I really should have written about this when it happened, it’s so hard to remember, it almost makes me wonder why we travel so much. Perth was nice, mostly because we got to spend some time with our friends, but otherwise just another city. Freemantle was pretty and hispter = there was good coffee. We’ve enjoyed the drive to Busselton, taking the more scenic route, stopping around pretty ocean sights. Lukas desperately needed a haircut and came across one really innovative young barber. Before he knew it, he was upside down on the chair and had a face mask on, I had to laugh, but he looked even more handsome than usual after. The best thing about Busselton was our airbnb, the prettiest room with the funniest little dog, who was more than keen on cuddles. Exactly what I needed after the hectic end to the Commonwealth Games. We got to go to some vineyards, explored the local nature and soon we were on a plane to Tokyo.
Almost as soon as we landed we have met up with my friend from Prague Aneta and her husband and started to explore the town. So we got drunk on happy hour in a quiet cool and very Japanese bar in Shibuya and after Korean BBQ and some more beers, we hit the karaoke bar and sang our hearts out. Not sure how we made it to Lukas’ friend Martin’s place, who was kind enough to let us stay in his beautiful apartment in Azabujuban. Azabu was featured in the last book that I have read from Huraki Murakami 1Q84, I have been going through a phase of Japanese authors and books only in the first half of the year.
The next day, we have had some coffee at a really cool tiny roastery in a neighbourhood that won’t be featured in any of Japan’s travel guides, did some shopping, I did a headstand on the busiest crossing in the world, we had some amazing sushi and then of course we took some cool photos in one of many Tokyo’s photo boots and then embellished them with cat ears and noses.
After that we travelled to Odawara where we had the most awesome accommodation in a Ryokan hotel. We were sleeping on the traditional tatami, washed ourselves in the traditional stone bath and I haven’t slept better since. It was fantastic. We took a trip to Hakone from where we were supposed to see Mt.Fuji, which we didn’t, but we had the best apple tart in a cute little tea house and eventually saw the mountain the next day from Shinkanzen.
We have decided to make Osaka our base for the next few days and travel from there. We have met up with Lukas’ friend from high school. He is without a doubt one of the most interesting people that I have met in my life. Although saying that Lukas really has a lot of interesting friends all around the world. Anyway, he’s a buddhist monk, who has dedicated his life to monastery in South Korea, meditation and knowledge. He was incredibly wise and really knew something about everything, which he would prove in a very nonchalant manner as if he didn’t realise himself how incredibly smart he is. But it was also fun to hang out with him and it was really cool that he was visiting Japan at the same time as us and with his fluent Japanese (as well as Korean and Chinese), it was definitely a little bit easier. We explored Osaka on day one and Uji on day two.
Uji was on Luky’s list as a place to go because he absolutely loves tea. I mean real tea, not your Christmas special cinnamon, honey bun, pumpkin spice hot water. And we were in luck as they were already selling that year’s harvest and I am telling you, it was spectacular. The tea ritual and the taste of perfectly prepared Gyokuro from a tiny little cup, just wow!
On day three we decided to explore Kyoto, but that unfortunately was not the greatest as it was raining like crazy and the massive temple anyway was under construction. However in the evening upon return to Osaka, after we unsuccessfully tried to find some shops with cool Japanese gadgets, we’ve encountered a very local sushi place and it was perhaps one of the best sushi feasts ever. We were alone in the joint and the chef and owner made everything fresh for us from the few fish caught that morning, speaking with Martin Japanese the whole time wanting to share absolutely ALL of his experience with sushi making and oh my god! Was that a good sushi.
The next day we’ve said goodbye to Luky’s friend M. and took a Shinkansen to Hiroshima. First we have decided to spend some time at the Myiajima Island, which was full of tourists at the bottom, but nobody decided to venture any further past the main temple so we got to enjoy the spectacular views and nature in peace and quiet. Sitting next to a temple looking into the beautiful Japanese trees and just relaxing. Later listening to a monk singing and playing. After coming back down to the beach and the tide was low and I wondered what everyone is looking for at the beach, turns out it was massive oysters, which they did on the grill. As a big fan of oysters I of course had to try. Not bad, but I have to say I prefer fresh ones, like the ones you can eat near oyster bay in Tasmania, fuck I miss fresh sea food.
Anyway after we’ve explored the island, we took a tour of the famous museum and walked around the Dome and for some reason, maybe because of all the tragedy in the world, I found it very hard to be touched by its history. We finished the day back in Osaka tired but happy. Next on our agenda was Nara, as expected, the crowds of tourists were unbearable, wanting to pet the deers, take the best photos with the Okonomyaki, but guess what? About 300m away from the normal temple – nobody! We are really getting to that stage when people are unwilling to move from vehicles further than a few hundred meters and I for one love it, because it means I will still get to enjoy mountain peaks in solitude. There was another temple just above, which was beautiful and again, we got to sit and just really soak in the atmosphere, breathe in and out in silence and later take some yoga photos of course.
The evening we spent in the busy streets of Osaka and explored some places that Luky remembers from when he was there about ten years ago.
After it was time for what we were looking forward to the most! We have booked accommodation in Nozawaonsen, in winter a very popular spot for powder snow lovers in summer, as it turns out, abandoned village full of onsens to soak yourself in. There were zero tourists in the town and a very few locals too. Almost all the onsens we enjoyed on our own. We also enjoyed some walks in nature and explored the old olympic sporting complex from Nagano 1998. Aaah such good days, I really had a good time there. After that unfortunately we only had time to return back to Tokyo, enjoy one last Korean BBQ and fly back to GC. Overlay in Singapore, I got to watch the Royal wedding. I love you Megan, I am so happy we are pregnant at the same time. Like we could be besties now. Anyway next time I will tell you about my yoga course in Byron Bay and then we will almost be caught up, except for my trip to Tasmania and New Zealand. I know life is good.
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