I want to travel, to go somewhere and see something new and unfamiliar. Maybe it's because I'm in the middle of 20 straight days of being at my church (for work, a concert and a funeral). Or perhaps it's because my parents are going to Hawaii for a week without me in March. Probably it's because I am being pummeled by a classic Canadian winter that I haven't experienced in over a year.
But I've had dreams recently about my trip last August, towards the end of my year in Japan, where I traveled by myself around Kyushu & western Honshu; it was so damn fun and supremely liberating. Of course, the evenings were dull as tombs (Japanese nightlife not so fun for the single traveler), but it was probably the best trip I went on that year. I went from Kumamoto to Beppu, to Hiroshima, to Yamaguchi/Hagi, to Fukuoka and finally back to Kumamoto. I embarassed myself here, here, and here.
My favourite memory of my JR (Japan Rail) trip was renting a spiffy, old, red bicycle for 4 hours (150 yen per hour). Basically, I cycled around Hagi, biking non-stop with a ragged map in one hand, my bag in the basket, with a carton of lemon tea nestled beside it. It's not exactly a thrilling place, and didn't have many sights to see but I really enjoyed tearing around this old samurai town, with no schedule to follow, no train to catch, no destination in mind. Just sat on the beach, wandered into the city museum, dodged mutant dragonflies and watched the nuns pop some wheelies.
(I talked to this cat for about a minute before I realized that there was an obaasan around the corner, watering her plants and listening to me prattle in both English and Japanese. D'oh.)
When I got back to Kumamoto...
Me: "I went to Hagi last week"
Japanese friend: "....Why would you do that?"
Maybe later I'll write about my trip in more detail (attack of the giant okonimiyaki, drunk calling from my ryokan, etc.) but for now I am toying with the idea of going somewhere by me-self after my 6 months of work are over. Europe? Japan? & HK? Cross Canada road trip?
いきたい!
2.18.2008
いきましょう
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2 comments:
I'd LOVE to hear more about that trip -- I never really did hear the details, and after watching Waterboys again yesterday I'm definately in need of some hilarious Japan stories. Especially if they involve okonomiyaki.
As for the trip (awesome idea), you could do a cross-canada thing, if you wanted -- there's always a bed for you here in Vancouver!
I have been trying to burn Waterboys for my aunt to watch: she busted her Achilles playing volleyball and might be going to Japan with her family (and without me) this summer.
I bought okonomiyaki sauce back in October but have yet to even find a recipe to use it in.
Will write about my JR trip the next time I have a fit of nostalgia.
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