Tripping a Frozen Sunset, pt.3
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January 16th, 2010by Patrick – 8 great comments. Room for one more!
…continued from previous part.
Did you know, dear reader, that in some Asian countries the international snap-a-photo gesture is considered a dire signal?
If you don’t think you know the gesture, make a fist, extend your index finger, and curl it in like you’re clicking the shutter on a camera. Right there you just insinuated to said Asian persons that you would like nothing more than to see them dead. Or that you’re referring to death. But with the language barrier, why chance it?
The index finger refers to the person’s body as it doubles over in its final moments; death, most likely at your hands. Poison? Sword? Gun shot? All perfectly valid.
The number four, in Chinese, is also unpopular because of its resemblance to the Mandarin word for death. “Suh” – you’re either asking for four bananas or telling the shopkeeper to die. All in the tone.
So there we were, the four of us, three Japanese women making the deathy-deathy gesture while holding their cameras under my nose, and me, nose askew in a failed attempt at avoidance. I’m sure I explained the repercussions of taking bad photos with other people’s cameras so that was already hanging heavy on my conscience. Then this happened – and they were relentless. God.
All I can say to my fellow Torontonians is that I’m sorry. I took their photos.
I don’t speak Japanese. Glad I don’t. Thankfully I didn’t understand what they were chattering about afterward, but their stifled chuckling seemed not so complimentary. As I loitered around a nearby fire boat I could sense their disappointment while they continue to take more pictures (in the same spot!)
Well, I guess that’s it. In a few short weeks Toronto will be bereft of the Japanese. After that … well, I don’t want to think about it. Probably nothing more than a frozen wasteland at that point.
I’m going to suggest all us downtowners hunker down until the winter of our (and their) discontent passes over. It won’t be easy, I know, but what’s done is done. I want to remind everyone that we have a fairly extensive underground network that should server us until this crisis is over.
So there you go, dear reader. That was the point where Toronto took a turn for the worse. I mean, who knows, maybe this will all blow over. Just … no extensive optimism, you know what I mean?
Then again, considering the circumstances of the trip, it’s quite likely that the women I met were nothing more than subconscious projections. Only time will tell. Next time, however, I won’t be so cavalier about things. Next time, no photos. For all our sakes.
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January 16th, 2010 9:36 pm
Well, the women were projections alright…:)
Great shots. Loved the sunset in the sky. Its beautiful! Once again the frozen lake Eh?
Anyways, Nice post. Have a nice day!
January 17th, 2010 8:37 pm
Yes, Mr. Stupid, once again on the frozen lake :) The series is actually one I took last weekend, I just couldn't pack all the photos into one post. Thankfully this is the last of 'em!
January 17th, 2010 12:38 pm
Did you at least get there phone #'s ? Angry asians are hot !!
January 17th, 2010 8:38 pm
Haha! No I didn't Gumbase. And to be honest, I detected disappointment more than anger.
January 17th, 2010 4:17 pm
Once again, gorgeous photos. Your blog makes me love this city.
You tell those women what's what!
January 17th, 2010 8:40 pm
Thanks, Kato. I would've, I really would've, they just didn't seem to understand anything I was saying or even gesticulating. But they got theirs! (In the form of poor photos…HA!)
January 18th, 2010 7:28 pm
I liked the first two shots but the last one was awesome. Amazing what men can build. Sometimes I wonder when I look at something like this huge tunnel/hall and think how long each foot took to build. I know I am nuts :-)
January 18th, 2010 9:51 pm
Thanks, Man Over Board. That's part of the Skywalk/PATH between the CN Tower and Union Station. I cringe to admit that this is not my favourite picture of the place, but I'm glad to know that it wasn't as offensive as I thought. :)