John and Norah’ s wonder photo-venture(Chapter 2)

(Chapter 2)

Saying thanks for his advice, John and Norah left the antique camera shop and went for a walk. After prowling around for Norah’s food, John headed to a park, “lacara”, where he often plays around.

Lacara Park is the largest park in the town, having a huge pond in the center, often gets crowded with many young couples and families come on weekend. You could hear a common story anywhere, among the park with pond and boat, the jinx which the relationship of couples will breakup when they ride a boat on their first date .

John and Norah were hanging around the park, a little away from the pond, under the huge trees near the forest. It was clear and sunny day, too hot to walk under the sun. It was good to walk under the shadow of the trees.

Is there something nice for you here, Norah? Mac told me to fish the moment, which impressed me…can you see it? You might be getting hungry now. Hold on a little more. I’ll get you something nice and cool, for this hot day! Just the moment John talked to Norah, it appeared, in front of them, on the ground, the “feeding food”!

Right away John hold a camera, Norah, and clicked the shutter.

It was a witch, called “lacara”. Tradition says she doesn’t bother people in special, and hardly be seen in front of peoples. Only occasionally a few people were reported, coming across her shadow.

John and Norah caught her shadow through the viewfinder. People said breakup among couples on the boat caused by Witch Lacara, from her jealousy. She doesn’t look that wicked, more seems lonely, John thought. She was reaching her hands to a woman having her baby. She looks scary like Medusa, but she may be a white witch. Don’t you think so, Norah?

Norah said nothing, but looks cool and satisfied.

John and Norah’ s wonder photo-venture(Chapter 1)

Chapter 1

When Norah came to us, I knew little about camera, let alone how to feed and foster it. My activity was often taken with instant camera, and currently taking picture by mobile phone. But those experiences never work in this case.

For the first several weeks I was awkward at facing this new situation, having no idea how much I should take him a walk every day, what kind of food they have etc… those fundamental information. My parent knows little, I decided to ask more reliable specialist for instructions, a man at antique camera shop in town.

There are hundreds of ancient cameras in the shop, also, Norah’s relatives are on the shelf. In fact, Norah seems get familiar with this atmosphere, looking so relaxed.

According to Mac, the owner of the shop, to walk early in the morning and late in the afternoon could be the best. Better in cloudy weather or rainy day rather than sunny day without any cloud. The length of time doesn’t matter much, it’s all depends of each camera.

He advised me that better food requires less quantity, but with wrong food, they could get sick badly.

I’m saying about food for camera, meaning to take photos. Good snap offers good nutrition. Boring photo will upset their stomach.

I’m just a fledging among the world of photography, not only in the world at school. Am I able to bring up Norah, feeding good food, taking good snap?

“Don’t take that seriously, John.” Said Mac. “I’m not saying that you have to be a professional photographer. You and your buddy are both newcomers. Just have a try taking many kinds of photos. For younger ages, sometimes quantity matters more than quality. Just like young boys at high school.”

“But if he gets sick? Bad photo could be poison, right? ”
“Mm, they maybe get sick, maybe in a bad mood, maybe stay in a dog house…or camera case whatever. But that happens always as long as they are alive. Don’t worry, they have a strong immune system. Bring him here in case he got sick. He won’t die so easily, unless you give them tons of spoiled photos. ”
“What do you mean spoiled photos?”
“Photos, dying and the dead. Basically, freshness is one of the best parts in feeding food. Growing child needs fresh meat and fish. I love fermented food but it’s the taste of adult.” He chuckled.
“You’re Mr. Connoisseur.”
“Yeah, could be. Uh, I almost forget to tell you the most important point. Take photos when you get inspired. Never let put behind the natural inspiration.”
“Something like snapping beautiful flowers?” I asked.
“Yes. Something beautiful, cool, funny… what you get impressed. Catch the moment and take it. It’s the matter of how you grasp the most from life, not just hunt for feeding food. Better life provides you better quarry.”
“Okay, Mac. I swear that I’ll do my best. Because there’s nothing like Norah in the world for me!”

John & Norah’ s wonder photo-venture (Introduction)

I first found Norah, in the corner of barn.
I have no idea from where he came inside. He was covered with tattered cloth, which was lying around and collecting dust. I wonder what attracted my curiosity at that situation. Anyway I opened up the cloth. That was the first encounter between us.

My Mom and Dad didn’t welcome our encounter from the start. They strongly opposed to keep Norah at my house. All what they complained was about everyday walk, feeding, herding, training, vaccinating and other annoying things to keep a pet (although I don’t believe Norah as a pet). Above all they mentioned that If I got tired of him in the future, it is them that pay to cull him. NONSENSE.

I made a pledge to take care of Norah, weeping bitterly every single day. When they finally allowed me to keep Norah after this one-month plea, I was so grad that I wept again, this time, for joy. Well, I know he don’t remember my effort, he never thank me, but I just love being with him.

He was “norah” so I call him Norah. (Norah means “stray” in Japanese.) He has black hair so that I could call him “Blackjack” or something else, but when my name, John, comes together with Norah, sounds similar with my favorite singer Norah Jones. Our spelling is “Norah, John’s”, indicating he belongs to me. If he happened to escape from me, people could tell he is my buddy.

I heard many things are dumped out there, not only Norah. People must really desire to get them at start, soon getting bored, and to go for other new things. That’s so sad. I don’t do that. I do take care of Norah to the last gasp.
I’m sure he is absolutely a standout in the planet, nothing can compare with him.

In fact Norah looks unique. We haven’t see similar species before. On the other day, my dad googled to see what kind of breed Norah is, turned out that he is very, very valuable kind, being priced so high for auctions. Over the weeks, Dad tried to have a deal with me exchanging Norah and Sony’s latest digital camera. I don’t want anybody underestimate me. Kindergarten gimmick won’t work, daddy.

It’s clear that Sony’s camera never supersede Norah.

What do you think who Norah is, Daddy?

He is an authentic 35mm Single Lens Reflex camera!!!

Here's your alternative , korean-style wedding

Wedding....seems to be one of happiest ceremony in life, but also could be the bane of life. Cultural differences give us another point?, wonders one japanese single girl in Korea


Have you ever attend wedding?
Yes, you must did several times.

Then, have you been to a wedding of strangers, a couple who you don't know even their name?
Never? Nonsens to ask?

Well, I did. I did in Korea just a few days ago. Why not?

Korea, located just next to my home country Japan, seems to have much more open-minded system for wedding. I should say it more than most of other countries.

One day one of my friends asked me to attend a korean wedding ceremony(of course in korea) of a couple who I've never meet before. According to her, wedding in korea welcomes anybody who comes, friends or friends of friends, or even passsersby.... at that time I couldn't accept her invitation but the shocking fact stayed in my mind. After a few months in a conversation with another friend who had studied for one year in Korea, my question turned out to be truth. Attending a Wedding seems one of ''entertainment'' among young korean.

Is that possible for foreigner like me, indeed? If so, how does it come in detail? To know that I have to investigate this case by my own eyes. Fortuneately I have korean friend in hand. My outlook (very japanese) would see as korean but I'm not capable of korean, need a good navigator. Grasping my air-ticket, I headed to a 2-days excurtion
to Seoul.

My friend, K, chosed me one wedding in the largest Church in Seoul, Myon-Doung(明洞） Church. That was big enough, and good enough for my stage of investigation. At first, before enterring the ceremony, 'tis necessary to get a TICKET. Where could we get it? Buy ticket as usual, at a ticket station . just like at cinema , museum or amusement park. Crowds are gathering there so that you don't miss it anyway.





With the ticket we got into the church. The festivity itself was not that surprizing. Quite general nice western style wedding in the church, except there were crowds of middle-aged men(suppose they are peoples from company which the groom works) and cloths of the guests were very casual, some of them wear jeans. In fact,　I was wearing a piece of nice sweater and shoes that I bought at Nandae-mun market(one of the biggest fashion market/南大門市場) last night. Sure that you don't need to prepare when you attend Korean wedding, not like the one in japan!! Very few women weres traditional dress, 치마 저고리(Chima jeogori), but the fact of several christian women wearing a veil made me realize that 30% (20%:protestant,10%:catholic) of korean believe in christianity, thought that this brand-new married couple must be "actual" christian. On the other hand, many in japan who get married in the church would be "fly-by-night christian"(they'd FLY abroad on honeymoon immediately).





After the christian ritual, it's time to take photos with the bride and bloom. Their friends got to snap a lot even if the couple's eyes are away from the viewfinder or stand away from us. They are just a background of us. The protagonist of the photo seems to have the owner of the camera.



For the last decades Japanese travelers had gained fame around the globe by taking pictures every other minutes when abroad, but now we might to pass the position to Korean. They're lovin' it (Mee, too). When you see Asian tourists who are taking picture so much, don't jump to a conclusion that they are japanese. Seeing them carefully, listening to their words, you might realize the slight differences between Japanese and Korean.

No matter where Korean are, abroad or at home, they do. I'd seen many "photographers" and "models" everywhere on the fashionable street in Seoul.　Nearly all of them are couple. I guess they are boyfriend and girlfriend. Mostly the guy, photographer, snaps the model, his girlfriend. Beauty doesn't last (oh well, some could get plastic beauty forever. Aesthetic surgery is popular in Korea). We might preserve it in a right way on photo paper as they do.

Soon after this memorial photo time of christian style we move to another building, korean traditional ceremony are waiting for us. While the bride and groom are preparing for the next ceremony, friend K gave me a quick lecture over this tradition. According to him, in this ceremony the wedding couple exchange their cloths to traditional korean dress, and pay their compliments to their parents with deep bow (deeper than japanese one) . Placed some decollated special foods on the table , the essential foods would be chestnuts and jujube. The broom's parents take some of the food and throw to the couple. The bride's dress has a long sleeve and the broom hold the end of cloth to catch the foods. The number of the food indicate the number of child they'll have, and chestnut as a symbol of girl, jujube as a symbol of boy. Plus the bride and broom eat these stuff in the bridal night. Yes, this is one kind of fortunetelling or making a wish ceremony for having baby.





Unfortunately all the visitors is allowed to enter this ritual, it's only for their parents and couple and other few persons such as aunt or sister so that we could catch only a glimpse of it from the corridor, although most of visitors seem not interested in this ritual. Perhaps they are waiting for something else.... hungry?

Time has come. It passed 12 o'clock, 'tis time for lunch. So am I , hungry. Showing the ticket(this ticket may be just for food), we got into the floor. The moment I entered, I was unspeakable. The meal at wedding was served buffet style!!!



I'm not saying that i don't like buffet style, but had supposed much more stiff and formal dish. Must popular wedding cuisine in japan comes in French(if traditional, japanese food), seated on a certain place, not to move to other place to talk to someone else. Have to behave onself.

Here in korea, it's possible. That we can eat what we want as much as we like, having choices such as korean food, japanese SASHIMI(chef serve it in front of us!), or even turkish kebab!!!! Imagine how happy I was there. Couldn't help wishing happiness to the wedding couple....oh, is this strategy of korean wedding? People can drop by the wedding at ease, eat at ease, nothing should be worry about, so that blessings occur to anyone as a natural result?






Some of my friends have already married, I went the wedding. It was nice to see them, but there were so many things to care about. You have to clear a dress code (no jeans), admission charge (approximately 200euro for young) and time (in korea:2hours, in japan: vague, maybe around a half of the day). One japanese 30 something guy said to me that he'd already told his acquaintances about being busy, not to invite him their wedding. Imagine when people gets 30, gets more acquaintances and the invitation must be more. These should be welcomed. But his wallet wouldn't welcome the invitations.

But if it's in korea?

Everyone could enjoy the wedding wishing the couple's happiness?

In everything, things have two phases, good and bad. The only unfavable thing I may FEAR over korean style wedding is inside the carefree system. IF your not-invited ex-boyfriend (girlfriend) appeared in sudden? This situation might become the beginning of another DRAMA, or soap opera.*** (But this also could be exciting moment, for audience).

Remember korean TV drama is famous for its dramatic happenings. I like attending the korean wedding but YOU be careful when having it.



***note-- Over a couple of years there are Korean TV drama boom throughout Japan. Most of the enthusiasts are middle aged women, great lovers of soap opera.

03: Cinderella buys her shoes.

" Hence one is not born a woman, but becomes one." the second sex, Simone de Beuvoir

Accompanied by proper shoes is great concern in life, specially when exploring the world.

My feet gets sore. I've been walking for hours in the city of Gwangzhou, south-east China. Gloomy, overcast sky is shadowing me, from my head to toe.

I should have bring my CONVERSE or... would better be Adidas shoes, I regret. Fed up with walking, I got on the subway.

At the first moment, Chinese steps, feet, came into my eyes. Almost half of them wear Adidas or NIKE, or those copied/similar one. There might be those shoes factories around here. Looks very comfortable, compared with my stylish, black-leather loafer.

Yes, it's stylish my shoes... but all I need here is easy one, to be ready for running away (from someone or something).

While my feet were having rest, spontaneously, my eyes re-started to watch around. Soon I noticed the interesting imbalance of two, between the subway itself and the passengers. The construction building is dressed with highly urbanized, highly polished (amazingly cleaner than the ones in Tokyo), well-controlled new looks which leave us a sensation of impersonal coldness as typical urban personality.

On the other hand, the peoples those who are still showing in rustic garb, many are being clothed with sweat suits (with three side line on their bottom), not at home but even at the center of the city. Seems like all the peoples are fresh from countryside, apart from the buildings.

Humorous contrast between the developing infrastructure and people. The massive stream of construction is overwhelming the people. That may explain the great popularity of Adidas, among who are running to catch up with it, wearing a pair of Adidas shoes. So far, they are under preparation against the power, top-down development, which has established all this infrastructure.

They are ready.

Am... I ?

I came to feel like buying a new pair of shoes, running shoes, so that I got off the train at a station, just under the fashionable street.

Upon the station on the ground, colorful-dreamland (or Disneyland)-like-department store and crowds of teenagers threw me out to the street. I felt like being out of place, like in the Harajuku street (popular district in Tokyo, among teenagers) Guess I was too big to live in those kind of "dreamland".

Rejected by the "dreamland", plus, still tired and suffering with sore feet. What is worse, I was hungry. Only thing which could recharge and encourage me should be..... yes, sugar and caffeine.

Went straight to a cafe restaurant just across the road, and ordered a cup of coffee and one sweet bakery. A middle aged waitress, who looks so tired with her life, served me in a minutes.

The pastry looks quite similar with Japanese "melon pan(bread)", covered in a thin layer of crispy cookie dough, whose appearance resembles a melon (not necessary melon flavored). According to my guidebook, this supposed to be called "菠蘿油, Pineapple butter bread". I prefer Japanese "melon pan" but this is not that bad.

This realized me some sense of sisterly "sweet" relationship between Japan and China.

The coffee (鴛鴦茶), the important, was.....like..... mm. Let's say "Cafe con leche (cafe au lait), peruvian style MEETs United Kingdom.. or India. I mean, there's a plenty of milk and ..... TEA. Once again, according to my guidebook, this is typical drink among HongKong. So, is this loyalty to Queen of UK? Or friendship to India? Could be?

This admirable Chinese, complicated and very challenging attitude (toward food) encourages me to be ready to go back to the street. Well, I'm not saying it tastes bad, this definitely giving me caffeine DOUBLE in performance, coffee and tea. Why not becoming more aggressive?

While tramping around the street, something charming had passed by me. A small fashion boutique, displaying modern designed Chinese dress.

The atmosphere, antique and elegant style spiced with modern technology, I love it and decided to get into the shop. There were one shop girl, casting a smile at me when I entered, and one fifty-something woman ahead.

Looking around the clothes, good, too-mach, boring one, and I finally came across the one, the best. Modern designed Chinese dress, with floral pattern. Fancied myself a Maggie Cheung(張 曼玉), in the movie " In the mood for love (花様年華)", I asked the shop girl to try it on.

This moment, was the beginning of "GUANZHOU collection 2008 spring".

As I put on the one-piece and opened the curtains to see myself under the light, the two, shop girl and middle aged lady were waiting for me at front.

"Wow, you look gorgeous, indeed."

Actually Both of them doesn't speak English nor Japanese, only Cantonese(Chinese in Canton), I didn't understand much what they were talking about, but you could guess what peoples want to tell, at least whether good thing or bad thing.

Suddenly, the middle-aged-lady, who seems to be a steady customer here, gave the shop girl some direction. At the next moment, she handed me another dress, indicating to try this on, too.

It was nice dress but a bit too formal one.

Traveler tends to accept more things than usual, so do I, tried on one after another following to the lady's suggestion.

The fitting session continued and the spectators got escalated. I was in the mood for princess at that moment.

" I have a daughter in your age, in the same height." She, the lady, said perkily.

"And she (her daughter) also wore these dress here." she added (at my guess of translation).

Definitely her loving daughter must have grown up as princess, or "queen's" dress-up doll.

I decided to buy two of one-piece dress, not among of this queen's recommendations, one is the first one, modern designed Chinese dress, and antique designed one-piece. The queen also liked my selections, looking so satisfied, she left the shop with dignity.

"Where are you from?" the shop girl asked me, packaging the dresses.
"From Japan."
"Really? You doesn't look like foreigner. Possible to be Chinese beauty."

Lovely. I'm becoming feel like live here. And She asked me to write down my name on one paper, I expected, this would be for customer list, but seeing her coy smile, it turned out to be just her personal favor. A kind of autograph?

We exchanged our name paper, and learnt the pronunciations. Japanese use Chinese letter in parts but the sounds deffer in total so that we could communicate each other via writing Chinese letter, so-called 筆談(pen conversation).

Through chatting with her, my stereotype for Chinese has been collapsing. Such as aggressive, money-centered, ambitious people. I was unaware of myself being soaked up with these stereotypes, before the fact I was surprised at the girl in front of me, who love fancy goods and fashion, is charming shy virgin, just like girls in other country. I should have be reasonable, not irrational, enough not to generalize all the people, but I was.

After all, I just understood all these views in my head part, but not in any deeper understandings.
We could know by flood of information surround us, but it'd be impossible to grasp at the whole without "participation".

"When do you come back here?" she gave me a innocent question.

She's already known that I just drop by without plan and will back to Japan in 5 days.

When?

Return?

I totally have no idea what will be, but... by a twist of fate, people might ride on a circulation, go somewhere and back there and on and on.

Haven't answer her question, I told her to send the photo, of her and me, after I back home.

Soon after I left the shop, I faced the reality, that I can hardly wear these clothes, as daily clothes.

I tends to buy clothes in two ways. First, for daily conservative clothes. Second, challenging, avant-garde or sort of "too-much" clothes, along the edge of girls' intuition, to dream or "cosplay (dress-up)" in my room alone.

Wei Hui (周衛慧), author of the novel "shanghai baby", was also writing similar things in her book. I cannot remember precisely but "They're two color in my closet. Dark and Vivid." something like that.

I like both, even if I never wear again. You'll see when one "becomes" girl. Girl does like to be fancied oneself.

On the way back to the hotel, I witnessed another girlish thing.

Princesses, in line, riding on bike.

More than ten of girls in pink dress were riding on bike on the street. What is happening here?

They had gone so fast, in a hurry. Where to? Are they on the way to meet their prince? Maybe it's almost "12 o'clock", the end of all the magic, so they decided to go to buy their shoes ?

I dare say Cinderella in this century doesn't wait for prince coming.
She would go to shop her shoes.

Cinderella comes in all shapes and sizes.



Shoes also come in all shapes and sizes.



...then, shall we go to find out a pair of nice shoes in our limited life time, Cinderella?






***

The World Is Matryoshka

I believe in love, at the first sight.

If only opened your heart you could find the love chemistry everywhere, around the next corner, for instance, or might lie on a night market where I've gain it...

* * *

My friend and I were moving among the lively stalls in Yaumautei district, which has one of the most exciting night market in HongKong. I wasn't feel like shopping, but having fun to see many interesting items.


A wristwatch, for instance, with a portrait of Mao Zedong(毛沢東), ticking and counting the time with his hand of a second pointer. Being fascinated, I was about to buy it (him). Tragically, soon I realized that he was about to die. Time was limited... not able to replace the battery. The truth is, time has been changing, his time had gone in the history. I left the clock stall and headed to the next shop.

It was then, as one door closes another one opens, I fell in love with him at the first look. Or I should say them, not him. They looked like a family, consisting of 5 members. As Casting a peaceful smile at me, the love chemistry between us sparked.

Their name is Matryoshka, or Panda.

Famous Russian nesting doll illustrated as Panda. I must had shouted "KAWAII !!!", in my mind at least. I have to admit that the trademark phrase among Japanese girls have to be "KAWAII", meaning "cute or lovely". We adore small lovely things, no matter how childish it seems to be. No one can disgrace our sense of value.

And also we use it when flattering others. It might be similar word "cool" in English speaking person, there's no such meaning at all, it's a habit.

Anyway I fell in love the KAWAII panda's matryoshka. As may women wonder I got in the same road, seesawed between two mind-sets, Money no big deal in love; money very big deal in love.

It was big deal. I bought them, after haggling for bargain. Woman has getting the power in this century.

So obsessed by them, I couldn't remember the things I saw after obtained my panda. Back to the hotel, opening the package I displayed them on the sideboard.

Mm, this is "spectacular".

Each of them looks cute, innocent panda, but eerie in a group. Seems it's better putting all the dolls inside the boss (the biggest one). Feels like I've opened the PANDorA(Pandora)'s box, although this is PANDA's doll.

Peruvian writer, Mario Vargas Llosa once mentioned Matryoshka as a metaphor of the technique in story telling. According to him, the structure of encapsulation represents the magic of fiction, among the chronicles, places and the levels of reality.

In "Stories of One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian nights)" , for instance, a new bride of a king tells a tale, which doesn't end. It was at the night of their marriage, which was only to execute her on the next morning. Each of her stories contains another phase of next story, thus, the king keep her alive to listen the ending, until 1,001 nights....

Vargas Llosa explains that this structure is the classic technique, another story within a story. And the both are related each other in a certain point, deepening to enrich the world of the story.

I think that also the world itself could be likened to Matryoshka. We are believing that it's A small worlds, but not enough? Could be more within A world. Once peering the outer layer off, another dimensions are waiting for us, no matter how it will be.

The outer looks must be similar, just like matryoshka. It would differ in essence, shadowing and being derivative each others.

Once I realized that there is another world within, cannot resist my curiosity to discover the next, and to face the integrated world-view.

Horrible, it could be. Glories, wish to be. KAWAII, adore to be.

Not to forget my today's findings, I display my Panda's matryoshka, although scared me a bit, as an alarm doll.

02: Like a Hermit Crab, or the others

(Dear Chungking mansion:

Thank you for your TOO thoughtful hospitality.

I didn't request any wake-up call at all, but you did, in a very unique way.)


I waked up early in the morning, with spicy wake-up smell (guess a kind of a wake-up call) coming from other Indian's kitchen through the fan. Still sleepy but smelling too deeply to continue to be in bed, so that I interpreted it that something is calling me to somewhere else. Yes, I have to get out of this building, Chungking Mansion, as soon as possible.

In a minute, I rushed to a bathroom. To take a shower, which are VERTICALLY directly-connected with toilet bowl, that leads me to disaster, flood in the tiny water closet.

After struggling with water, I finally understand the reason why most people, who lives in Chungking mansion, doesn't have large figure. Even smaller than me (164cm height) as I noticed last night on the elevator.

It must be so hard to take a shower, for those Big-Ape-like humans, I feel sorry for them. It was then that I came up with a weird thought, remembering the mainstream size of housing in Japan, which is called "rabbit hutch (small, ticky-tacky house)" as a metaphor.

The thought is,

"It's the PLACE which choose who to live in, not by the resident. The resident is chosen, or adjust oneself to the place. "

You know, an English word "accommodation" are used for both meanings belows.

1. Accommodation (in British usage) or accommodations (in American usage) is lodging in a dwelling or similar living quarters afforded to travellers in hotels or on cruise ships, or prisoners, etc.

2. Accommodation (psychology), the process by which existing mental structures and behaviors are modified to adapt to new experiences according to Jean Piaget .

See? That makes sense also in the fact that Japanese, who live in so-called rabbit hutches, are smaller than Americans in figure, for example, who are believed to live in larger ones.

Disagree with me?.....yup, I'm joking.

But this idea might be able to refer to the same thing in our daily life. It's impossible to choose one's environment in the very early stage of life, such as the place of birth, sexualities, names, parents, and genes, etc. All we can do is just to receive the nature and adjust our-self. But soon we start to choose the options, like it or not.

"Nature or nurture" is a crucial point in science. Apart from the dispute, the ratio of influence by nurture(environment) differs among peoples. One live in a stable, solid life, appreciating for what he/she has given, without any doubts. Let's call it life of ANT. Or concentrate one's work, playing one's role in the society or company, as a busy BEE.

On the other hand there's people who protest against the current status, searching for something better or the truth. Some of them live the life of hermit. Just like HERMIT CRAB travels for new house.

There's no point to argue which way of life is right or not. That depends on each of us. That's the human. Only thing I could say is hermit-crab-life-style is fascinating me at the moment. This could be one of the reason I want to get out of here in Chunking mansion.

My strange idea about people's figure, which indicates the life as an ant or a bee, has been popped out here and I feel uncomfortable even just staying here. (although life in Chungking mansion itself seems to be hightly unlikely conservative or passive).

Why do I feel uneasy so much? What am I escaping from exactly? Chungking mansion and my weird thought should be metaphor of my anxiety toward future . Do I feel like I am overwhelmed by the life as ant/bee?

Well, this kind of topic needs further investigation, but I need to go further destination right now.

As soon as got dressed I headed to a travel agency for a short excursion to southeast China, Guangzhou, less than 2 hours away by train. Until this morning I hadn't decided whether or not visiting there, but now have decided for sure.

The thing is I'd love to see what we call CHINA, although British-related HongKong(historically) and Indian-coloured HongKong(Just I re-discovered) would be amusing, China is calling me....from bathroom.