I don't know if it still exists. After all, these photo were taken several years ago.
It's about 3 or 4 years ago when Tokyo Train Station finally finished her renovation. It was a big news for the entire nation. As a tourist, I just love how this Station looks - simple, historical and calm. I remember that day was our final day of our 7-day journey in Tokyo. Our plane was late in the evening so we tried to live to the fullest in the final hours in this charming city. I decided to go to this little cafe I came across a few days back but couldn't stay at that time. I knew it has a fantastic view overlooking the whole Station.
Luckily window seats were still available so I spent a little less than two hour here with a cup of Latte.
Well, I just starred at it and the time was near sunset. I was able to see the whole view from daylight, sunset to nighttime. Just couldn't get enough of it, but it was much better when I left. Even now I can still remember vividly how it was at that moment. It has always worked for me - thinking of life during your traveling and you can expect refreshing perspectives. Why this and how that, family and career, life and the world, existence and being... My theory is - when you are on the move, you can get rid of your old self and the boxes that limit you for a while, so things and people that you don't even know can trigger you to consider your current status in a whole new angle.
I cannot recall exactly what I thought about by this octagon coffee table, but I miss the moment so much right now.
東京車站。車站前一棟購物中心的咖啡廳。Tokyo Cafe Lexcel。
約莫三四年前,七天在東京的旅行。那是最後一天,班機是晚上很晚。旅行者抓住時光的尾巴,誓言要用力玩到最後一刻不罷休。
我選擇了前幾天經過但當時沒空停留的這間店,我知道可以好好看著東京車站。當時似乎是剛剛完成外觀整修,修好之後全國歡慶之類的。喜歡這個車站的外觀,沉穩大方,在現代化的高樓群裡,顯得氣質典雅出眾。我待了快兩個小時吧,從下午到傍晚,看盡車站在陽光下、昏黃夕陽下甚至到了夜晚的樣子。
一只八角桌,一杯熱拿鐵。除了拍照,就是看著車站。看著車站,想著人生。
七天都在東京,很多人可能覺得太久,但這是我們旅行的模式,不當觀光客,要當七天東京人。東京人才會花上兩小時坐在咖啡廳裡。當你靜下旅人的心,你當然沒辦法真正變成當地人,但開始可以一點點,想想那隔著一片海洋的稱為家的城市裡的那個生活,為什麼、該如何、怎麼辦之類的,可不可能那樣,如果不再這樣...
於是真正珍貴的會浮出心底,不重要的可能可以看清楚一點,心靈可以被清洗一番,儘管,也許回到熟悉的地方,你還是沒有辦法跳脫枷鎖,但也許在某個關鍵的時候,你會想起東京車站前那個咖啡時刻,以及那張桌子的形狀,從而改變了一些些,或者很多很多,你的生命軌跡。
當時,在這裡想了些什麼已經不復記憶。只是我今天又再度想起,那個傍晚的,那個遙遠城市的,可以盡覽車站的那個咖啡角落。
後記:這篇是看到O小嬸(好懷念的稱呼怎麼都沒人喊了)的夢夢文章後,想起了泰國清邁我曾經的一段記憶,想找當時的照片,找不到,卻意外看到東京的照片,反而寫到這裡來了... 祝願他早日體悟人世無常,按照我給他的建議來執行(請見回帖),阿彌陀佛。