Stop off in Tokyo and a trip down memory lane
Touchdown Japan! I could feel the buzz of the week ahead, the anticipation of bowing to everyone, the tingle of wasabi up my nostrils… And of course my friends, my good friends who I had left in Japan! Oh it was good to be back.
I gathered my luggage and feigned super-gaijin strength as I lugged 30-something kg’s through Shinjuku station, catching the coos of ’sugoiiii! yabaiiiii!’ in my wake. Folks, it was heavier than I made it look, but in those bags was my entire life which I would bring to Amsterdam the next week. At the station Mike was waiting, what a dude. I was home.
My plan was to leave for Gifu, my Japanese hometown, the next evening. But first there was the Tokyo playground to run around in for the day. We found Hachiko still waiting at Shibuya station and we wove through the Shibuya crosswalk and into department stores, pachinko parlours and ramen halls. Eri joined us as we headed into the freaky world of Harajuju, mingling with youth dressed in various styles of gothic lolita, visual kei, decora, and cosplay (costume play). I bought a shirt. ‘Nuf said. No trip to Harajuku is complete without a crepe and a trip to Meji Jinja and a wee written prayer for you all and my year ahead. I’m sure it’s still hanging in the shrine now.
The day had raced by and I had a Bullet Train to catch. Less than two hours later I stepped into my old Gifu drinking hole, Bierhall, to familiar faces who looked as happy to see me as I was to see them. *shucks*. Guys you don’t look a day older; Japan is good like that. Somehow (actually I know exactly how) the night dragged out to 5ish when I crashed out on Marcel’s couch for the night.
There’s no time for hangovers on a whirlwind stopover, and at some ridiculous time mid morning we were on the road to Suginoko campgrounds in the Gifu wilderness. We peered down from the cliff to the furious whitewater rapids below and then loaded our gear into a wooden box to send across the river on a precarious wire. Marcel, Konomi, Tomo and I walked the long way down to the campground. Aside from a brief downpour (read torrential rain) the party and bbq were a riot and in all it was an awesome few days with good people - the baseball and intensely refreshing swim in the waterfall being highlights.
Back then in Gifu city for a few more days was a trip down memory lane wherever I went. Yup it even twigged at the ‘ol heartstrings and teased me to wonder if I could come back and live. I relived nearly every Gifu experience and touched so many natsukashi landmarks - the Gifu Bhudda, Inaba shrine, Gifu Park, the Natural Cafe and Iwao, a swim in the river, and gazed up at Gifu castle lit up at night. But really what made it a great feeling to be back were friends- like Izumi sensei, Takesan and Kei, Marcel, Konomi, Tomo, Warren and Momomi, Mandy, Sean, Jeff, Andre, Dak, Bill and Mineko, Hatsumi and Master, Shy and Hiro… Shame I couldn’t find Naomi. That’s a shout out, love to all.
I wasn’t yet done with Japan. I shot back up to Tokyo for a few more days and had the pleasure to meet up with a number of the Peaceboat posse - Aarif, Aichan, Yuko and Yumi, and to be spotted on the street by Nishi, a one in 35,000,000 chance! I wiled away my days meeting up with friends for lunches, and catching an exhibition of Mexican art (Frida Kahlo, Diago Riviera, et al) before capping off a most awesome stopover in the most appropriate way - Karaoke!! Tsunchan, Mike and Eri, that was solid gold.
Friends, I’m off to Amsterdam.
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