Zen&Art of Traveling
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Remembering the spring 1999, I still agree with you: 
                 "Hey guys, there ARE other countries in the world."  


I agree - if everyone lived more in line with the philosophies of the East, the world would be a much less complicated 
and dangerous place. In fact I think everyone should do martial arts!! It has done so much for me and the more I learn 
about it and the philosophies (not religions) that influenced its development, the more I love it and the more I feel 
it (martial arts) is my destiny...



I don't know whether you have noticed this too - since I moved to America I have been overwhelmed by the exclusive, 
capitalistic and unthinking nature of the culture here. People are bombarded with information and products 
that are designed to make them not think, not care, not work too hard, not eat correctly, not be aware of others. 
I don't like to sound as if I don't like it here or that I think everyone here is an idiot, but I DO think America could do 
with some world education (we could start with, "Hey guys, there ARE other countries in the world." ) 
You are making a difference with your web site so I can really respect that!... Peta 5/5/99






I agree with you, Peta.  No country and no one is perfect, but those who come from a different culture 
sometimes see what is missing in this country. This "something" is "felt" deep inside rather than "taught" in  words.  
If all people from this country get out of this country and backpack across the globe, across  the villages 
where children study under  a small candle light at night, where children play the flute in the evening 
to let the parents know where they are and  tell them that they are safe in the tune,  and where women go up 
the hill for water early morning for the day, then all our dreams will become one with  stars that are near, 

bright enough to guide us a way back home in the evening.




I traveled in Dali, China, Leh, Ladakh and Chitral of Alexander the Great, and some other countries.  
In the village of Leh,  my son, daughter and I experienced "Life and Death" sickness: 
Yukio got thinner and thinner every day, could not eat at all.  Height sickness, maybe. I said to myself every day 
"He might die tomorrow." And I drank bad water and was hospitalized... The doctor told me to stay in bed 
but there was nothing to eat at the hospital. I needed to go back to the guest house to eat, but 
there was no vehicle available. I was too weak and too sick to go back but  hitch-hiked to go home 
to eat.  -Fumiko 5/5/99





I crawled out of the bed 

and went back "home" 

to our guest house where we were staying.



All through the night 

stars were falling 

equally upon us

and upon the wounded young man.  



Morning came, as I came back to the hospital, 

and I found his bed was empty.  


and it made me cry so.  
And yet we miss the summer so bad.






--fumiko tachibana  




to view some photos (not mine)
Leh, Ladakh
Chitral 

the Kalash flute



By a brook

under the chestnut trees

in the Unbeliever's corner of Pakistan

we stop to listen

as a girl

mud-faced and beautiful 

climbs the banks

and speaks to me with her flute.

Her head dressed

in shells

from Alexander's Greece

her eyes blue sky

she wants me to learn to play

and after a try I say I want the flute

old and nice

then you say nice and old

and smile

-Fumiko

*



Genuine goathair carpets

from Hindu Kush

woven by women 

in the high bordertown of Chitral



*



The men keep watching me

and the night is cold

with trees on the slopes

showing off their roots.

We drive and drive

not knowing if we'll ever reach the refugees 

tonight.  And the yellow moon

is the only headlight

as I curl

in this Chitrali goathair carpet

tough in hunger and thirs

warm as a goat

and wishing I were a tourist again..


.





Dali, China (not mine)
To Fumiko's own favorite poems

To "Alice in Nara"

Go back to the Main Page



© Copyright 2003 FumikoTachibana since 1999