz's gradeur on the tarmac looking through the airport's glasses.

Air travel is becoming an integral part of life of our generation and with a toddler running around us, its not that care free air travel as it used to be. Portable DVD player, kid's DVDs, strollers, kids' books, play items form majority of our carry-ons. This time around for the trip my kid was more accomodative that we had expected. But with air travel becoming affordable and competitve, the luxury part of it is now replaced by a necessity, and partly that reason takes the charm out of it.

Airports however are interesting places - always awake, happening, demographic microcosms of the world - particularly the major airports. I used to wonder how world has been shrunk so small - a couple of desis who were speaking tamil getting something at some unknown chinese fast food, another pair with a "Nalli" (a traditional clothing store in Chennai) "manja pai" (yellow bag) peeping out of their cart window shopping in some big-name-high-flung fashion outlet. Still not able to come out of the impact of this even after several air travels. Dont get me started on the food. After a trip to India, its all road kill. Atleast I can "muscle my way past the gag reflex" but for my wife its unbearable even while leaving US. Hence as usual, my kid was treated to some home-made Idlis that formed our carry-on. Lots have improved, I should say, to make this air travel boom manageable. The check-ins, e-ticketing etc etc. But the security check where you have to strip except for your underwears still irks me. Gosh, we got to get some gizmo that scans us unobstrusively...

The attached pic was taken at Hong Kong airport while waiting for our LAX flight. I have tried to capture the integration of the world there where entire airport seems to converge to the center of the photo. The carousel and people on it shot with motion blur trying to give a sense of motion towards the center and the center crowded than the rest. I wasnt expert enough to avoid the highlighted sign board on the left. The bland color of the top and the floor provided an unobstrusive background yet giving the needed perspective of convergence.