|
|
Greatness is next to smallness
We took the train to Kamakura, riding in the green car, and got off at Kita-Kamakura. It was busier than Shinjuku station. We set off on our hike up the surrounding hillside, and the crowds dispersed to reveal greenery and blue skies. We walked all the way to the beach, along the beach and to Zushi coast. We watched the windsufers and the surfers and the kites soaring overhead. Then we took a bus to Zushi station and headed home. On the way to the bus stop we bought ice-cream at a local shop and had a chat with some of the customers and the owner. I'm sure they'd never met foreigners before. They were so happy that we were enjoying our time in Zushi. They told us our Japanese was good, after we'd said a few words. I regard that compliment as having almost the same meaning as, "it's nice that you make the effort to speak Japanese". On our way out, a little old lady came into the shop and said, "ki o tsukete" ( "Take it easy" ). Nice to be nice and to receive niceness, by the nice sea. Tsukete in some instances means to attach and ki, means energy or force so I like to think of that phrase as having the Yoda-like meaning of : Use the force.
And.....I bought my bike!!It's absolutely ace. I'm in love with it. I love her. She's a Dahon, an American brand, made in Taiwan, foldable and weighing in at 13kg. Here's a picture:
Rode it back from the shop in Ueno, and got looks of awe from about 12 people. They were all on shitty shopping bikes, you see.
posted by PA on Sunday, June 20, 2004
|
|
