Japan: Arashimaya
Inspiration: Rickshaw rides are tremendous fun and a guilty pleasure. We enjoyed a 30 minute ride around about Honen-Ji and the Path of Philosophy in Kyoto a couple of days ago. While our 17 year-old runner/driver was in great shape (he's a long-distance runner) and he insisted that we were oh so light (I am a runner too, so I wanted to believe him), I suddenly felt as heavy as a moose and guilty as hell as I watched him struggle up the hills with us in tow. Nonetheless, about ten minutes into the ride, I chose to believe him, mostly because I wanted to enjoy the scenery and the beautiful day and I couldn't do so if I kept dwelling on his agony. So when I saw this runner's grimace today in Arashimaya, I was reminded all over again about what our poor runner was going through two days before. Guilty pleasure.
He must have a sence of pride in what he does though. A sort of Zen to it
Posted by: Cristi | April 10, 2010 at 03:55 PM
He totally had a sense of pride, Cristi. You are so right!
Posted by: The Photodiarist | April 10, 2010 at 08:00 PM
Ah- the inner conflict. Guilty pleasure.
Posted by: Don | April 11, 2010 at 02:13 AM
Oh, wow, what a picture and what an expression. It looks like right out of movie. I just LOVE this picture.
Posted by: San | April 12, 2010 at 03:23 AM
I s'pose nowadays rikshaw "drivers" choose to do it, so they've signed up for pulling people around uphill or no uphill.
Posted by: Saranna | April 12, 2010 at 09:36 AM
Like a film screenshot. Perfect capture of expression in the face(s).
Posted by: minor keys | April 14, 2010 at 11:34 PM
oh god i love the picture.
But i'd never take a rickshaw drive, Same as i'd never have a man who cleans shoes in the streets to clean mine!
Posted by: Laura | April 17, 2010 at 10:07 AM