It was quiet on the small, mostly, residential street in Kyoto that Bill and I were walking on.  A few local shops were just starting to open for the day.    We were keeping a leisurely pace stopping now and then to take a photo when the lady in the image below came riding by on her bike ... apparently, she was on her way to a small local grocery store.  She stopped when she neared us and, to our surprise, asked if we needed help! Hey, what were two foreigners doing in that neighborhood?  We thanked her for asking and kept on towards our first destination of the day.  Of course, I took her photograph and tucked my thougts about this kindness away for later review.  I didn't know then that I would have to add another experience into "brew."

The bicycle lady:

Three temples, many hours later, and a very steep hill-climb up and down, found me wiped-out, jet-lagged, and cranky!  But we still had to get to the Kyoto train station and then "home" to Osaka.

Arrgh, we needed a bus to take us to the train station and it was Rush Hour!  Of course, there was a long line waiting for the bus when it pulled up (on-time as usual).   I wasn't sure we'd make it, and I was one of the last ones on... or so I thought!  I made it to the second step in the door-well when at least four more people hopped on behind me!   We were crushed together like the proverbial sardines-in-a-can.  There I was ...  holding on to a metal post with one hand with the other extended out, holding 2.5 pounds of expensive camera trying to keep it from bumping into the swaying bus or another passenger.

Seated below and off to the side in the very last row of seats was an older woman.  She seemed expressionless but she must have been inwardly amused watching this big, white guy trying to keep his composure.  After a minute or two, we made eye-contact.  She nodded at the camera while continuing to look at me, and reached over and gently took it from my hand!  AND THEN, for the rest of the trip, she safely held my camera in her lap!!!

In my very best Japanese (that's a joke ... I knew three phrases in Japanese ... fortunately one of them was Thank You!) and with a little nod of the head (which I hope passed for a suitable bow), I thanked her. 

Regretfully, I didn't get a picture of this kind woman, but it was an experience I will not forget... not one word was spoken, yet we had a near perfect communication!
 

Bill and I talked later about how interesting the experience was; how typically Japanese it seemed to be; and how it would likely not happen in the United States.  

And, it  perfectly represented the rest of my interactions with the Japanese people.  It was one of those experiences that doesn't fare nearly as well in the telling but makes an indelible impression.  It is what makes traveling special, and hopefully, I'll extend that kindness to another in need.  It was a perfect little life lesson presented on a bus in a foreign land without spoken word.  How cool is that!

Bye for now,

adam