Friday, October 07, 2005

Familiarity

The first thing that strikes me as I enter this city is the familiarity of it. But I don’t live here. I just pass through from time to time. Yet, it is so familiar. Like some sort of a home coming. In a strange land. Where I don’t understand the language. But I feel the soul. I feel the beat. I feel it all – the roads, the neon signs, the street lights, the traffic. Till I can’t take it anymore.

Contrast that to not so long ago. Sleepless dawn in a strange room. Ruffling sheets. A blinking alarm clock that won’t go off. All the makings of insomnia. Makeshift dressing. Ready to discover what this new city has in store, with an early morning walk. Seeing beauty in the mundane. Watching the city wake up and get ready for the day. Till I can’t take it anymore.


29 comments:

Casablanca said...

Saw your comment.. and you are right, my 'One way road' is somewhat similar to your 'Road Sign'. But guess what, I was just writing a post 'City Never Sleeps', and saw your city piece right now. Double co-incidence I'd say :)

thoughts said...

love walking out early in the morning in the unknown streets trying to find out how the new place looks.. somehow hv never got the feeling of ' can't take in nymore'.. love not sleeping thruout the nite and then getting out with the first ray of sun in the nippy morning cool weather !!! hv done that so many times.. still love dng that ...

{illyria} said...

something akin to the familiarity breeds contempt adage? sometimes, life has that effect.

Mrudula said...

One particular city has done that to me.

Phoenix said...

i cant take it any more

it's too much of a magicjylkkov

Brood Mode said...

time wears down the novelty, dulls the excitement, time changes everything

atomicvelvetsigh said...

sometimes making castles in the sky is a way to escape. but in full vision of what really is infront of us, we tend to get sick, that those cities in dreams seem to be more genuine than the real one. now aint that a familiar scene?

Prerona said...

ever get that feeling - like i'd really like to get behind ur words and discover what ur actually saying, beyond the lines of words?

J said...

I find the familiar comfort in unfamiliarity.

-Poison- said...

i love unfamiliarity anywhere...a challenge is posed before us, taunting us to adapt to it or adapt it to suit us.

jaded said...

'till i cant take it anymore...'
loved this. the feeling the city gives you is strangely familiar and that familiarity is strangely disturbing. nice peice

Miss A said...

I see familiarity in all cities, but living in European cities makes you realise just how different each place feels. The vibe of Berlin is totally different to Paris, or NYC.
Have a great weekend

Anonymous said...

Just hang on...its only a change in the perspective...the picture remains the same.

stella said...

your words take me to places that are familiar and new. linking 2u2.

gulnaz said...

the first paragraph brings to me that strong urge of getting away which comes, of all the places in your own home city.
if the place you are in physically is not the one you want to be in, then the restlessness is really itchy.
i'm intrigued by your reactions...there is a quirkiness to them which is hmmm...interesting.

Paul said...

You have a great way of describing reactions to cities, and your feeling for them.

Don't know as you need any comments from the peanut gallery on this, but ever think of doing something on any number of cities you've been to long enough to have develop a feeling for them?

I've done very limited travel, but, for example, found that DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Tampa all had different feels...

mermaid said...

Believing you belong is a big part of living inside the organism that breathes, that moves, that lies still...the City.

venus said...

I sometimes doubt, if I really know what I claim to know, and answer is, there are always many things i don't, you don't know, ignorance is truth, and knowledge is an illusion, and we are smart to hide our ignorance, isn't this true?

Extempore said...

I've read this piece over and over and my overwhelming impression of it is the play of light and dark, dark and light. There seems to me a kaleidoscope of black, white and a dash of sepia.

Am I making any sense? :-)

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

I never sleep well away from home it's like my brain is frightened it will miss something. Hope you'll have lots to post when you return

Eclectic Investor said...

Depth and response. So wonderfully entwined. Success so tastefully demonstrated.

Dreamy Eyed Gal said...

wow...and here I am in a place which is familiar...its my language...and the spirit is gr8...I've started to like this place...the feeling here..the enthusiasm...but still I dont get the sense of belonging here...this not where I belong...its someplace else...where its not my language but its my place somehow

. : A : . said...

Casablanca - Will go over and check it out now.

thoughts - Thanks for sharings your experiences.

transience - Yes it does.

Mrudula - Which one?

Phoenix - magicjylkkov? Was tat a part of the word verification? :-)

Brood Mode - It also works the other way round sometimes.

atomicvelvetsigh - It is. Sometimes.

Prerona - :-)

J, -Poison- - Sometimes, I do too.

jaded - Thanks for noticing that bit.

Anne - I must visit them all someday.

rusty - Does it? Things keep changing.

stella - Thanks for link.

gulnaz - Interesting thoughts. Very true.

Paul - Yes, I have thought about it. Part of the list of stuff I need to do!

mermaid - Agree.

venus - It can be, often.

Extempore - Of course you are!

Sue hardy-Dawson - I know someone else who is just like that.

Ray Seth - Thanks for dropping by and commenting.

mysterygal - Hope you find the place very soon. Best of luck.

chaos said...

somehow I have a different tune to it...
everytime I visit home... a place where I lived my life... I feel a sense of unfamiliarity... a difference difficult to comprehend!

. : A : . said...

chaos - Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your experience.

La Louve said...

can connect to this!

. : A : . said...

Wbix - Glad to hear.

Adrian Neibauer said...

you sure do capture some amazing moments in life. What an eye!

. : A : . said...

stan laurel - Thanks.