Children Playing

Children play in Ulan-ude. They play together in just about the same way I've seen children play throughout the world.

A group of four kids are playing on one of those playground rotating wheels. Everyone seems to instictively know when it is their turn to push the others. They run around each other, spinning wildly as the colours of the bars blur together.

Suddenly they jump up and jump on their bicycles and speed off to cries of "Arbat! Arbat!", apparently their destination. The wheel spins lazily, empty.

A grandchild hops aboard and her grandmother gently nudges the wheel back into motion. The child's face is filled with joy as her mouth gapes with pleasure, her face alternating between sunlight and shadow. I can't recall
such innocent, simple happiness.

Another boy and girl hop on ; they want to go faster! The poor grandchild quickly gets upset, and the two people seperated by a generation hold hands and leave. The new occupants spin languidly around, seated on the bars while enjoying their ice cream. They soon get tired and waltz off to their next conquest.

Red, blue, green and yellow bars blur together again, with no children to guide them. The primary colours, depending on which theory of colour you prefer. What an odd thought. Hmm.

-ky