April 17, 2013

A flower, a smile and an endearing touch

Some friends asked me why I loved to travel so much.
I answered,"Travel reinforces my faith in humanity."

During my recent Japan trip, I went to a little suburb town to watch a local taiko performance (Japanese traditional drummers). I am kinda sure that I was the only foreigner present there, thanks to my Japanese friend who found this performance for me.

Long story short, after the performance I got a huge beautiful flower bouquet from the drummers. Since I was carrying my backpack, still having to find my way around the subway jungle and having a zero sense of aesthetic appreciation anyway, I gave the flowers to a beautiful passing by grandma wearing a kimono and her grandson with down syndrome.

The grandma smiled so sweetly and started talking to me in Japanese, and there I was frantically waving my hand saying "Nihhonjin janai." (I am not a Japanese). Then she smiled and said "Thank you."
The grandson, seeing his grandma's smile, looked at me very intensely and started talking incoherently to me. I smiled at him, understanding nothing. Suddenly he took my hand in his and held it for some time.

Pure cuteness :)


Little kindness, beautiful strangers. Those things that matter :)

April 16, 2013