JAPAN, BRAZIL THROUGH A TRAVELER’S EYE

George Milkes

Answer the following questions in a paragraph of 80-100 words:

1. Why is bowing called ‘quaint’?

Ans: Bowing in Japan is considered ‘Quaint’ or attractive because the Japanese bow
to each other with his ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of
natural and inimitable grace.

2. How are pavements in Brazil decorated? What does it tell us about the people
there?

Ans: The pavements in Brazil are often decorated with beautiful black mosaics, a
unique type of decoration. From this we can understand that these people love to
beautify their surrounds. And they walk very slowly and meditatively and it seems to
us that they have a lot time for contemplation.

3. Why is bowing in Japan a complicated process?

Ans: Bowing in Japan seems to be a complicated process for the travelers across the
world because as they practice the complicated hierarchy in bowing. Japanese know
clearly whom to bow, how deeply and how long to bow. For instance, they follow
certain basic rules inside the family. Wife bows to her husband, the child bows to his
father, younger brothers to elder brothers and the sisters to all brothers. Bowing in
Japan also differ even a small in rank, standing, age and social position in their bowing
style in split of a second.

4. ‘People respect each other’s privacy’. Explain with reference to Japan in Mikes’
travel writing?

Ans: Japanese live on a hopelessly over crowded island where they have no privacy.
Japanese are so well mannered that they do not over here while anyone talking to
someone else over the telephone. The speaker can consider his telephone receiver as
his castle and can conduct any of his confidential business talks, love or quarrel in an
absolute privacy.

5. What does the writer say about the Japanese mania of bowing?

Ans: Mikes’ observation says that as soon as we land in Japan the first thing we notice
is bowing. He says that everyone keeps bowing to everybody else with the
ceremonious solemnity of a courtier yet with a great deal of natural and inimitable
grace. Mikes’ says that bowing in Japan is quainter, more formal and more oriental
and also infectious.
6. What makes Mikes’ feel that the drivers in Brazil are on the lookout for
pedestrians?

Ans: According to Mikes’, drivers in Brazil are on the lookout for pedestrians because
as soon as the drivers see a pedestrian step off the pavements, the driver appears to
regard him as a fair game and so he takes aim and accelerates his vehicle. The
pedestrian has to jump, lead and run for his deep life.

7. How does the writer bring out the dilemma of crossing the road in Avenida
Presidents Vargas?

Ans: Mikes’ tell the readers about the hazardous traffic in Avenida Presidents Vargas
Brazil. In the city if a pedestrian were to stand on the one side of the road, trying to
cross the road it may seen to be a fascinating problem. One may be afraid thinking
that how can crawling traffic proceed to such terrifying speed?, one may have to spend
many an anxious hours just to cross the road. If one suddenly catches the sight of a
friend in the city on his other side of the road, one may feel terrifically surprised and
yell a question. How on the earth did he take birth on the other side?, these
observations of Mikes’ present us the hazardous traffic in Brazil.

8. Describe how traffic in Brazil leads to humorous observations?

Ans: People in Brazil decorate their pavements with beautiful black mosaics to enjoy
its beauty during their walks. But when the same leisurely people get steering wheel
in their hand, no speed is fast for enough for them. The drivers are on the look-out for
pedestrians. When a driver sees a pedestrian step off the pavements, he takes aim and
accelerates. The pedestrian jumps, leaps and runs for life.

The driver and the pedestrian smile at each other in a friendly manner after this. They
not get angry and considerate as a fair game.

The war between the drivers in Brazil is also murderous but of good temered. They
cut in, they overtake on both sides, and they force you to brake violently and commit
all the most heinous crime of the road but they smile at each other without anger and
hostility. Even though motor cars are expensive in Brazil, roads are overcrowded. So
people find it difficult to cross the road. They wait for hours together, without a ray of
hope, to go to the other side of the road. These are some of the humorous observations
made by the author in Brazil.

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