almost finished-uh!
I have been in Korea for 9 months now. I cant believe how fast time has gone by. I have forgotten the blog I created exists. Now its September. I leave in December for good...I think. What will I do now? The past few months have been repetitive to say the least. I had a week long vacation and went to Japan. That was the most exciting news. I had a lot of expectations going there, with all of my Zen Buddhist background. I was excited to visit temples and talk to monks and practice meditation again. I wanted a relaxing vacation, but I got the opposite. It was also the first time to travel around by myself which was quite intimidating at first. I wanted to prove my independence I guess. Turns out its not so scary, but rather lonely! I talked to myself too much! Sites were beautiful, the bullet trains were super fast, Tokyo was HUGE, and the temples all looked the same after the first dozen. I did couchsurfing, so I met some interesting people along the way. Best of all was a spanish/Japanese guy who did Reiki, played the didgeridoo and sang in a ragae band who lived in Kyoto. After a failed attempt to climb Mt. Fuji, I was pretty sore and exhausted. The wind blew me in his direction and just like it was meant to happen, I had some nice relaxing time. I left for the ferry that would take me back to my home in South Korea. I missed my home, my friends, my boyfriend and familiarness. I saw a lot in Japan, and enjoyed it, but next time, I dont want to be a tourist. The exploring, wandering, getting lost part was much more enjoyable.
My first day of exploring Tokyo, the biggest city in the world! Feels like navigating the subway is tough even more so than trying to figure out what the hell to do. Went shopping, saw huge lily park, ate sushi in a small stand amidst the hustle and bustle. Although not as busy as Seoul. Just got peed on while calling in a phone booth. Have had a few men say I am beautiful and kiss my hand. I need a guide or a friend , gets too longely. I dont care about doing what I want. The parks are full of homeless men with their possessions stuffed in bags. Somehow im not seeing the intrigue here. I mean, what is it that lures people into this city? Will my eyes open to caputre the beauty within theh beast? Maybe its just me with my off killer navigational skills that leads me in the opposite direction of the real sights to be seen in all their glory. Its interesting that I not the umbrellas. Japan is clear, india and korea are rainbow. I think america is mixed. I want a clear one! I am enjoying japan due to their fashionable diversity. I still dont recognize much difference from seoul. Kihabara was lots of electronics, but it certainly wasnt any cheaper than korea or home. I have to sniker to myself wihen I think back when I thought I waould love japan and would want to go back. So far, im not seeing the appeal. Only 2 cities explored so far, so im not ruling out. Fuji is next. I should be resting my feet! Too much walking. Then kyoto. To see a bunch of temples? Why do I continue to seek them? They are not like in india! So what am I looking for? Just experience the culture. Observe, learn. I do like the subway system! Even I can navigate, that is impressive!
Day 1 tokyo-taxi 700 yen, 800 metro day pass 600 sushi lunch 1500 tshirt, 500 dried mango, 550 purse, 1000 bracelet of skulls, 550 dumplings, 500 chicken, 300 sushi, 700 taxi, 100 water, 8000total=$80
not bad for a day of tourism in Tokyo! But I didnt have to pay for housing because I am cheap and chose to do couchsurfing. After losing my way to the destination for a few hours, I show up to a house packed with various people. 16 to be exact. From Australia, France, Ireland, America, England, Russia, Germany, Spain. This guy, Yuji is infamous for hosting anyone who asks him on couchsurfing website. He said he has hosted no less than 10 people every day for the past two years. Minus the times he was traveling abroad to visit his past visitors! He spoke 7 languages and cooked delicious food and was a musician. I am always intrigued when I meet people of his nature. I am amazed at their skill and achievements. What do I have to show? Nothing impressive to compare. Although I slept on the kitchen floor for those 2 nights, it was a great experience to share a room with people from around the world. I have opened up my room for couchsurfers, but Yeosu Korea is not as high traffic as Tokyo I guess, because I have had no surfers on my couch yet!
Wednesday July 29
omb. Well at least I attempted to climb Fuji. From the lowest trail, only failing miserably! Now I know hiking Fuji is no easy trek! Why then did I not prepare myself? Or did I try? Tuesday in Tokyo I was a lost cause. I woke up on the floor of Yujis house and was ready to meet my friend Grace whom I met in korea and happened to be in the same city as me. I waited at our designated meeting spot for a half an hour and at one of the many south exits of shinjuku staion. No surprise my memory fails me when I remember the backup meeting spot...south kower? After walking around to every shouth exit, I walk to a big tower I see in the distance. By this time it is an hour later and I doubt my friend is still waiting around to see me. Oh look! A sports store, my mind wanders like a childs. I find the perfect backpack I will need to hike Fuji later today. As I rush around trying to figure out what the appeal of shinjuku is, I run into a very lare building right beside the station names tower records. Damnit! Thats the meeting place! Not South Tower! I look around but to no avail. I did score some flip flops during the quest. Its time to head over to fuji. Good thig I left right then. After arriving at gotemba station, the last bus was leaving to the mountain in 5 minutes. I was not prepared. I was still in a skirt, sandals. I planned on going shopping for a few snacks and eating (my first meal of the day at 6 o'clock) and changing, but I had no time!! I ran into the bathroom to change and to the coin locker to drop off my big backpack, shoving a few items in my brand new shoulder bag which turned out to be too small for the long ascent. I ran outside. 4:06. One minute late and the bus was absent. Shit! The ticket lady told me to run. But which way? She began to run with me but stopped and waved her hand for me to keep going.
I had no idea what I was doing. Where am I running? How far? Lost, and tired from running and feeling stupid for missing the last bus, and feeling so unprepared. Thinking I would be walking to the mountain I see miles ahead of me covered in thick white billowing clouds I spotted a bus in the distance waiting on the side of the road. Running again. Now I really have no energy left in me! Sorry I say to everyone (all four people on the bus). Fellow hikers I will soon be sharing extreme conditions with. The only other people on the bus are in the back and I took the first seet in the front.
An hour ride to the top of the mountain. It was a cloudy day but warm in town. It was colder at the 5th Gotemba station. I chose to do the lowest station trail available so I would feel like I was really hiking. The other stations started half way up or a third up the mountain. No way jose. I wanted to really hike fuji if I was going to hike it. No matter how much reading you do, it will not prepare you for the moment you actually get to the mountain and begin climbing. The bus driver laughed at us and told us not to go. It was me, three russian girls and a japanese boy. We looked like we were going on a casual stroll up a slope and relax in the sun. He told us it was very cold up top, like 0 degrees C. Whatever, I dont know celcius, but it cant be that cold! I had on short leg yoga pants, tennis shoes and a tshirt. I had a thin “raincoat” in my backpack along with one water, one pocari sweat, and crackers.
We began our ascent at 1400 meters. and it didnt look so bad, maybe because the mountain was covered with clouds and we couldnt see very far up. Luckily I was with the others, it would have been a bit scary by myself. One of the russian girls spoke a bit of english. The trail is all loose volcanic ash which means every time you take a step you slide down a few inches. 2 hours up and we are all pooped. Looking abck at our beginning point makes me feel worse. Looks like no progress. No beautiful scenery. Just a steep slope of black rock. A few shrubs. It begins to get windy and rainy. I put on a thin sweater under my thinner raincoat. I put on long thin yoga pants over my short ones. Im cold. After another hour of hiking im soaking wet. The japanese kids chuck taylors laces are constantly coming untied and filled with black sharp rocks. The rain is pelting me in my face so I cannot see far ahead because my eyes are almost closed. The wind is trying to push me down the mountain. I think the gods were telling us to turn around. Maybe. If you believe in that sort of thing. This is a pretty tall and auspicious mountain, so if the gods are anywhere, I expect them to be on fuji in japan. The 6th station is another 2-3 hours ahead. At this rate we are moving about a meter a minute. Thats bad timing. One of the russian girls keeps saying its dangerous and we should go down. The rest of us pretend like its not so bad and say we want to keep going. After all we've gone to turn back now wasnt my vote. After another half hour later and only 2500m up, I am all wet and very cold, tired, hungry. I think about how stupid I am. I inted to go to the store and eat food and go to the bathroom before hiking but since I was rushed, I only ate a small rice roll. Similar to the triangle kimbabs at the minis tops in korea, or for you american folk, 2 pieces of california roll sushi. I also had a few mango slices. My only food for the day. And sleep was not so great on the kitchen floor after falling asleep around 2 oclock because 16 others are still talking and drinking around me. I feel myself growing weaker and my stomach collapsing. I am no longer worried about altiitude sickness, but getting a cold. After much deliberation and Helen calling her friend to drive 3 hours away to pick us up at 9:30pm, we begin our descent only about 2500m up the 3770m massive ant hill. It was fun going down, like skiing because of the soft sand. Then my knees wore down. Stairclimbing is like a seisurly stroll compared to this workout. I try to cheer everyone up by saying good workout, at least we are still alive. The russians and japanese dont know enough english to understand my humour. I have never been surrounded by people usig 2 different languages and feeling so left out not knowing whats going on, the plans they were making affecting me. We got down the mountain and waited for another hour. No car. We began to walk down the road. A long winding mountain road that would take us a day to reach the town. A cop car passed us. It was about 10 pm and the idiots see 5 people walking down a deserted row, and the darn people dont even stop to ask whats up! I was worried about what I was going to do after I got to the train station below. I had nowhere to sleep. I had planned on hiking up fuji and leaving the next day. I want to sleep in a sento (hot spring bath room) but its late and we dont know how to find one. They suggest sleeping in a manga cafe. That is japanese anime. Great. No shower and sitting in a chari surrounded by jaanese anime? No way. One of the quiet russians offers for me to stay in her place after listening to the others ask, “whats your plan?” to me and continuously getting an I dont know response. I dont have a plan! I wasnt planning on being whimpy and coming down the mountain until tomorrow! I just want to shower, change into dry clothes, eat and sleep! After a long wal, almost dead girl whose name I was not aware of until the next o=morning fed me tea, nuts, chocolate crackers...so satisfying. Nice sleep on a bed! Next morning she gave me an aloe yoghurt, tea and took me to the bus stop. What a nice russian woman. Now I can say not all russian women in asia are prostitutes. I know its a bad generalization. Anastasia was very kind in helping me out. Now I am off to kyoto. Another couchsuring experience. Honestly all I want to do is relax in a park with a book and some nuts and chocolate and cheese and maybe some sake. No park of this cacation has been relaxing. Unless of course you consider riding the JR train 300 mph zooming past expansive rice paddies and the occasional city of buildings with flashy lights. Yes, I can rest. But I want to enjoy and relax. Traveling is a lot of work!
Wed night. I was guided to a rasta house full of japansese musicians and artists. They are happy and make me feel happy. A reiki healer unblocked y energy. I needed to relax and I got it. I knew I would like Kyoto. So good now.
Its hard to know what is right what is important in my life. What do I want, who am I?
peter tosh always playing. Third world. Candyman.
Hamachang puts on music in the car and says tara music. Its country. In temple no pictures allowed. 600 yen. Wooded laths 300 yen with for burnt the invocations to buddha. These laths are burnt at the esoteric buddhist fire ceremony. Please write your name and your requests to buddha on a lath. We believe the sacred fire will burn away your sins and make your wishes come true. Big candeles to burn in front of buddha-same thing. But 1000 yen. More sins burn away the bigger they are? Sake offered to all the guardians.
Just ran into friends from the beginning. I did one night in nara, 2 nights in tokyo, 1 night fuji, missed hiroshima. Darn. Have to come back but so expensive. Sleeeping in an internet fafe in fukouka was not my favorite!
which was quite intimidating at first. I wanted to prove my independence I guess. Turns out its not so scary, but rather lonely! I talked to myself too much! Sites were beautiful, the bullet trains were super fast, Tokyo was HUGE, and the temples all looked the same after the first dozen. I did couchsurfing, so I met some interesting people along the way. Best of all was a spanish/Japanese guy who did Reiki, played the didgeridoo and sang in a ragae band who lived in Kyoto. After a failed attempt to climb Mt. Fuji, I was pretty sore and exhausted. The wind blew me in his direction and just like it was meant to happen, I had some nice relaxing time.
My first day of exploring Tokyo, the biggest city in the world! Feels like navigating the subway is tough even more so than trying to figure out what the hell to do. Went shopping, saw huge lily park, ate sushi in a small stand amidst the hustle and bustle. Although not as busy as Seoul. Just got peed on while calling in a phone booth. Have had a few men say I am beautiful and kiss my hand. I need a guide or a friend , gets too longely. I dont care about doing what I want. The parks are full of homeless men with their possessions stuffed in bags. Somehow im not seeing the intrigue here. I mean, what is it that lures people into this city? Will my eyes open to caputre the beauty within theh beast? Maybe its just me with my off killer navigational skills that leads me in the opposite direction of the real sights to be seen in all their glory. Its interesting that I not the umbrellas. Japan is clear, india and korea are rainbow. I think america is mixed. I want a clear one! I am enjoying japan due to their fashionable diversity. I still dont recognize much difference from seoul. Kihabara was lots of electronics, but it certainly wasnt any cheaper than korea or home. I have to sniker to myself wihen I think back when I thought I waould love japan and would want to go back. So far, im not seeing the appeal. Only 2 cities explored so far, so im not ruling out. Fuji is next. I should be resting my feet! Too much walking. Then kyoto. To see a bunch of temples? Why do I continue to seek them? They are not like in india! So what am I looking for? Just experience the culture. Observe, learn. I do like the subway system! Even I can navigate, that is impressive!
Day 1 tokyo-taxi 700 yen, 800 metro day pass 600 sushi lunch 1500 tshirt, 500 dried mango, 550 purse, 1000 bracelet of skulls, 550 dumplings, 500 chicken, 300 sushi, 700 taxi, 100 water, 8000total=$80
not bad for a day of tourism in Tokyo! But I didnt have to pay for housing because I am cheap and chose to do couchsurfing. After losing my way to the destination for a few hours, I show up to a house packed with various people. 16 to be exact. From Australia, France, Ireland, America, England, Russia, Germany, Spain. This guy, Yuji is infamous for hosting anyone who asks him on couchsurfing website. He said he has hosted no less than 10 people every day for the past two years. Minus the times he was traveling abroad to visit his past visitors! He spoke 7 languages and cooked delicious food and was a musician. I am always intrigued when I meet people of his nature. I am amazed at their skill and achievements. What do I have to show? Nothing impressive to compare. Although I slept on the kitchen floor for those 2 nights, it was a great experience to share a room with people from around the world. I have opened up my room for couchsurfers, but Yeosu Korea is not as high traffic as Tokyo I guess, because I have had no surfers on my couch yet!
Wednesday July 29
omb. Well at least I attempted to climb Fuji. From the lowest trail, only failing miserably! Now I know hiking Fuji is no easy trek! Why then did I not prepare myself? Or did I try? Tuesday in Tokyo I was a lost cause. I woke up on the floor of Yujis house and was ready to meet my friend Grace whom I met in korea and happened to be in the same city as me. I waited at our designated meeting spot for a half an hour and at one of the many south exits of shinjuku staion. No surprise my memory fails me when I remember the backup meeting spot...south kower? After walking around to every shouth exit, I walk to a big tower I see in the distance. By this time it is an hour later and I doubt my friend is still waiting around to see me. Oh look! A sports store, my mind wanders like a childs. I find the perfect backpack I will need to hike Fuji later today. As I rush around trying to figure out what the appeal of shinjuku is, I run into a very lare building right beside the station names tower records. Damnit! Thats the meeting place! Not South Tower! I look around but to no avail. I did score some flip flops during the quest. Its time to head over to fuji. Good thig I left right then. After arriving at gotemba station, the last bus was leaving to the mountain in 5 minutes. I was not prepared. I was still in a skirt, sandals. I planned on going shopping for a few snacks and eating (my first meal of the day at 6 o'clock) and changing, but I had no time!! I ran into the bathroom to change and to the coin locker to drop off my big backpack, shoving a few items in my brand new shoulder bag which turned out to be too small for the long ascent. I ran outside. 4:06. One minute late and the bus was absent. Shit! The ticket lady told me to run. But which way? She began to run with me but stopped and waved her hand for me to keep going.
I had no idea what I was doing. Where am I running? How far? Lost, and tired from running and feeling stupid for missing the last bus, and feeling so unprepared. Thinking I would be walking to the mountain I see miles ahead of me covered in thick white billowing clouds I spotted a bus in the distance waiting on the side of the road. Running again. Now I really have no energy left in me! Sorry I say to everyone (all four people on the bus). Fellow hikers I will soon be sharing extreme conditions with. The only other people on the bus are in the back and I took the first seet in the front.
An hour ride to the top of the mountain. It was a cloudy day but warm in town. It was colder at the 5th Gotemba station. I chose to do the lowest station trail available so I would feel like I was really hiking. The other stations started half way up or a third up the mountain. No way jose. I wanted to really hike fuji if I was going to hike it. No matter how much reading you do, it will not prepare you for the moment you actually get to the mountain and begin climbing. The bus driver laughed at us and told us not to go. It was me, three russian girls and a japanese boy. We looked like we were going on a casual stroll up a slope and relax in the sun. He told us it was very cold up top, like 0 degrees C. Whatever, I dont know celcius, but it cant be that cold! I had on short leg yoga pants, tennis shoes and a tshirt. I had a thin “raincoat” in my backpack along with one water, one pocari sweat, and crackers.
We began our ascent at 1400 meters. and it didnt look so bad, maybe because the mountain was covered with clouds and we couldnt see very far up. Luckily I was with the others, it would have been a bit scary by myself. One of the russian girls spoke a bit of english. The trail is all loose volcanic ash which means every time you take a step you slide down a few inches. 2 hours up and we are all pooped. Looking abck at our beginning point makes me feel worse. Looks like no progress. No beautiful scenery. Just a steep slope of black rock. A few shrubs. It begins to get windy and rainy. I put on a thin sweater under my thinner raincoat. I put on long thin yoga pants over my short ones. Im cold. After another hour of hiking im soaking wet. The japanese kids chuck taylors laces are constantly coming untied and filled with black sharp rocks. The rain is pelting me in my face so I cannot see far ahead because my eyes are almost closed. The wind is trying to push me down the mountain. I think the gods were telling us to turn around. Maybe. If you believe in that sort of thing. This is a pretty tall and auspicious mountain, so if the gods are anywhere, I expect them to be on fuji in japan. The 6th station is another 2-3 hours ahead. At this rate we are moving about a meter a minute. Thats bad timing. One of the russian girls keeps saying its dangerous and we should go down. The rest of us pretend like its not so bad and say we want to keep going. After all we've gone to turn back now wasnt my vote. After another half hour later and only 2500m up, I am all wet and very cold, tired, hungry. I think about how stupid I am. I inted to go to the store and eat food and go to the bathroom before hiking but since I was rushed, I only ate a small rice roll. Similar to the triangle kimbabs at the minis tops in korea, or for you american folk, 2 pieces of california roll sushi. I also had a few mango slices. My only food for the day. And sleep was not so great on the kitchen floor after falling asleep around 2 oclock because 16 others are still talking and drinking around me. I feel myself growing weaker and my stomach collapsing. I am no longer worried about altiitude sickness, but getting a cold. After much deliberation and Helen calling her friend to drive 3 hours away to pick us up at 9:30pm, we begin our descent only about 2500m up the 3770m massive ant hill. It was fun going down, like skiing because of the soft sand. Then my knees wore down. Stairclimbing is like a seisurly stroll compared to this workout. I try to cheer everyone up by saying good workout, at least we are still alive. The russians and japanese dont know enough english to understand my humour. I have never been surrounded by people usig 2 different languages and feeling so left out not knowing whats going on, the plans they were making affecting me. We got down the mountain and waited for another hour. No car. We began to walk down the road. A long winding mountain road that would take us a day to reach the town. A cop car passed us. It was about 10 pm and the idiots see 5 people walking down a deserted row, and the darn people dont even stop to ask whats up! I was worried about what I was going to do after I got to the train station below. I had nowhere to sleep. I had planned on hiking up fuji and leaving the next day. I want to sleep in a sento (hot spring bath room) but its late and we dont know how to find one. They suggest sleeping in a manga cafe. That is japanese anime. Great. No shower and sitting in a chari surrounded by jaanese anime? No way. One of the quiet russians offers for me to stay in her place after listening to the others ask, “whats your plan?” to me and continuously getting an I dont know response. I dont have a plan! I wasnt planning on being whimpy and coming down the mountain until tomorrow! I just want to shower, change into dry clothes, eat and sleep! After a long wal, almost dead girl whose name I was not aware of until the next o=morning fed me tea, nuts, chocolate crackers...so satisfying. Nice sleep on a bed! Next morning she gave me an aloe yoghurt, tea and took me to the bus stop. What a nice russian woman. Now I can say not all russian women in asia are prostitutes. I know its a bad generalization. Anastasia was very kind in helping me out. Now I am off to kyoto. Another couchsuring experience. Honestly all I want to do is relax in a park with a book and some nuts and chocolate and cheese and maybe some sake. No park of this cacation has been relaxing. Unless of course you consider riding the JR train 300 mph zooming past expansive rice paddies and the occasional city of buildings with flashy lights. Yes, I can rest. But I want to enjoy and relax. Traveling is a lot of work!
Wed night. I was guided to a rasta house full of japansese musicians and artists. They are happy and make me feel happy. A reiki healer unblocked y energy. I needed to relax and I got it. I knew I would like Kyoto. So good now.
Its hard to know what is right what is important in my life. What do I want, who am I?
peter tosh always playing. Third world. Candyman.
Hamachang puts on music in the car and says tara music. Its country. In temple no pictures allowed. 600 yen. Wooded laths 300 yen with for burnt the invocations to buddha. These laths are burnt at the esoteric buddhist fire ceremony. Please write your name and your requests to buddha on a lath. We believe the sacred fire will burn away your sins and make your wishes come true. Big candeles to burn in front of buddha-same thing. But 1000 yen. More sins burn away the bigger they are? Sake offered to all the guardians.
Just ran into friends from the beginning. I did one night in nara, 2 nights in tokyo, 1 night fuji, missed hiroshima. Darn. Have to come back but so expensive. Sleeeping in an internet fafe in fukouka was not my favorite!
which was quite intimidating at first. I wanted to prove my independence I guess. Turns out its not so scary, but rather lonely! I talked to myself too much! Sites were beautiful, the bullet trains were super fast, Tokyo was HUGE, and the temples all looked the same after the first dozen. I did couchsurfing, so I met some interesting people along the way. Best of all was a spanish/Japanese guy who did Reiki, played the didgeridoo and sang in a ragae band who lived in Kyoto. After a failed attempt to climb Mt. Fuji, I was pretty sore and exhausted. The wind blew me in his direction and just like it was meant to happen, I had some nice relaxing time.
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