另一個世界（下）

從朋友的相簿，我看見另一個世界。那個世界跟我之間的距離，是實在的，可以「飛行里數」來量度。在那個世界生活著的人，或許只知道有自己的一個家，有自己周邊的親人和朋友，甚至從沒想像過自己的家以外，有另一個世界。不過，當他們遇上來自另一個世界的人，大家之間的距離不一定會因為那些「飛行里數」而拉遠了；相反，即使雙方未必能夠以言語溝通，但就是一個微笑，或者一刻點頭，足以讓人感受得到那種「零距離」。

近年來的遊歷使我明白到那種「零距離」的珍貴，亦令我不禁問自己，何以在香港的時候，總覺得跟周遭環境或身邊某些人隔著不知多少里，好像大家來自不同的世界。歸根究底，是大家沒有溝通，還是大家各自都從來沒有放開自己，讓自己走出「我」的世界，從而拉近大家的距離？



那年，我就在意大利感受到那種「零距離」。

四位小朋友跟父母，一家六口，從自己居住的城市，搭火車到弗羅倫斯度週末。
記得他們的母親坐在我旁邊的位子，她起初用意大利文跟我說了些甚麼，我作了個不明白所以的樣子。
然後，她以僅有的英語問我到哪兒，我只以目的地的名字回答說：「Bologna。」
之後，她說了個意大利文的單字，我知她想問我是否在那兒讀大學，而我只懂用意大利文的單字告訴她不是，是來旅遊。

說罷，火車離開車站，開動了。
鄰座的母親拿出杯子給孩子，還有果汁和餅乾，她更遞給我一隻杯子，給我倒了些果汁，又給了我餅乾。
盛情難卻，我接了果汁和餅乾，微笑道謝。

Another World - Part II.

In the photos taken by my friend, I saw another world there. The distance between that world and myself is 'real', which could be measured by 'mileage' as in those frequent flyer programs. Some of the people living in that world may only know there is the home where they stay, relatives and friends whom they know. Perhaps they never realize there is another world out there existing somewhere. Yet, when they meet some people from the outside world, they may not be that far away from the 'strangers' in heart. Although they may not be able to communicate with the 'strangers' because of the language barrier, a smile or just simply a nod could tell there is 'zero distance' between these people.

In fact, all the travelling experience in recent years have made me realize the treasurable 'zero distance'. It has also triggered myself to question how come in Hong Kong, I found there is quite a distance between myself and some people around. It's like we are from different world. So, is it because we never communicate? Or it is because we have never opened up ourselves, and let us step out from "ME" which is the centre of 'my world'?



Some years ago, I was there in Italy. It was the time when I felt that 'zero distance'.

The four little kids were with their parents, travelling from the city where they live to Florence for weekend holiday.
I still remembered their mom was sitting next to me. When she saw me, she started talking in Italian. All I could do was showing her a facial expression that I don't understand. Then she spoke to me in her 'limited' English vocabularies, asking me where I was going.
I just responded with one word 'Bologna', the name of the city where I was heading to.
Then she said an Italian word, which I believed she wanted to ask me if I was studying university in Bologna.
My feedback was in Italian, 'No, tourist'.

The train then left the station and moved again.
The lady then took out from the bag some cups, a carton of juice and some packs of biscuits for the kids.
Then all a sudden, she brought me a cup and poured some juice for me. She even gave me a pack of the biscuit!
As courtesy, I took the cup of juice and biscuit. SMILE [THANK YOU].

另一個世界（上）｜Another World - Part I

以為自己是旅遊癲，怎知身邊有更瘋狂的旅客朋友。
看她的FACEBOOK相簿，有如在看一本圖文並茂的世界地圖集。
雖然個人未能如她一樣，幾乎走遍世界的每一個角落，但透過她的相片，我看到另一個世界。

Thought that I am crazy about travelling, but I realized there is another even crazier traveller friend.
Looking at her photo albums on facebook is like flipping through a world atlas with pictures.
Although I couldn't make it travelling around like she did, I love looking at her photos.
I see another world there.

塵緣一刻, 就是一輩子。

「聽君一席話，勝讀十年書」。

一席話，可能只是一刻的緣份，但當中的意義和往後的影響，很可能是一輩子的。感謝我遇過的每一個人，特別是朋友的分享，還有前輩賜教，讓我獲益良多。

透過對話，我跟相遇上的人有所交流，而這些交流就是智慧累積的根源。

這種「智慧」跟一個人的學歷和從書本上所學到的知識沒甚關係，那是關於生活的，是閱歷所帶來的，是人生哲理。能否建立起這種「智慧」來，是十分個人化的。首先是一個人能否放低自我，心平氣和及用心聆聽，同時願意分享個人的經驗和見解，最後是靜下來的思考，把所見所聞轉化成「智慧」。

同樣重要的是孕育「智慧」，需要「空間」。所謂「空間」，指的並非交流的場地，而是一個人的心胸。擁有個人立場和原則是需要的，但同時亦要懂得容納各家的意見，才能修成正果。

也許會有人覺得這些「智慧」，只是「廢話之說」，不切實際和不賺錢的；然而，直覺告訴我，「智慧」使人活得快樂和感到富足。