book and sword : gratitude and revenge » travelogue http://www.lokman.nu everywhere life is full of heroism Sat, 12 Jun 2010 23:18:54 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 the train back http://www.lokman.nu/2009/08/16/the-train-back/ http://www.lokman.nu/2009/08/16/the-train-back/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:05:22 +0000 Lokman http://www.lokman.nu/?p=538

green trees solitary, passing by
quiet, desolate towns
stories, unspoken and untouched
clouds, still, stern and magnificent. looking over us.
blue, endless blue sky
the end of summer
the end of all summers

]]> http://www.lokman.nu/2009/08/16/the-train-back/feed/ 0 the chair on the top of the hill at the end of the world http://www.lokman.nu/2008/12/29/the-chair-on-the-top-of-the-hill-at-the-end-of-the-world/ http://www.lokman.nu/2008/12/29/the-chair-on-the-top-of-the-hill-at-the-end-of-the-world/#comments Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:06:29 +0000 Lokman http://www.lokman.nu/?p=479 It sounds like something straight from a Murakami novel: the chair on the top of the hill at the end of the world. And yet, it really exists. b and I rented a car, in search of some .. solitude, together. We printed out a Google map with directions, brought some books and snacks, and took off on a whimsical note, looking for some combination of adventure and quiet, as well as time alone together.

Who knew that there is this little beach 40 minutes away from where we live? On a strange day where it was over 60 degrees in New England, with a strong wind blowing, the weather was nice, with wind blowing in our hair, with dogs frolicking around, and the setting quiet but not all desolate. Walking on the avenue, we gazed at the boundless sea, fueling our imagination, wondering what was beyond the horizon.

But we digressed – we were in search of world’s end. Turns out we missed one turn, and instead went too far, ending up at the beach instead. Sometimes trivial choices of left-or-right lead you off the original destination, but nevertheless, what this teaches us, I guess, is that life is less about destinations than it is about the journey itself. After a nice walk at the beach, we turned around. We got to world’s end.

Arriving there, we were told by an old lady with a nice yet firm voice that we were really late, that the park was about to close. Whether we still wanted to go in. “Yes, please”. She charged us five instead of the usual ten dollars entrance fee. Wow, a discount at world’s end! And so we went in.

Left or right? What to do? Faced with the choice, we instead decided to opt for neither. We went straight up the hill. Racing b for the top, she suddenly pointed out – there it was – the chair on the top of the hill at the end of the world.

It was about to get dark, the sun was setting. We had to turn back fast and get out before the lady closed the park. But before we went back, we enjoyed a brief moment of bliss, sitting on the chair, together enjoying the marvelous view that I will leave up to your imagination. We capped the night in satisfactory fashion with some good Italian food at North End. Glorious day.

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