Pardon... Are you a Japanese Footballer...?
Just got back from a brilliant 12days holiday to Turkey with Oysterom. Needless to say, its one of our best holiday yet. The sights, the people.... gorgeous. Every sight & sound is brimming with cultural influences from age old.
On the 2nd day in Istanbul, we checked out the Grand Bazaar which really is an historical maze under the disguise of a Megamall. There're easily over 4,000 stalls in the world's largest covered bazaar.
"Inamoto!" I heard someone from the Goldsmith vendor bellowing out to me. I turned around & smiled. I thought that's what they would call to get my attention as I easily get mistakened as Japanese, maybe this time they mistook me for that cute footballer. Instantly, images of Inamoto downloaded to my central processor. I recall I preferred his boyish good looks to Nakata's model good looks. It helped that he scored 2 amazing goals in 2002's World Cup.
Suddenly there was a whole barrage of "Inamoto" coming my way. I then dismissed it & told Oysterom that its just their way of calling any Japanese boy. Oysterom looked puzzled. "Inamoto's the Japanese soccer player, think they're just trying to get my attention."
It wasn't till much later that I realised many of the locals were looking at me funny, whispering among themselves & mutturing "Inamoto" under their breath that I realised this could be a serious case of mistaken identity. The last I recall Inamoto is still with the English Premier League, these people must really love soccer!!
The following night, while trodding through dangerously lonely & steep slopes, a little girl rushed up to me & asked, " pardon, what is your name?" I laughed. "I'm sorry?!" She blushed... & continued meekly, "football?" Now I'm puzzled & when it finally struck me i innocently smiled & blurted,"Inamoto?" She smiled, slowed her pace and receeded back into the lonely shadows.
Ok, this is serious business now. I have to find out if Inamoto is outta EPL. Did he join another FC? Is he playing for Turkey or some neighbor? Is he friend or foe? National hero or enemy? Yikes! The next few days before I finally realised he's Turkey's new poster boy, I was intensely stressed second guessing what was behind the locals' smiles, whispers or blatant stares.
Come to think of it, I'm immensely flattered. Maybe the Turks can't tell an asian face from another but come to think of it. We do have much in common. Okumura & Inamoto. Apart from the fact that he's 1.81m & devlishly handsome. ;(
We hardly sport black hair
We have the same crooked smile & our mouths curve south like a reversed U
I just wish I look every inch the Champion that he does! Hehe.....
On the 2nd day in Istanbul, we checked out the Grand Bazaar which really is an historical maze under the disguise of a Megamall. There're easily over 4,000 stalls in the world's largest covered bazaar.
"Inamoto!" I heard someone from the Goldsmith vendor bellowing out to me. I turned around & smiled. I thought that's what they would call to get my attention as I easily get mistakened as Japanese, maybe this time they mistook me for that cute footballer. Instantly, images of Inamoto downloaded to my central processor. I recall I preferred his boyish good looks to Nakata's model good looks. It helped that he scored 2 amazing goals in 2002's World Cup.
Suddenly there was a whole barrage of "Inamoto" coming my way. I then dismissed it & told Oysterom that its just their way of calling any Japanese boy. Oysterom looked puzzled. "Inamoto's the Japanese soccer player, think they're just trying to get my attention."
It wasn't till much later that I realised many of the locals were looking at me funny, whispering among themselves & mutturing "Inamoto" under their breath that I realised this could be a serious case of mistaken identity. The last I recall Inamoto is still with the English Premier League, these people must really love soccer!!
The following night, while trodding through dangerously lonely & steep slopes, a little girl rushed up to me & asked, " pardon, what is your name?" I laughed. "I'm sorry?!" She blushed... & continued meekly, "football?" Now I'm puzzled & when it finally struck me i innocently smiled & blurted,"Inamoto?" She smiled, slowed her pace and receeded back into the lonely shadows.
Ok, this is serious business now. I have to find out if Inamoto is outta EPL. Did he join another FC? Is he playing for Turkey or some neighbor? Is he friend or foe? National hero or enemy? Yikes! The next few days before I finally realised he's Turkey's new poster boy, I was intensely stressed second guessing what was behind the locals' smiles, whispers or blatant stares.
Come to think of it, I'm immensely flattered. Maybe the Turks can't tell an asian face from another but come to think of it. We do have much in common. Okumura & Inamoto. Apart from the fact that he's 1.81m & devlishly handsome. ;(
We hardly sport black hair
We have the same crooked smile & our mouths curve south like a reversed U
I just wish I look every inch the Champion that he does! Hehe.....