May 19 cont...
I got in the car but I was hyper sensitive and on edge. The only reason I agreed to go with him was because of my lesson when I suspected the wonderful Monks of inappropriateness and told myself, he might be a very nice man.
At first we exchanged pleasantries and I found out he was an Architect, however, within five minutes he was saying I was Bootepull Uma! (woman) over and over and writhing around in his seat and licking the tip of his finger (like a person about to turn a page in a book) in a way I found extremely disturbing.
I opened my phrase book and had my finger on the page at Scared so I could tell him if he got too over the top.
Then I changed tactics and got my map book out so he knew I was tracking where we were.
He asked what time I was meeting my friends and I said I was going to be early but didn't give an exact time. He offered to take me to eat but I said I had just eaten.
We got to Temple 83 and he had asked what time I was starting in the morning. I said 7, and he said he would meet me and drive me to some more Temples.
By now we had stopped in the car park.
I said firmly Arigato – Iie! Thank you – No!
He realized then that he had pushed too hard and instantly backed off. It was as if he came out of a dazed stupour and almost looked embarrassed, like a naughty school boy who had been caught out.
I almost felt bad that I was walking away with a bag full of his food, but my instincts had been good and I knew I was right to deflect him.
I still arigatoed and bowed and waved until he was out of sight, but as I walked to the Temple, I had the sensation of a close call with a predator.
As I texted later, my hitch hiking days paid off...
TEXTS...
SW to EL: Far out! I thought it was all peaceful monks etc.
PG to EL: Maybe you should wear a hoody to help u look more staunch.
EL to PG: You’d think just having a shaved head would be enough but they seem to love it here – all girls are so cutesy & girly – maybe staunch is in?
PG to EL: A wig then
PG to EL: Full of razor blades
EL to PG: Now you’re talking! I’ll head to the Yen Shop (like our $2 shop) tomorrow – sure to have them
PG to EL: For 2 bucks they might be sharp
EL to PG: For 3 bucks they might even come with a flashing neon head band that says Fuck Off Noddy!
SMG to EL: Seems a, or the, whole range has been presented to you on this pilgrimage. You could tell him to get lost but he already is lost – at home!
I knew I was sounding cynical and trite but being in survival mode, and being by myself and having nothing but doughy buns to eat was starting to get to me. Also - surprise surprise, I was pre-menstrual again. The joys this day, of being a woman...
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