One reason why I love Japanese Vending Machines !

On a trip to visit sleepytako who was living and teaching in Sanda

Japan at the time, I came to realize how much I love vending machines.

 

Sanda Is about 35 kilometers beyond the Rokko Mountain range from

Osaka.

This is a big agricultural area known for fabulous Strawberries and

the famous Kobe Beef.

It is about a hour train ride into Osaka through some of the most

beautiful mountains, tree covered tunnels (each tunnel has a name) to

bridges over rocky, crystal clear rivers.

 

It is visual heaven to this desert dweller.

 

Sanda is a commuter family town and has a vibrant city area and train

station but I was living out in the countryside so I had a charming

but very small train station.

Next to the train station, there were fields of rice and vegetables

along both sides of the road I walked to get to the apartment I was

staying at.

You never see a plot of land that is empty in Japan if it is flat

there is always something growing on it from rice, vegetables or

flowers.

 

After we left the lights of the train station, parking lot, taxi

station and a few late night riders, it was just me and the mollybot

walking down this very dark and quiet road. There were a few homes and

street lights but it was dark and so quiet I swear that you could hear

the rice growing.

 

Then right before us glowing in the dark standing all by itself next

to an electrical pole and a rice field, lighting our way down the road

was a soft drink vending machine. Softly glowing in the dark all by

itself, just standing there lighting our way.

 

I came to really love seeing that vending machine on those late night

walks home.

I miss that walk, I miss that vending machine and I can't believe I

don't have a picture !

 

But I remember it all, like I was just there walking down that road

again late last night !

 

glowing. . . parsnip

music. . . A Place We Must Return To, Final Fantasy OST

Done