Timeless in Tokyo

Tokyo - I had heard about the movie "Love in Tokyo" but never`watched it. I did not know that I would land up in Tokyo before watching the movie. I thought watching the movie was easier and more likely. Yet I am here now. When I joined my job, my superiors had a misconception that I don't like traveling. They claim I told so in the interview. Anyways 2 years passed without me traveling anywhere out of India and now I am here in Tokyo. I have seen people writing travelogues describing the place. But I am not good at that. I would probably pen down what I felt at the place.

Where do I start? I felt so many things that cannot form a coherent paragraph. A set of disconnected lines will do.

Awe of witnessing an organized, well planned city touching the sky when a day before I was stuck for 2 hours in Bangalore Traffic and chaos

Wonder at the way people walk in lines like machines over here.

Pity for the monotony in the lives here.

Surprise to see arrows and boards everywhere telling u where to go and how to walk. There are arrows on staircase and pavement as well.

Embarrassment when I was pointed out by someone that I am standing on the right side on the elevator and I am not supposed to. It leads to jam. I am not supposed to hold a visiting card in one hand. Not supposed to pay the bill by keeping the money on the table rather than the tray meant for it. Apparently people at Osaka stand on the left of the elevator because they are rivals of Tokyo. Now I dont know what to feel for that!

Feel of Freedom when I walk alone singing and dancing to songs on ipod on the street slipping into just anything I catch hold of without bothering about who is commenting on me. I don't know anyone!

Excitement to take a picture of every small damn thing I see and narrate the story to folks back home.

Thrill of shopping gifts for the loved ones from TOKYO and imagine the happiness I would get to see.

Fascination to see the electronics I saw in the showroom back in Bangalore stand as tall buildings all around.

Disbelief to find myself in Starbucks when I am reading the book "How Starbucks Saved my Life" by Michael Gill.

Memories of Bollywood movies when I sip hot coffee and walk on the street at 0 degrees singing a song.

Fear of getting stuck between the doors of the high speed trains. I know there are sensors, but what if they fail!

Amazed to see the love for Japanese in the Japanese when it comes to talking, boards, bills, books. In short everything and anything. Come on, at least the currency coin should have a number on it! Either they hate English or love Japanese too much.

Joy to see an Indian Veg Restaurant to feed this hungry Veggie in Tokyo.

Fulfillment when the client acknowledged the meeting was useful in his Japanese style by bowing.

Feeling the smallness and the greatness of mankind simultaneously when I stood next to the Tokyo Tower.

Gratitude for the politeness of the Japanese I interacted with for making my stay comfortable.

Pride of visiting a wax museum though I am not talking about the Madame Tussauds in London.

Child-like satisfaction after watching a Japanese 3-D animation and the dolphins dance live.

That

makes it 19 different feelings. If 20 is a good round number, the one I had saved for last is

Urge to go back to India.

How much ever I see the world, whatever I enjoy, whatever good my mind finds in the other places, at the end of the day I would always like to be back home. Either I have got used to the imperfections in India or it has become such an inherent part of my life that perfection makes me feel out of place :)

"Apne sadak ke kone me apnon ke saath pani puri khane me jo mazaa rakha hai us ke liye aise kitne bhi posts kaafi nahi."

Love
Goda

PS: If you are still wondering why the title is Timeless in Tokyo, I left my watch back in India. My cell was drained out of battery and did not work here. So I had no idea of time yet managed my days. But as a tip, leaving ur mobile and watch in the trash for a day allows u to feel the life without pressure.