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.

Moments to Steal

• First sip of coffee in the morning with Newspaper
• Chirping of birds in morning silence with the coolness of dewdrops
• First bite of food when you are infinitely hungry
• Entering the last number in a Sudoku
• Eating an icecream when there is noone around to remind you about diet
• Sudden plan for a movie
• Noticing purple flowers in the office campus one fine day when u look up and away from the security and vehicles
• The long night before a holiday
• Finding time for a stroll in a busy day
• Waking up after a wonderful dream
• Playing your favorite song on ipod
• Unexpected call or mail from a friend
• Manager on Leave

Who is the kid?

"Ladies and Gentlemen. For security reasons passengers are requested to bring to the notification of the airport security any unclaimed baggage" announced the akashvani at the Bengaluru International Airport. A lady with streaks of grey hair hiding the wrinkles on her forehead and heavy woolen sweater protecting her from the chill of 4 30 AM in Bengaluru sat on the bench with a basket. A basket full of stuff typical of South Indian outing - A coffee flask, a small tiffin box with upma in it, a napkin and a water bottle. She was neither aware of the eat-outs at the airport nor could figure out what the announcement meant. She asked her husband in Kannada innocently.

"What are they saying ? Are they saying our daughter's flight has come?"

"No. They are saying that now a days it is very insecure out here as terrorists attack any place. So we should be careful."

"Oh My God. I should have lighted the lamp at home and done the Pooja at home before leaving. You said we dont have time even to take bath and come."

"Of course. You were bent upon preparing the breakfast and then leaving. Now lets just wait. I am already tensed till I see my daughter. Don't talk all this now."

She remained silent as she could understand his restlessness. The clock ticked by and an hour passed. It was the time for the arrival of BA 119 in which their daughter was coming. It was delayed by 20 min. The anxious father kept moving to the display board and back to the bench again and again. His feeble eye-sight would not allow him to check the status sitting on the bench. She could not wait longer and she started her questions again.

"What did you see?"

"The flight is going to come soon."

"Can we see the flight when it comes?"

"No, it will come on the other side of this building. We wont be able to see it. But they will write it on the board when it comes."

"Oh. What about all the luggage. She has to bring it from the other side of the building till here. How do they get down from the plane? Kids are also coming. How will she manage?"

"Even I am worried. But they will give her luggage only later is what she told. Then she can get it on those trolleys we saw others going with sometime back. They put some ladder for her to get down."

"Good they have some facility like that. But what if they don't give her the right luggage?"

"I think they will give. She asked us not to worry"

As soon as the display showed - "ARRIVED", he called his wife - "Come soon. The flight has come." She juggled the basket, umbrella and the small purse that had the cash to start running towards the arrival gate. A young girl of 25 sitting next to her waiting for the same flight interrupted and said -"It will take time for them to come out. Immigration and customs formalities will be there." The terms did not make an iota of sense to the lady. Probably she heard those terms for the first time. She gave a smile acknowledging that she heard the girl but continued her sprint.

Among the crowd holding placards at the arrival gate were these old couple with their eager sight hooked on to the farthest point they could see through the glass doors. There was no sight of any passenger till 20 min. But neither the eagerness nor the strength to stand there decreased. Finally after 40 min, the lady exclaimed - "I can see the kids. Bend down here. You can also see their legs." The old man tried to bend down to get a glimpse. It did not occur to him that it is a matter fo 5 mins that they will be standing right in front of him. It was the joyous moment they had been waiting for. Every second from then was like an year. The last few seconds had them slowly sneaking into the area reserved for passengers to hug the kids and their daughter.

There were smiles and there were tears. For anyone who would have observed them for those 2 hours, it was tough to say that the separation was only 3 months and that their daughter is a 30 year old software Engineer who has roamed the world. For parents, it does not matter, does it? For they don't see a difference between the two kids who ran to them at the gate and their daughter who walked slowly towards them. She always remains a kid to them even if they have to figure out the technological world like a kid trying to learn new things.

Din

I know his name. Not sure if he knows mine.

I don't understand what he speaks except for"xyz Ringitts" and he does not understand anything I speak except for the destination and time.

It is easy to guess now that he is a taxi driver in Kuala Lumpur.

Strange are the ways how humans develop relationships. It does not need a language. All it needs is the connection.

I went for a week there, stayed at a hotel and happened to take his taxi on the very first day. Uncertain about the situations and conditions in a foreign city when you are alone, I asked him a for a daily pick up and drop. He agreed. i had tough time explaining "daily" and had to say something like - Tomorrow, tomorrow tomorrow and tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow. Funny isn't it? He came daily and had the same smile. We used to just nod to each other instead of a "good morning" or "good evening". I used to use signs to ask questions like - what are the places to see around? How to reach there? " After a point I realized it is the signs I am using more important and not the language I used for myself. So I used to speak in Kannada and show the right signs using hands and face. It worked.

He showed me how to reach Petronas towers. He took me to Putra Lake. Even in a country of nobody for me, I felt i had somebody when I went with him. Strange trust and confidence that surprised me.

On the last day, when I was leaving I felt - "I might not meet him again in life. No mode of contact. Of course there are no signs on telephone. But he has escorted me everywhere. Unknowingly guarded my safety. When I think of all the possibilities and how bad the world can be, I feel a sense of gratitude for him." When I had a tough time asking for places, how would I even talk about such a complex vague feeling. Of course I cannot.

When I got down at the airport, I was short of cash by 10 Ringitts. I said - "Only 180". He just nodded which said -"Its ok". He left after exchange of smiles. I don't know if he figured our I felt grateful. But it is a good feeling to be thankful.

Random Thought # 8

Thought: A friend is someone who can be source of your happiness and sink to your sorrows.

Reason: Blessed with such friends

Explanation: You don't need heat and mass transfer course for this :D