yest

Day 100 Part 2: What are the odds?

Fitting that this would have two parts (due to my random urges to start/stop writing). Fitting because Day 100 was 37 hours due to flying back in time. I lived it twice. Once with my girlfriend and once with Nobuyuki Satoh. A great day. But what are the odds I'd randomly choose to end my journey on a day that ended up being day 100. What are the odds that I would find my host family purely by memories from over 9 years ago. Well, we can try to figure that out: Assuming the route I took to get to the house from the station included lets say 10 choices. 10 "turns" or directional judgements I had to make. That is 10 different times I could have failed to get to my goal. Not that much, but really, there is much more to it. Each time I felt like turning back. Each moment when I was deciding whether or not to come. Each time I thought of just grabbing some Ramen instead. Each time I questioned myself, questioned my goal; those weer all opportunities to fail. And if I failed, I would have been blissfully ignorant, none the wiser of what my other fate was. I could have spent the day in Yoyogi park, or eating ramen, still happy since finding the Satohs seemed improbably anyway.  But now, knowing what that day meant and what its full potential was, it feels weird to think I could have lost all that I experienced had I made any 'small' decision differently.

It seems that is what life is about. Its full of small and big decisions. The ones that seem small at first may snowball to something huge or life-changing. Often times, it is the decisions that seem the biggest that end up being inconsequential in some manner. Maybe not inconsequential, but it is likely that either way you go, you will be making a good decision. Which college you go to, for example, can feel like a huge decision at the time. And it is. But looking back now, I feel confident that no matter which university I chose, I would have had fun, met great people, and eventually have gotten a great job. Granted life would be much different now had I chosen U Miami instead of Carnegie Mellon, but I think I'd still have a good life and enjoy it all. That's why these big decisions seem "inconsequential" and honestly kinda bore me. It's the small ones that often can hold the most opportunity. Or they can mean nothing at all. I guess it is just the not knowing that makes these little choices more appealing. In life, we are all pretty much going the same way. We may take different routes to get there but it seems like a lot of those different paths are still well-traveled highways with many people on them as well. Nothing wrong with that, but sometimes you want to try to find a different path or something new. Sometimes you more enjoyment in stopping off on the small side streets for a bit. You'll be making progress in your own way. Even if you don't progress, it can be nice to get away from all the traffic.

Day 100 - Is this the End? Part 1: Reunited!

Today was officially the longest day ever, but I was glad to live it twice. Based on my mono-dialogue discussion on continuing the journey or returning to the US, I decided to return. No reason to rush seeing Egypt if I dont have the money or energy to do it right. Plus, I plan to return to the road sometime soonish and the Med Sea will be calling then. So, on Dec 2 I returned.

This marks Day 100 of my travels (I didnt plan that) as well as Day 101. And some amazing things happened on this day of days. A crazy reunion, best sushi lunch ever, and surprising my girlfriend in SanFran. Though all pretty amazing, the best moment of the week, probably of the month, and definitely in the running for top 5 for the trip: Reconnecting with my original Japanese host family! I'll explain:
  9.5 years ago, I came to Japan for 2 weeks, 1 of which I spent in Tokyo. More specifically, I spent it with the Satohs, a Japanese family of 3 (5 including the dogs) living in a small suburb of Tokyo, Higashi-Kanamachi. We had a great time even thought the parents only knew a small amount of English and I, at the time, knew no Japanese. Their son, Nobuyuki, and I talked briefly a few times over the next 4 or so years. About 4 years ago, during my study abroad time in Tokyo, I returned to Higashi-Kanamachi to try to find the Satohs, but had no luck. I had no address, no email, no phone number. Nothing but memories of a week spent in this town.
    This time, on one of my last days in Tokyo, I decided to try again. Even if I couldn't find them, it would be nice to just chill in the small town again. So I buy a train ticket there to begin my search. For nearly two hours, I search the town and my mind trying to match the views and streets of the town with the memories and images in my mind. Somehow, after navigating by a river and a temple through the small streets and alleys, I run across a familiar house. Upon checking the mailbox, I actually gasped a little. SATOH. Rang the bell, (after some mental deliberation) and was greeted by Nobuyuki's dad. He didnt quite seem to remember me, but the mom came out and was nearly in tears as they invited me in. We watched sumo, ate crackers and drank tea all the while amazed that we were actually meeting after such a long time. I was able to use my Japanese to have decent conversation and the parents were as nice as ever, though Nobuyuki was not there. Long story shorter, I was able to contact Nobu thanks to his mom and we eventually met up and had lunch on Dec 2, before he took me to the airport.

The story may not mean much to most reading this, but it was incredible to me. It made me realize how seemingly small decisions can really add up in your life. Each small decision I made, from the casual decision to spend a Sunday afternoon in Higashi-Kanamachi, to going right at the temple instead of left. The decision to check a few more streets even though it was cold and getting dark. Or the decision to ring the bell. All these seemingly small choices, unbeknownst to me,were opportunities for me to either reunite with the Satohs or just have a mediocre day. Each of these decisions played essential parts to a me meeting back up with a childhood friend and reuniting with a family on the other side of the world. A family I hope to keep in contact with for years to come. Looking back now, it is crazy to think what I would have lost had I not decided to come. However, at the time, it just felt like a small, inconsequential decision... 

I'm not saying all small choices hold such future importance, I'm just saying that the 'snowball' effect can take you on a helluva ride.

Hey...Thanks.

I may be eating sushi off a conveyor belt and Cold Stone ice cream for Thanksgiving but I still go stuff to be thankful for. So, for tradition's sake:
~ I'm thankful for my family and loved ones, for them supporting me through all my adventures. Without them, none of this would have been possible.
~ I'm thankful for a special someone back West, who has put up with my nonsense and wayward ways and is always there for me.
~I'm thankful for my health, my body, which has done a pretty damn good job considering all the travel...though I'm sure it'll have some issues to work out once back home
~ I'm thankful that for the past 90+ days I have been able to live a dream of mine. Thankful for those days when just waking up in a new place made the day great.
~ I'm thankful for all that I have learned out here and all the great experiences and all the great people.
~Maybe most of all, I am thankful that I am returning home soon!

I know there's more, but thats all i feel like writing now.

Ja mata yo

Blind Kindness

Today I saw my first asshole of Japan. A guy on a scooter started wailing on his horn when he was about 50meters away from the intersection because it was a green light and pedestrians were crossing. First asshole. Everyone in Japan so far has been insanely nice, courteous, and respectful. To the point of annoying actually. Aside from the insincere, high-pitched shriek of “Irashaimaaaaaaaaaasu!” (basically meaning “Welcome to our stoooooooooore!”) that you hear every 7 seconds as you move through or even near a store…yea, aside from that, some of the courteousness of the Japanese seems just plain nonsensical. A few days ago I witnessed something to make New York drivers wake in cold sweats. A cab, a taxi cab mind you, was driving down a smaller, but typical street in Tokyo. The taxi came up behind a seemingly middle-aged Japanese guy walking down the middle of the street in the same direction, back to the cab, with headphones on, walking to the beat. Instead of honking or anything, the cab just slows to the man’s pace and just keeps going behind him, waiting for the guy to notice. This goes on for nearly a full minute before the guy just happens to walk out of the middle of the street, allowing the cab to pass yet still fully unaware of what happened… Amazing. Had it been nearly any other city, the car would have honked without slowing down and the guy would jump out of the way. Simple, perhaps a bit brash, but effective.

In general, Tokyo is a really safe, controlled city. No one runs(except for trains), yet no one is late. No car may be in sight, but no one crosses until that cross-walk sign turns green. Bicycles equipped with bells share the sidewalk with peds, yet you never hear a bell. Everything seems to move at a controlled speed fast enough to get things done, but not fast enough to hurt anyone.

Oh, almost forgot, Asshole #2..maybe: Umbrellas seem pretty communal in Sakura House (where I live), but maybe also in the city?? One rainy day, I go to 7-11, leave my umbrella in one of the umbrella holder things outside like a good citizen, then come back to find it gone. Gone! Stolen in safe Tokyo!? Maybe, though it did look like all the other umbrellas people carry around. Could have been a mistake..or maybe umbrellas are communal in the city. Assuming the latter, and not being the kind to lose an umbrella lying down, I of coursed snagged a similar umbrella to my one and dipped out.

Awesome picture (not from tokyo) courtesy of photographer extraordinaire 'Webbiedebbie"

A Fork in the Road...A really big one.

So im here in tokyo. Money, energy, health all waning in their own way. The money primarily is what is running thin, at least thinner than expected. Health wise I'm ok, as OK as you can be after pulling countless switches on your body for 3 months..

3 months of Living on begger diets, eating banquets, cold climates, warm climates, wet climates, smog, dust. Drink tap water, dont drink tap water, Eat heavy protein potatoe meals, no here we eat only rice & fish. Its 5am, its 5pm, its midnight and we just finished dinner with alcohol, caffeine, and who knows what else. Sleep here, sleep there, sleep alone, sleep with one eye open, sleep cold, sleep on a train a boat a plane, dont sleep... 

My body seemed to end up pretty confused. But I am proud to say it only got sick, and barely so, once. (knock on wood)

That was a bit of a rant but I think thats how the body is feeling. And the energy levels are pretty down. Egypt was a huge highlight of this trip and now its on the chopping blocks and I'm not exactly crushed about that. And thats my dilemma..Egypt or USA. So, there is an internal struggle going on as I try to decide which way to go. If you had a microphone in my mind it may sound something like this..
Eastbound Taj(Pro-return toUSA, which is east from here): We've had a good run, time to pack up and return to the comfort of home. Money is running out, we're tired, maybe sick..time to get back to comfort. 
Westbound Taj(Pro-continue to Cairo): Are you kiddin? Next is the pyramids! One of the main reasons you came out here! The flight is about the same and Cairo shouldnt be too expensive. You just feel bad now because you're homesick; it'll pass.

Eastbound Taj(USA is east from here): True, we have had homesickness before, but this is different. I think we're just ready to be home. Besides, wouldn't you rather come back when we have more money and energy? When we can do Cairo right rather than on a budget?

Westbound Taj(Pro-Cairo): Who knows when that will be?? Live now and in the moment. Planning for the future just gives things more time to go wrong. Take advantage of the current opportunity.

Eastbound Taj(USA is east from here): We know we want to return to Greece at some point. Egypt would be easily tied in then. Even Turkey too. Would be an awesome 2~3 week trip. To do that, we need to get a job and get money...which will take time, but the best way to assure that happens is to return in a decent financial position to facilitate the job hunt.

Westbound Taj(Pro-Cairo): OK, fine. But this is something you said you would do! Don't you have a sense of pride to complete this? Seeing sights on a budget is fine; we've done that a bunch so far. How can you go back without completing what you set out to do?

Eastbound Taj(USA is east from here): Ah, that may have gotten me to reconsider a few weeks ago, but at this point, 100 days in (as of Dec 3), how could I be disappointed in how far I went. Plus if I go this way, it is a real Around the World Trip.

Westbound Taj(Pro-Cairo): Just one last city, that's all and you'll complete what we planned out. Meet some people there, chill for a bit, and return to the US as planned.

Eastbound Taj(USA is east from here): It does sound easy that way, and maybe even worth it...As for the plan, deviating from such a path is just part of the freedom of the Road. That said, the pyramids are tempting..plus it would be great to visit somewhere so different from Europe and the US..

Westbound Taj(Pro-Cairo): Yes...but the money.. there will be other opportunities perhaps..

Well, that's the bulk of the debate in my head..no answers yet. Im sure an answer will come soon.. I'm going to a park with some tea to wait for it.

...I promise i haven't gone crazy

Thoughts on Hakone.. SPECIAL GUEST

After visiting Hakone for the first time, with Katie, we decided a video was appropriate..maybe was more fun to make then watch, but enjoy!