I was passing Sydney Town Hall when I have noticed a skateboarder sitting on the ornate balustrade and he was having his lunch. Bent almost in half he was looking somewhere as if he was trying to spot someone. At the same time there was considerable group of people at the pedestrian crossing and I have noticed that practically everyone was turned away from the skateboarder. With a semi circular space created between the young man and the rest of the crowd. Town Hall is a busy place at lunchtime and it was rather odd there were no people walking towards me and the skateboarder.
Yesterday temperatures in Sydney reached 40C plus. Previews few days were also very hot. Outside of trying to stay in the shade to avoid direct sunlight hydration is also very important during hot days like that. As you can see from the photograph here some people were a bit more creative than other on how to stay hydrated. This young man has a cola can attached to his cap with a tube extending to his mouth. I am not sure if keeping your cola where it is most likely to get warmed up is the best spot, but at least it makes for a new street photograph.
Sydney has experienced a number of very high humidity days in a row. To say that I am unfit would be an understatement of the century, never the less I take time to complete almost an hours worth of walk everyday. On these days I return to the office sweating as the proverbial pig.
On one of these humid days I stopped near QVB to watch a couple of young boys performing a dance routine. I did not consider it interesting or even snap worthy, so I took no photographs of them. The boys were highly repetitive, static on their feet … dare I say boring. (I know, who am I to criticise. At least they were doing something.)
I was about to walk away when I have noticed a young man near by, bend in half on the edge of the street curb and trying to catch his breath. Assuming from his outfit I can only guess he was running the and the heavy humid air is not an ideal environment for that. He seemed to have real problem recovering from his exercise, to the point that I made a step towards him to ask if he needs assistance. At that exact moment he straightened up and simply walked away.
Recently, there was an article in the news papers covering the issue of “professional” beggars. Apparently, they can earn as much as 50 thousand dollars a year. The man in the report was saying his job is very monotonous and requires long hours.
Now, I look at this photograph of a young beggar “praying” for money in the Pitt Street and the group of young office workers passing him by. Do those young people earn 50 thousand a year? They probably studied hard, went through the university and now are finding their places in the corporate world.
Their hours are probably long too and the job not always the most interesting. However, how demoralising it must be for them to see this young man without any ambitions or will to work earning this kind of money?
Charities often warn against people like this young beggar and advise that if you feel generous you should donate the money to them. At least then the money will find its way to the truly needy.
