Pain In Heart When Exhaling

Tokyo aprile 2007















Tokyo in April 2007

We have found a home!

We are in a fairly central but in a very particular, a small oasis of green and low houses in the middle of the concrete. Tokyo a particular city, and apparently all the same anonymous.

many cubes attached one to another. We could stop them.

In fact I'm beginning to understand that to be discovered, especially walking and cycling.
I like to look down where the flowers bloom!

There is no center there are many centers and each has a specific character; what is the business Marounochi, there is one university in Waseda, there is the entertainment district in Roppongi, one of the ministries and the commercial ones, the most amazing for me, as Ginza and Shinjuko. Here, we are close to the dojo in Shinjuku, where I ride my bike, Simon prefers to walk that says you can lose weight by walking more ... The house he found him on the internet, I must admit that it can find what look, it was a holiday without intermediaries, so we met the owners, we saw the house and we've seduced. She is a Japanese artist has a painting studio and a ceramics exhibition flowered in the same lane, a very fine space, Japanese, all in wood. The owners live very close to us, have a house on three floors and a large roof terrace where the crows come to rest near the vegetable garden wall and sing the owner retired, Mr. Gennai, it was built.

He seemed his advisor and of course I can to be his nice ... We sat cross-legged on the tatami of the house and we talked about spirituality and emotions ... in English of course. The house we liked, we launched a few Simone and I look for consensus, the day after we brought together a deposit and Hiroshi, a friend giapponese che ci ha fatto conoscere Stefano, abbiamo fatto centro: mr Gennai ha detto: “you are a nice couple” Neppure uno yen in più come invece chiedono le agenzie che dagli stranieri si fanno pagare tutto in anticipo e con due mesi a perdere!

Tutto è avvento sostanzialmente sulla reciproca fiducia, con in più una bici per me! Il quartiere è piccolo con viottoli intersecati fra loro e casette basse, tanti fiori e piante di ciliegi, due templi vicini e un bellissimo cimitero.

Mi piacciono da sempre i cimiteri, in realtà li sento dei luoghi pieni di storia e in un certo senso anche dei luoghi vivi.

Facciamo il removal from the trailer in two trips and the first days I'm really enjoying customize your home with the minimum of expenditure.

The house-ku shinjioku

You see? It closes and opens ...

In Tokyo, the many shops, we discovered a number of stores which are called 100 yen, where every item you buy and then cost 60 euro cents. It is to lose your head you can find everything from buttons to colorful painted ceramic bowls, from detergents to 'necessary for the plants, from books to prescription eyeglasses. E 'indescribable shame that buy almost everything.
Recently I found a grocery store, where all food costs 100 yen, with 10 out of the bag with the potatoes 2 tomatoes, a package of cookies in a quart of milk, a cashier at the end count the pieces and packed multiply ... comfortable for her. Life is not so expensive and the fish have very lowest prices in Italy and is much more fresh and good. Of course if you want French bread or pasta De Cecco oil or extra virgin olive oil or wine and then find it, but it pays.
The supermarket is an adventure every time, is full of foods and vegetables that do not know, so we bought a book through illustrations and photos explains what it is because many products do not recognize themselves from the pack and not even know if are sweet or savory.
"Amai deska" (it is sweet?) I always ask, at least go for exclusion.

The salespeople are very kind and help me find what I need, like sugar, salt, flour and gestures we understand, but the book remains a very help. In shops and at the end you're always greeted at the counter while making the account, list everything out loud, do not say anything, they go on talking until the end when it hands you a tray and thanking you withdraw the money and doing a little bow. Here I am always grateful to be alive ...? (Agree) with the same diligence
They apologize ... to exist? (Disagree)
But I do not know, I know that I bow and thank you in my turn, mumbling their words and does not bother me.
Yes, the shops here make me crazy, there is also a street with its luxury shops and international brands, but I enjoy much more the other side! Will then be in Milan for the time lost in this way, between a bank and the other will not release it ever ... The other day I went to the library and the four international plane (here the shops are all on different levels) is dedicated precisely to the mostly British foreign books, literature, cuisine , photography, and most of all, more than two hours to browse, browse the cards from letter cards stationery and all imaginable and not even ... I ventured to the Japanese and other plans I've seen books with pictures and drawings very nice, I bought a manual in English and origami game at home to build them. This game is very fun and I alone and even though Simon is training more than me I am bored, I had never spent so much time for myself! How beautiful!

especially in the evening walk in these alleys close to home, I noticed many empty pots of flowers. Well, I said to myself, is not stealing if I take them and fill them up ... I thought about it and then I decided that for my karma (Bali docet) was not an act wrong and so now I put it to the balcony too 'I i fiori, li guardo e li annaffio e li lascerò in questa casa.

Frequento l’accademy con molto piacere, mi diverto e il mio corpo ne sente i benefici.
Il primo giorno sono arrivata imbarazzata, ma poi l’ambiente molto accogliente mi ha messo a mio agio. La mia classe è frequentata solo da giapponesi, gli unici occidentali siamo io e Simone e un giovane italiano di Milano che vive a Tokyo per lavoro da diversi mesi e che ha started practicing aikido.Sia women and men Nihonjin (Japanese) are in part already aware of some basic element, but the fact of having a solid education they care a lot. They are very attentive, quiet and disciplined. Of course there are times when we laugh as we do in schools all over the world and in the locker room do lesson of Japanese English and Italian. We have two teachers who speak Japanese, and of course if in some ways I do not understand their words for a while the feeling of losing something important, for others it forces me to focus and concentration more. E ', in pairs, a constant repetition of techniques and fall that I was not bored, in fact I do enter into a kind of trance that makes me feel more and more gradually dissolved. I do not feel inadequate, work with a rhythm from the voice of the teacher, who gives every move with a sound, to me incomprehensible, a command. The left and right are always the problem, which is said to Hidari migi to the left and right does not change much, I have not the sense of either, to be forever, so try to stay in the rhythm of repetition continues and eventually something happens without my brain active too. I think my teacher Andrea in Via Novara and I do talk to myself, how many different ways to teach and I think every teacher wants something new from his students.

Mi piace che non esistano verità assolute, mi da respiro.

Il prossimo mese vorrei partecipare alle lezioni dei beginners che si svolgono tutti i giorni, ma ho ancora un pò paura, mi sento in ogni caso imbranata e in classe mi pesa meno perché sento il confronto più semplice e possibile. Non conoscere chi incontrerò mi fa un pò temere di fare brutta figura…come sono scema e forse presuntosa,vorrei andare oltre e credere di più in my ability, recognizing a limit that will not disappoint me and with whom to come to terms without embarrassment, with more humility. This aikido and gestalt are similar: "going" or "avoid" with intention, and then in a conscious way.

From some days I have started a home workout, I feel that my leg is a little 'hard to be with another that is more solid and strong. On one side they date back after the fall left hand I find it hard to knee pain and the pace is very fast for me. All the muscles are strengthened and now I have time for them, then welcome to this special time I can devote myself.

About time, here in the spring you want, it's quite chilly and it rains every day and especially so that it is not even June, the rainy season, which has changed a cycle?
me I hope so because I can not use for much golf that
now stands alone.

My spring, mean that staff, is instead arrived even though the 24 April I turned 50! The beginning of autumn in a class of iron anyway. I received many cards and too many compliments, "you're ahead," says Lauretta that the age of my son and that is a Dan ...
Simon says I'm 1st Dan in everything else, -)
the morning of 24 received a "giapponesona" which rang the bell and brought a beautiful basket of roses and baskets! Interflora really does work and the time is not just for the stars! The ticket
full of Japanese decoration read:

"All together passionately, you are sent a lot of wishes a lot of kisses and remind you that you want a lot of good. Mom, dad, sister, children and grandchildren

Then some good e-mail
Thanks, I was excited.
E 'was a happy day and intimate without even a cloud on his head. In any case, honestly, the most important thing for me is that it came and went ...
I'm also doing a bit of "accounts" and today I come back!

Oakley Razor Blade Copy

arrivo a Tokyo

ARRIVAL IN TOKYO! March 21, 2007

On March 21 we are in Tokyo. Greetings Francesca, it would be nice them also Micol.

It 's the spring solstice, a national holiday, we still do not know, it seems strange that the Narita Express is half empty on Wednesday morning, but I am also happy because we are full of bags with and without wheels, and with so many people that move would certainly have been more uncomfortable .... in any case it is uncomfortable ... .. From the train, which is a circular line, which serves all suburban centers, we pass to the metro line, which runs around the center of the city on 10 routes operated by two companies, from 5 am to midnight. The minimum cost of a journey is 170 yen, little more than one euro. We reach the Asakusa, where it will be Stephen friend of Milan, which often works in japan to accompany us to the residence, who has booked for us. Thank you, you have been very valuable as well as nice, but we already knew that. are a bit 'dazed , fortunately Simon moves easily with the map of the lines and continue to do so in the following days because I'm just focused in space and time!

On the train I enjoy watching people, many are young women who will have access to a bit ' time can be arranged for the stage "makeup." Pull out of the bag, unexpectedly, small terry towel, spread them with grace on his knees and begins to lay low for the time necessary for the face, mirror, light cream and cosmetics, but phase is more fun than the care of eyes. Extract glue and fake eyelashes that will make precise in spite of train movement, this process requires at least 15 minutes, in fact it is the stuff of a chisel, then it is the turn of ' black eyeliner and eye shadow vanished. gloss and final inspection of the mirror with grimaces and smiles to see the effect, are completely at ease, then everything is put in small boxes while I can not take their eyes off believing that the work is finished, in fact resumed through the hair with combs and clips from other outputs colored purses ... a real job, ripassatina nails who like to take long with small floral fluorescent light panels on the enamel. Everything is in order, now is the time of the cell filled with pendants of all types of headphones for music and at last a bit ' relaxation. I realize that cell phones do not ring and no one speaks. Find out that in Japan on public transport is strictly forbidden to use this useful but evil object. I also note that everyone is very silent except for some child who has not yet been severely punished, perhaps, I think, not old and some sound is produced but did not get a response if not attentive eyes and smiles of those who accompanied him. I still can not resist the children and smile without reservation! We know that we must take care not to bother, you need to stay away from the doors except when we are preparing to go down and that we should not strike anyone with the body, even by mistake, if it happens, we must bow down and apologize. ... I am that day, to sleep, I'm careless and Simone takes me ... (it will often rightly acquire some nervousness)

In a change of trains are a bit 'awkward, it comes forward a little old man with a wife and a relative small handicapped dependents, and shows us the 'elevator ! Drag excessive boldness with our luggage in the elevator, so I find myself with them talking and smiling in Japanese while Simon has been out on the dock ... help me to download, even the lady who is barely standing, as I say thanks, thanks, that's fine and I'll stop there ... otherwise I would have dragged somewhere. If the Japanese do not you take a liking to give up more, keep talking and gesturing, as I do the rest! Finally a bit

' exhausted we reach Asakusa - bashi district of Asakusa one of the oldest in Tokyo, near a Buddhist temple that is easily identifiable by the large paper lantern that is at the door Kaminarimon . We come to the temple through a narrow street lined with small shops selling everything. To look at everything carefully, you can just go by yourself or with a woman! The neighborhood is lively, now known flowers in front of all the shops and all the doors, pots everywhere, and diverse group, very colorful. By Stephen come now to our house , I have now called caravans, small room with bathroom, bright and clean with a balcony. In Tokyo, everything is small, the space is gold and should never be wasted. Even in the metro is better to keep your legs closed and not over because they occupy less space!

We are hungry so we do lead by Stefano to eat ramen , type species of egg pasta noodles in broth, a typical Japanese dish, served in large bowls on narrow benches in front of a cook, on the other side works with its pots and pans and vegetables and meat broth in which the pay ramen. With chopsticks and spoon begin the game, you have to do a bit ' noise with his mouth while pulling up the ramen con le bacchette, tutti mangiamo in fila,ognuno sul suo sgabello fisso al pavimento. Il piatto è gustoso, mi soddisfa e il brodo caldo che si beve in ultimo, direttamente dalla tazza o con il cucchiaio, (sempre imitare, mi raccomando) credo sia ottimo anche come lassativo. Per dieci giorni abiteremo in roulottes e ogni giorno accadrà qualcosa di inaspettato e nuovo, anche perché non ci limiteremo ad essere turisti ma dovremo preoccuparci di organizzare i nostri prossimi mesi. Oltre a Stefano a Tokyo c’è anche il nostro maestro di aikido Andrea Re, ospite nella grande suite dell' albergo di Irene, dove lui dice di perdersi ogni volta che rientra da solo!Irene, infatti è spesso a Tokyo to work, fluent in Japanese and letting us take a walk to explore a city she knows well.
More fortunate than you could imagine so, because this situation of "hot landing" in a strange and complicated place to live, was not, in truth, organized by Milan. We often ate together, went shopping, trips to the temples, we laughed and learned a few words and rules of conduct.

Simon can not resist the day after arrival and wants to go to ' Hombu dojo , his real reason for have come this far in the land of the rising sun.
Of course, I follow his enthusiasm and accompany him. Backpackers arrive in the district of Shinjuku with the Oedo - line precisely to stop Wakamatzu - Kawada, fortunately often found in writing roma ji ( Latin) and you get on. Remember the words is difficult for me. Simone wants to practice aikido immediately, the teacher Andrea does not arrive and we have no way to communicate with him, so we get disoriented because the lesson is about to begin and for the ' aikidoca lag does not go very well. I admire him for the courage to throw it in an unknown environment, assure him a photographic record, but I limit myself to attend the lecture on the edge of the mat white, as befits its knees. Simon has already entered the locker room and I do not know where to go, then I ask two girls skirts (they say so because the long skirt and blue that puts on the jacket and white pants, indicates the degree of competence in aikido (eg we do not have it ....) They do not
understand English, then look and copy them from my entry. Simone instead mistaken entry, the males come from another part, but his demeanor and his raiment white save him, plus the Japanese master has not yet arrived. Log
tip at 15.30 not a minute more, not one less. As the subway
. And always will.
Actually I'm pretty excited, I feel special effect that gives me be in this place, in this atmosphere so charged with energy and respect, I feel that is familiar to me and I like it.
I know I'll have time to get to know each floor of this building and that I have time to meet new people, that I will work my body and my spirit also. I do a bit
' photos without flash and a bit ' secretly ... not really even know if you can. It can not, but in the meantime for two lessons click!
In Tokyo you walk a lot, evening comes and you have tired legs even if you are traveling on fast boats, to changes in line sometimes you have to do 1 km walk through the station, up and down the stairs , not always with the mobile. In metro is good practice for local and not waste time sleeping. Some will see that dream because his eyelids move, some have their mouths open, others are more reserved in his head tilted forward, then, I have not yet figured out how to stop them as if they had an internal timer, rise and fall time. Everyone wants to look like there is a trend to follow, only men are usually in jacket and trousers blacks,
black and 24 hours without sleep problems, too. If they do not sleep in their hands small books that read from right to left course for vertical lines, full of kanji incomprehensible to us, or playing with the phone full of pendants and rarely communicate or look up. Often you see women dressed in kimonos, with their purses and their wooden sandals with strict white sock. I think of my dress carnival as a child, when my mother had sewn a beautiful kimono with Japanese silk, which if I remember correctly had brought my uncle Charles, always the traveler of the family, with a large yellow ribbon on the back ... .
also to exit the subway otherwise it takes the ticket does not open automatically switch mica ... stupid idea ... there is a controller there, too. Although I do not
love to travel under the earth in general much I like to stay in stations and on public transport and observe people and account to learn quickly to use the bus!
I think it's a good way to capture the spirit of a country, the mood of gente e i suoi problemi
E’ un’umanità che si muove ordinata, i mezzi pubblici a Tokyo sono un esempio di un’efficiente amministrazione pubblica, tutti in uniforme:gli studenti, i bigliettai, il capotreno con l’occhio sempre sull’orologio e la lampada in mano per dare il via.

Libera dalla routine di tutti i giorni, senza alcun dovere tranne quello con la mia coscienza, la mente un po’ si acquieta, riaffiorano pensieri piacevoli, inutili e al fondo un grande senso di curiosità, libertà e gioia.

Nella settimana in cui c’è il maestro Andrea andiamo anche in gita a Kashima a nord di Tokyo e to visit Kamakura, a town on the sea south of Tokyo, where he lives the master of Katori Shinto Ryu (Japanese sword) Hatakeyama ... ... ... ... .... then that is the master Andrea. We will follow him all day and the next day ... .. will be a grind but definitely interesting. The first meeting ... we do not jump at 8.30 to find the last car of the train as agreed, we have 5 minutes late, and dismayed, especially Andrea; Hatakeyama, seeing no point, he says. We follow him with the next train will see it then and Irene per caso da una vetrina di un ristorantino ! Andrea è visibilmente contento e subito, veloce come una lepre, lo acchiappa!
E’ un uomo che ha più di sett ’anni e ancora insegna questa antica disciplina. Da buon giapponesese , molto determinato, ci accompagna per visitare i templi le strade della cittadina, decidendo sempre lui il ritmo e le soste e anche cosa eventualmente consumare…Se esprimiamo il desiderio di fermarci ad osservare qualcosa lui dice “ apres ’ apres ” e prosegue imperterrito. Vuole a tutti i costi parlare in francese e in italiano(che conosce poco) quasi niente in Japanese, although there is that Irene could easily be his interpreter, but he is a special kind!

in the beautiful gardens around the temples he points out the attention to care for nature, as if the natural world and God were the same thing for us Westerners God created nature, the Asian world, God and nature are the same thing and then the man by nature, because nature is divine. Even their writing made of images, like the Chinese, is by nature and not from an abstract convention as our alphabets. In any European language would be enough to agree that the word for "sun" from tomorrow means "moon." In Japan, as in China, the use of the character makes it impossible.
entrance of the temple teaches us to distinguish from Buddhist Shinto temple, as the big guards at the sides of the doors in case they are armed and the other not, then shows us how to purify your hands and mouth with the ' well water and the use of ladles.
In Kamakura temples there are 83 ... we see three, including the great bronze buddha-high 13 yards.
In these places, which were once the monasteries, were hosted by the sword masters, who retired and had time for 1000 days grow lighting on the art, after this period, they could stay or be sent away ... or not depended from finding the truth ...

Simon is a bit 'disappointed by the fact that within these sacred areas there are areas to eat and buy souvenirs, they do not like these sites are altered, so a bit' is isolated and lost, but we we find him always.

When Andrea, Irene, and Stefano will be allocated for Italy, missing a few days, we will find ourselves alone and we will start the real adventure

Roof Racks Sales In Pert

ancora bali

The rain also in Bali ... .... Ibu Waian mi porta un ombrello insieme a un caffè balinese.Devo proprio dire che il caffè balinese è particolare, sembra un pò quello turco, ma è più leggero, mi porta anche un vassoio di frutta fresca e mi sorride come sempre.Lei ha i piedi scalzi e cammina nel prato che è diventato un acquitrino, con molta disinvoltura, l’acqua le arriva alle caviglie….in testa ha un asciugamano bianco portato come turbante, che le protegge i capelli neri. La raggiungo nella zona comune, formata da una cucina e da una grande veranda con un tavolo rettangolare di legno e un armadio pieno di libri di Indra e di biancheria. Arrivo anch’io come lei, senza scarpe e gioco nel prato bagnato, ha already prepared the rags to wipe their feet and begin to chat. I feel a sense of great intimacy , makes me feel at ease with his smile. She knows a bit 'of English, but we talk mostly with gestures. She has a husband and two boys, have to pay to send them to school, education, Bali, is free only for the first five years, to buy books, but does not complain, he's fine with her husband who has a job regular and asks me if I want to go with Simon on a tour with his scooter when the sun returns. I'll tell my story, I am a Bidan, midwives in Indonesia, and she tells me about his shares, gestures to me that he did in a hurry Bidan with the village, the kids were straight out ... ... .. gets curious and wants to know if I have children and if Simone is my husband, that day will call him "your best friend."

Then, as the rain does not cease to call a friend of her husband and makes us to take
by taxi, we arrive at the water-soaked road. With him will come to Depansar to visit the dojo aikido which is a bit 'disappointing, there are geese in the courtyard paws and a little man who is sleeping peacefully on the mat.

We come together at the home of the boss, who manages the place the better, and we are invited into his home for a Coffee with the taxi driver who we accompagna.Tutti sitting on the floor, just me in the chair, we are entertained by this purebred Balinese who speaks good English and who apparently has nothing to strictly fare.La wife and daughter in the kitchen waving. Come back the sun is back and so we go down to the beach for a swim at sunset.

Scooter use it the next day and turn around a little, but the roads are bad, full of holes and I'm afraid to fall again ... so we ran into an internet café and write some e-mail. I am in contact with Paula, my sister, and I can tell by messenger a little 'me and give me news from Milan. Beautiful technology. ... Really appreciable chat in real time from Bali, with 7 hours of time difference. I can also speak with James and I think he's just more than good. Study? Of course you will study ... ...
That day we will know also that our membership has been accepted Aikido Academy! Yumiko
Thanks, without you, you have written and called in Japanese, would never have happened, a school is a little inaccessible to stranieri.Entro March 27 in Tokyo must be a departure from Bali is confirmed for 20 ...... a little sorry to leave this place for lazy, but they are so curious to continue.

Indra takes us two days running around with his car, crossed the island from south to north.
Bali is a large island about a third of our Sardinia and the roads are certainly not such as "Carlo Felice"!
Bali is very mountainous and there are many volcanoes that reach up to 3000 meters (Mother Mountain) within the larger, center island, is also a lake with a temple and a beautiful botanical garden. Some are still active volcanoes and eruptions contribute to the exceptional fertility of the soil and rainfall from the mountains.
fact to the north and south are the most fertile areas. From above we saw the island of Java.

We stayed in a small hotel in the jungle that is reached by a bridge. After dinner we went for a hot bath in a pool naturale con acqua calda. Grande rilassamento e goduria, l’acqua è proprio calda, la temperatura magnifica, decido di bagnarmi i capelli e entrare completamente……..chi se ne frega se non ho il fon!E’ troppo eccezionale essere qui di notte, nella giungla al caldo!!
La mattina dopo colazione sul terrazzo....

Ripartiamo per casa percorrendo una strada magnifica che attraversa l’isola verso sud,verso Pupuan. Vediamo molti villaggi e mercati.
La gente dell’interno is poorer and more modest, all are very polite and bow with folded hands. I imitate Indra and the Indonesians.
We feel very fortunate to travel with her, he knows every place and we can do with all, sometimes he gets angry in Indonesia and is very effective.

comes the day of a new and important meeting. Indra introduces me Mira, the obstetrician who did give birth to her and who now lives in Bali with her husband retired.
Mira lives in a villa near Kuta, wonderful. Balinese style is very refined, well tended gardens, beautiful tropical plants, a large stone basin as piscina.Mangiamo on a table set with care and let's talk a bit 'of course all in English ... ... Then he shows me a movie
a birth assisted by her in the water. He has big blue eyes and a silk dress of India, is a very beautiful woman with a very nice man and lively. She also invites me to stop telling me to be too old to work ... ... also has a studio in his house, yet is limited to follow pregnant women, but would like a midwife for assistance will be prepared ..., c ' is also a place for you, you'd love her .

Arriva greetings of the day, Indra gives me a very nice silver bracelet hung with all religious symbols, the Christian cross, Jewish star, the great Buddha, Hindu and Islamic symbols. He tells me that respect for all is a message to bring to the world.

pack their bags, and during last wonderful bathroom, we meet with a Japanese man who loves to surf and loves Bali. English tells us that life in Tokyo is a bit stressful for those working and I already know, some get scared at the same time tells me or makes me believe that it will be a discovery .....

Indra first to bring us to the airport at his home in Sanur near Depansar.
lives in a beautiful place, small houses in front of the mare.Vuole, finally, let us know your neighbors, your name is Elena, Swiss Lugano him, guess what, 'is so Japanese-American gives a little guidance and the number of old mother who has more than ninety years. He says that she still thinks of the future and want to have passports in order, both the American and Japanese. You never know, she says ..... he adds something a little vulgar, the equity capital, he will not have time to enjoy!
will find out that the Japanese are very long-lived. ... Will be for the diet? When we leave a

Indra while I am moved, it was a very nice person with her, I hope to see you again one day.

With all our luggage, even with one more, I do not know why, I just bought ginger root and two T-shirts ... we are heading for Singapore, we will stop there, we're late for a connecting flight ... ....
bring myself to go last, the board is already closed! In the morning, five hours of flight, we will be in Tokyo.
It was such a different world again ... .... But how many worlds are there?? We'll see! Luckily we have a few yen to get the great railroad that will take us into town .............