Story
Story 160
One evening I went home by kombi, a Zimbabwean minibus.
The fare was usually one dollar on that route so when a conductor said something and began collecting money, I gave him a dollar note.
Because the conductor spoke Shona language (one of the native languages of Zimbabwe) I did not know that the fare went half price.
Kombis compete severely in Harare, and they sometimes undersell other kombis to get more passengers.
Anyway, the conductor received my one dollar but did not give me 50-cent change.
I of course did not know what was going on, relaxed and looked outside through the window.
Then a young man sitting next to my seat gently passed me a 50 cent coin from his pocket.
I asked him what it was.
He said "This kombi's fare is 50 cents. You keep it as your change."
Now I realized that the conductor took advantage of my ignorance, and the passenger helped me without making noise.
I was impressed.
Even when the Zimbabwean people suffer from bad economy very much for this moment, they do help people no matter what.
This small 50 cent coin made an impact on me and it was not small.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Harare)
Story 159
She is deaf and she doesn't speak.
She is mentally challenged and she doesn't understand what is happening around her.
She might be considered as a burden by society which asks us to be productive and responsible.
Fortunately beauty of her existence cannot be measured by such fixed ideas.
She reminds us that there is no qualification needed to be a part of this world.
Life is unconditionally accepted by the world, and every each of us as life must be loved by the world.
(photo & story by Tengyo, Chitungwiza)
Story 158
At 6:45 in the morning, one young man entered a small cafe.
He was looking for a florist selling flowers only blooming under a full moon.
The grey-haired owner of the cafe told the young man that the lily at the cafe bloomed during a full-moon night.
The young man touched the lily softly, and smelled it.
One petal fell.
After a bit of silence the owner asked the young man if he would like a cup of coffee.
"My cafe isn't open yet, so coffee is on me."
The owner tied his long grey hair back and put the kettle on the stove.
Taking his knit cap off the young man sat on one of the aged chairs at a counter.
He gazed blankly at the grey sky through a small window behind the counter.
The owner poured hot water on ground coffee.
The smell of dark-roast coffee filled the small cafe.
There was no sound except the sound of boiling water.
The young man looked at the lily one petal less.
"Come again in a month. You will see another lily that blooms under the next full moon."
The owner said so and put a cup of coffee in front of the young man.
After having a sip the young man said "I know nothing about coffee, but I knew your coffee should be good."
Gazing at the grey sky though the small window, the owner nodded gently.
The small cafe does not exist anymore.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Yanaka)
Story 157
After having a conversation about our view of life, the elder man sitting next to me asked.
"So, you are living for only your joy without having a sense of responsibility for anybody, right? Then, what would you say when God asked you what you had done in your life at the end of your life?"
I understood that he was not blaming me by seeing his gentle smile.
"Well, I would say "I loved my life fully.""
I replied.
He seemed a bit surprised.
"Umm, but don't you think that it would not be good enough when God gave you your life to be a good person, and help other people?"
His voice remained friendly, but it slightly contained a sound of confusion.
I shrugged with a smile, and said "when you give a gift to somebody, "OMG, I love this!" is not good enough to make you feel happy?"
The elder man with wisdom wrinkles in his face said "I see... interesting," as if he talked to himself.
He gave me a soft smile, and closed his eyes to get some sleep.
A peaceful silence separated us.
Behind him, solemn daybreak was spreading outside windows.
I repeated his question in my mind while my eyes were catching the glorious sky changing its colors moment by moment.
Now, another day began like yesterday did.
But one day, this cycle will end, and I might end up standing in front of the Creator as the elder man said.
I hope I would be able to remember all the beautiful moments I had got through my life when I stood there, then it would be the time to say "Thank God!" directly face to face.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Singapore)
Story 156
One day in Singapore, I was asking myself why all the people answered to my question "I don't know."
I made sure that they were the locals, but all of them didn't know about what I wanted to know.
Singapore has many famous things to show off to tourists from all over the world, and it must have been the champion among them.
That lion of the sea.
The symbol of this wonderful island city.
However.
"Do you know where Mah-lion is?"
When I asked the people, they seemed confused and left me saying "Mah-lion? I don't know."
One time, I tried hard to say it clearly and repeated "Mah-lion, MAH, MAH!"
I sounded like a sheep.
Another time, I imitated an angry lion spitting watery thing from its mouth in front of a young couple.
They walked away immediately.
In the middle of the artificial island, with desperation I just wanted to shout "Where in the world is the famous lion?!"
After while, I sat at a food court nearby, and thought what to do.
I became suspicious if the Singaporeans are hiding something from me.
They might not like to show me the worldly well-known statue.
Okay, but why?
For what?
I'm nobody!
Then I saw a man reading some documents at a table next to me.
He noticed me and asked me gently "are you from Hong Kong?"
Before I reply, he continued.
"Have you seen Merlion already?"
"Excuse me, what did you say now?"
He looked at me with a friendly smile and said, "If you haven't seen it yet, you should check it out. It's just around the corner."
I swallowed hard on hearing, and slowly asked him again.
"Are you talking about Mah-lion?"
He frowned a bit, and said "Mah-lion? Mah.. Oh, are you talking about MERlion?"
After a pause with full of embarrassment, I replied in a feeble voice.
"Yes, the Merrrrlion..."
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Singapore)
Story 155
Keeping away from a crowded railway terminal, I entered a quiet cafe in an obscure corner of the big station.
I saw a monk having a cup of tea by the entrance.
He looked the very picture of peace.
I asked him hesitantly if I could take a photo of him.
“Sure, go ahead,” he kindly said.
While I was taking some photos, one poorly dressed man came in to the cafe, and sat right beside us.
Shopkeepers talked to him as if he was their old customer.
I saw him counting soiled coins with dark fingers, and supposed that he was a beggar living in the station.
He also ordered a cup of tea.
After I took pictures, I thanked the monk.
“You’re welcome.”
He looked at me gently, and continued “but you need to give something when you take something.”
“Oh, of course,” I replied, but to be honest, I was little surprised to hear a monk said something like that.
What to give him?
Maybe I shall buy the cup of tea he was drinking.
When I was going to say so, he interrupted my offering, and said “I did not mean that you should give me something.”
His eyes stayed very calm.
“But, you can give something to the world. Sometimes, a direct return is not necessary.”
In my hand, I had some coins that I took out from my pocket.
I looked at the beggar having a cup of tea next to us.
I again looked at the monk.
He gave me an affectionate smile.
“Can I have a cup of tea? I will pay for this man’s tea together with mine.”
Pointing at the beggar’s cup of tea, I told the shopkeepers.
The beggar seemed surprised a bit, looked at me and the monk by turns.
I thanked the monk again, and sat down at table behind the cafe.
After while the monk disappeared unnoticed.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Colombo)
Story 154
About twelve years ago, the big tsunami caused by Indian Ocean Earthquake destroyed this area.
I was a teacher in Sri Lanka then, and soon after the disaster I quit my job and began to visit damaged areas on the southwest coast.
I dug undamaged roof tiles from a heap of rubble with local survivors.
Some people stood overwhelmed amidst the remains of their houses.
One time, young men asked me a cigarette.
When I replied that I didn’t have, they questioned me what I was doing here.
I told them that I came to see if there was anything I could do for the victims.
They smiled, and said “thanks, welcome to our country.”
Another time, one restaurant owner who lost his shop told me that he was not going to hate this ocean which destroyed so many invaluable lives and things.
He continued that he, his family, his friends, and all the village people had been blessed by the ocean until then.
Therefore, they would continue loving and respecting this ocean as a gift from God.
The Sri Lankan people’s attitude in such a devastating moment touched me deeply, and encouraged me strongly.
I asked my friends in Japan and around the world to help me support the tsunami survivors.
Thanks to all who had joined me, we managed to deliver some donations to the local survivors who I met and promised support.
Today, this area still bears the scars of the tsunami.
To find people who could send our final contribution to those who are in need, I visited several organisations who are working on the tsunami relating support.
Soon, our project will be settled for the time being, but I will never forget what the Sri Lankan people taught me through their toughest time of life.
Love, respect, and hope.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Peraliya)
Story 153
This is the Sri Lankan super food "Green Rice Gruel" for healthy skin, hair, and eyes, as well as organizing digestion, arthralgia and anticancer.
Mixing herb juice (Asparagus racemosus, Hemidesmus indicus, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Maytenus emarginata, Centella asiatica, and Curry leave) and coconut milk with organic rice, flavoring salt and black mustard.
I tried this for the first time more than 15 years ago, and it has been always one of my favorite Sri Lankan dishes.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Gampaha)
Story 152
At 5 o’clock in the morning, I saw some street dogs gathering on my way to a holy rock where I wanted to see sunrise.
Contrary to my expectation, they were very friendly.
They started following me, and marched together with me through a dark jungle where wild elephants are roaming sometimes.
Many people warned me that elephants could be dangerous at night, so I was a bit nervous.
Wether they knew it or not, the dogs gathered around me, and watched for any wild animals while we were walking.
Luckily there was no encounter with the elephants.
We just heard some angry apes screamed at us.
Our pack became bigger and bigger by meeting more dogs on our way, even one tiny puppy ran after us desperately.
It was a rough way to reach the top of the rock.
One by one, the dogs left the pack, and only two remained by the time we entered the final stage of climbing (one of them had a bad leg, but she didn’t give up).
We made it to the summit just when the morning sun appeared.
I felt sorry when I found that a biscuit was the only thing I could share with those faithful brave dogs.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Sigiriya)
Story 151
Hindu villagers invited me for a cup of milk tea.
They also gave me a very strange fruit that I could not finish.
I suffered a lot from the unique mouthfeel and flavor.
I still don't know if it was ripen enough, or even edible.
We had a good laugh together, though.
I took a photo of a woman with impressive eyes in a green dress in front of a green doors.
"You are the first person who wanted my photo," she said shyly.
One nice afternoon in a mountain village.
(photo & story by Tengyo Kura, Haputale)