Walking into a dream

Its been less than a week here but Ive already seen frames that seem to be part of some serene,make-believe world that exists only in tourist brochures: Children playing frisbee in the soft sunlight on neatly manicured lawns....

Its been less than a week here but Ive already seen frames that seem to be part of some serene,make-believe world that exists only in tourist brochures: Children playing frisbee in the soft sunlight on neatly manicured lawns; a well-fed dog jumping around as his owner reads a book on an easy chair; brightly-painted farmhouses with white,knee-high picket fences in the middle of lush meadows dotted with grazing sheep; old couples sitting on street-side cafes,enjoying muffins and waving to tourists in flower-decked trams; an old woman perched on a bench next to a little stream full of ducks,with a group of sea gulls lazing on the bank. Is this suburban Christchurch,or a brochure for a pension plan?

But the one stand-out feature that gives this city a distinct air of casualness is the sight of several bare-foot walkers. When I first saw a group of young girls holding their pencil-heel shoes in their hands while walking into a McDonalds,I thought they were merely relaxing their toes after a long walk. But as days passed by,the shoeless fashion manifested itself repeatedly.

Passengers walked into buses minus footwear,amblers on the Cathedral square let their soles get a feel of the cold,clean concrete,and even in malls I had to cautiously manoeuvre the shopping cart with the fear of stepping on an uncovered toe. Why do they do it? This is how we feel free, replied a local.

Not entirely convinced,I found a Guided Walks kiosk and asked the man at the counter. He told me that many children around New Zealand go to school without footwear because shoes arent a part of the dress code. There is also a bare-foot course to course race in Christchurch that is a big annual event,he said. When the sun is out after slight rain,try to walk bare-foot on the grass and tell me if you dont feel relief flooding through you, he challenged me with a smile.

I tried it straight away,and he was spot on. Five days into the tour,Im still not entirely convinced if this is a real place or some make-believe world.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More