One of the upsides of a long-ish layover in a foreign airport is that it’s like getting a chance to explore a new country right from the comfort of an air conditioned terminal. Sometimes, that’s a downside too. But when you’re lugging a heavy computer bag stuffed with important documents (read: my old baby pictures) AND a camera bag, the plethora of benches scattered around a terminal is definitely an upside.
Plus, you get to photograph interesting persons. Like this man here.
Doesn’t he just look … sage? I can almost imagine what wise words must be stirring in his head, ready to be released in a low, hushed voice, every syllable carefully pronounced to ensure that none of the wisdom is lost in the wind. Profound, life-altering words, like, “Take that camera off your face, grasshopper, and look at the world with both eyes.”
I’m pretty sure that’s what he was thinking. Except for the “grasshopper” part. The word in his head may have been a tad more … colorfully descriptive.
But then, he happened upon something that was evidently a welcome distraction. And just like that, the strange lady with the obnoxious camera and obviously heavy bags was forgotten.
Suddenly, I was a nobody again. Not even a grasshopper. Or a locust. Or an epithelial cell on the trachea of a silkworm.
Excuse me while I cry and contemplate my insignificance.
Okay, I’m back. Apparently, I just needed some ice cream.
So, any guesses as to what could have caught this man’s eye? I’ll give you a hint. It wasn’t these.
No sir, he did not have a “They want how much for one of these bags?!” look on his face.
Because I like you so much, I won’t let you just make blind guesses. I’m going to give you a few choices.
#1: Pretty bars of soap (He did look very clean.)
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#2: Chocolate (No explanation necessary.)
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#3: The Glenlivet display and tasting counter (If you answer that this is what distracted ME, I’m disqualifying you. No stalking allowed.)
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#4: The Hello Kitty waiting area (Let’s face it. Who can just walk past this without a second look?)
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#5: Free wi-fi (Almost as self-explanatory as chocolate. But not as tasty.)
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Let the guessing begin!
Oh, and can I say one more thing? I love the people at the Taipei airport. They leave their display stations to go grab a luggage cart for you so you’re not dragging heavy stuff around. And even when they’re telling you that you’re not allowed to photograph some store items, they do it in such a nice and apologetic tone that you’d think you were doing them such a huge favor by obeying their rules.
Wa ga ei li, Taipei!
(And if I said that wrong and wound up typing something stupid instead, then please forget that you knew me. Thank you.)
I don’t know about the old man, but me… I would be standing there, squishing my nose against the window of the chocolate store, leaving whole hand prints prints on the glass, and drooling all over my shirt and shoes! LOL
I like the soap, too.
I’m thinkin’ the Hello Kitty area. Maybe he wanted to see what all the hubbub was all about-
Gee, none of those look like monk-ly distractions to me. But I’m always distracted by your photographic talent!
It’s got to be the soaps! Maybe it was made by his neighboring monk community and he was checking out the competition!
I say it’s the soap…he is reading what each one says. But I would totally stop for that hello kitty waiting area. FUN! Oh and the chocolate..YUM!
Interesting choices! I noticed that no one has picked the Glenlivet display yet. Not that it’s the right answer. I will say this: the fact that I have photos of all these things means that every single one of them made ME stop and look.
I’ll have a post up tomorrow with the answer.
I’m going to say chocolate. He may be a monk but he’s human too.
ohmycuteness…a hello kitty waiting area! i never saw this at CKS airport! but then that was years ago…:P
“Neighboring monk community.” Haha!
You know, I really wish I knew what was stamped on the soaps.