Saturday, 15 July 2023
My flight from Jakarta to Manila was delayed for 6 hours where I shouldn't in a rush to go to airport at 9 PM. If I went to airport at 10 PM maybe I could sleep in my room comfortably and took taxi at 4.30 in the following morning. But, that's the art of traveling: thing doesn't work as we plan it. As well as this trip, I faced that kind of thing several times. Got me thrill but if it didn't it's not adventure.
Back to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, while waiting for my flight, I talked to middle-aged South African lady (yes, she's white), and she lived in Cambodia. We talked about tourism in Cambodia, since Cambodia is one of my bucket lists. I mean, see? The delayed flight not that bad. This Airport is proper for the stay. What can I expect from a buy 3 get 1 free return flights ticket.
In midday, I arrived in Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila. For 6 hours layover, I expected to wander around Manila old town, but due to tornado in Manila, no transit passenger can get out from the airport unless they have proof of accommodation reservation. Thus, I spent time by reading Keigo Higashino novel while waiting for my flight to Narita.
The plane took off during sunset, it was remarkably beautiful. Although the plane was small like domestic one, with 3-3 without TV, I still can sense the adventure euphoria. After 4 hours and 30 minutes, we landed in Narita International Airport.
As I mentioned before, this cheap tickets are due to the purchase of 4 tickets. I went to Japan with my coworker that I barely know. 1 person reschedule its ticket, 2 others still go in which one of them upgrade to a business class and one other was a toxic one. So I made plan for my solo traveling without them in Japan, because our appetite in traveling is obviously different. I paid this trip with the money I made, so I am the one who decide where I go and what I do in this trip.
Following one of my coworkers who seemed so understand Tokyo, we took the train to Shinjuku station. Approaching midnight, we arrived at Shinjuku station by the very last train. We decided to eat first before going to our airbnb. "Oh, wow. Finally, Tokyo!" I said to myself while dragging my huge luggage through Tokyo's lively alleys that looked like little Tokyo in Jakarta. We then stopped by at Aburasoba, for me it's quite tasty.
Seeing Shinjuku at night from the taxi window made me feel like in the movie with music scoring by Miki Matsubara's Mayonaka no Door song playing in my head. The similiar senses I experienced a decade ago: when I travelled overseas for the first time to Melbourne and seeing CBD's beautiful buildings at night with Coldplay's song in my head. It's always comforting to travel to developed country.
Sunday, 16 July 2023
Umi-no-hi at Odaiba
Monday, 17 July 2023
Wake up too early in the morning during holiday is easier for me than on my daily basis. I felt so energized and had prepared myself at 4 in the morning. Remember this was summer, so the sunrise was at 4.30 and at that was the precise hour I wanted to start the day. For that day, my initial plan was: took the earliest local line to Shinjuku station, activate my Shinkansen pass at Shinjuku Station and took the train to Kyoto for Gion Matsuri, and went back to Tokyo before 6 PM.
Sounds fun, but... it's just the plan. At first I was so happy strolling in Hatagaya alley seeing the sun up there at 5 in the morning, the elderly already took their news paper, my childhood daydream about Japan was in front of my eyes. I felt like everything would work as I plan, but it's not.
Shinjuku station was the most labyrinth station so far. There were two building separated by broad street and I couldn't count how many I crossed the street to find the Shinkansen office, plus no one can speak English fluently and google didn't help that much. Getting frustrated, I took a sit, watching the railroad, cursing the hot weather and attempted to calm myself. From a distance I saw a couple, in which the man look like a foreigner, and damn he's not. They can't speak English but this time google translate can help. The woman, help me to ask the officer in the station. She said to me that the Shinkansen office opens at 9 AM. Amazing. It's still 6 AM.
"Do you know any recommend shrine or temple around here?" I asked, through google transcribe. They recommended me Meiji Jingu. I could take the line and stopped at Harajuku Station because the shrine location is right next to Harajuku Station. I believed in local, with no doubt I thank them and continued my journey.
It was a little bit frustrating that I had to change my plan. If I went to Kyoto around 10 AM, it means I don't have sufficient time there, thus Kyoto and its Gion Matsuri was not the plan for that day. But I was too upset to think. For a glance, I arrived at Harajuku station and followed the sign to Meiji Jingu. I stood at a huge Torii with earth color. I could hear the sounds of the woods from there. "Am I still in Tokyo?" I wondered as I bowed and entering the greenery area with amaze. The sounds of chirping birds and insects make a beautiful harmony. I felt like strolling in the middle of woods with a very broad road.
It is really amazing that Tokyo has this huge forrest in the middle of its hustle-bustle. Walking down the lane, I finally arrived in the main temple. There are few visitors but it's not crowded at all, in which I really love it. I sat in one spot, part of the temple complex, I took off my flat shoes and ready in my meditation position. I closed my eyes, focused on my breath, gave myself affirmation that it's okay when things did not work as it supposed to be and I believe universe will guide me through my intuition to the unexpected travel experience that day.
Then, I heard a "bang" sound from the main shrine. It helped me end my meditation session with smile. I walked around the shrine area and then back to Shinjuku Station. After activating my nation wide JR pass, I bought food from convenience store and looked for blue bottle. I could not find it and gave up. I tried to find alternative plan for that day by checking my 'Japan saved' in instagram. Kegon waterfall in Nikko sounds possible. I could take bus to reach the waterfall and in the afternoon I can go back to Tokyo. According to Japan Travel app, I only need to transfer thrice. Supposed to be not a big deal. Really?
First, I stopped at a wrong station. Then I took another train with a new route to take me to another Shinkansen station that can take me to Nikko. Another problem is I didn't reserve the Shinkansen seat and I did not know which car is a non reserved. After waiting for quiet long time, I consider that I wouldn't have sufficient time to spend in Nikko. I gave up and decided to go back to Shinjuku. The problem did not stop there, ladies and gentlemen. .........
Then after holding my tears, I got in the train that can take me back to Shinjuku. I said to myself "I will go back to Hatagaya, bought that unagi for lunch, take a shower, have a nice nap with air conditioner on its coolest temperature, wake up and find tasty crepes in Harajuku and stroll around that neighbourhood. The idea calmed me for a second.
However, by the time the train left, the announcement said the train bounds to Kamakura. "Oh, that's a nice idea." My intuition took over the plan and I'm off to Kamakura instead of taking a nap back in Hatagaya. I still took a nap in train. A very nice power nap, recalling I already wake up 3.30 in the morning. Kamakura is the last station, so I didn't need to worry.
An acquaintance said that today Kamakura would be so crowded due to some festival and also it's local favorite destination. After a sequence of mishap today, I consider to avoid the crowd. I recalled that I had list for Kamakura. One of them is a hidden gem cafe in one station before Kamakura station, there I it is, I brought myself to Kita-Kamakura station. "Wow." is the only word I can say after getting out from the train.
[describe the town]
As the prior plan, I bought onigiri in the closest convenience store. After that, I tried to beat the heat and keep walking to wander this beautiful town. Few steps eventually took me to that beautiful cafe. It's more beautiful than I can imagine, small, homey and very aesthetic. I ordered chocolate cake and they gave free infused water. I finished one chapter of Keigo Higashino's novel and wrote what I felt during this trip. I thank myself that I ended up in this truly beautiful small town.
When I wanted to move to another destination, I saw a couple or maybe three elderly came into the cafe. When they saw me they smile and nodded their head. That hospitality really warmth my heart as if I am the part of this small town.
I continued my journey and decided to visit a temple that is on my list before: Engaku-Ji. In every morning they held free meditation, but turns out I did self-meditation today in Meiji-Jingu and the energy attracted me to Engaku-Ji temple. On my way to Engaku-Ji, I stopped to an interesting place. I read the information board, it is stated that Tokei-Ji temple used to be the sanctuary for woman who wanted to get divorced mostly due to domestic abuse back in xxxx. At that time, woman cannot file divorce.
With no doubt I walked to that temple. There's a stair that leads to the temple.
....
I followed the path and suddenly I was in the middle of ancient cemetery. This is almost the same as what I imagined about Okunoin, in which I still not sure whether I visit it in this trip or not.
I went back to the main road and arrived in Engaku-Ji. It's pretty much huge, and the sign was only in Japanese. ....
Before going back to Tokyo, I wanted to visit Kamakura itself and tried the matcha latte recommend by an acquaintance. By the time I arrived in Kamakura station, it was truly crowded. But I already had my heart full, so I don't mind be in the crowd.
I walked to the street market and already know where to buy the matcha latte.
I bought matcha latte and mochi for myself, the mochi tasted so so but the matcha latte was real "umami" and so far the best I've ever tasted.
Getting back to the train that brought me to the capital, I cried there. I cried because I was so happy that I can visit a beautiful town like Yamanouchi Kamakura, that reminded me to my childhood. I cried that this such a beautiful day and my heart is full with happiness.
I arrived in Shibuya station when the sun goes down. I saw that Hachiko statue, and got myself into the line, which not really long. Soon after, I got a little bit lost in Shibuya crossing to find the right way to
Tuesday, 18 July 2023
Disneyland
Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Hiroshima
Thursday, 20 July 2023
Miyajima
Friday, 21 July 2023
Kyoto + Dotonburi
Saturday, 22 July 20243
Roponggi
Sunday, 23 July 2023
Ueno
Monday, 24 July 2023
