I caught a train from Hiroshima to takamatu on shikoku, and spent three nights at a guest house. I didn’t get up to much other than riding around the countryside (Inaka is the word for countryside). The change in Pace was very nice, luckily I had the entire dorm to myself. I realized I was needing more solid mid-term plans as I don’t want to linger in Japan, there are more decently priced places to linger for a man with no income. So with that in mind I’ve booked a flight to Bali, and I am looking into staying in Lombok for most of the 30 day visa to Indonesia.
Spending a short amount of time with certain people, yet treating them like a good friend is something I am working on, and so far has been very willing. I’d say my tolerance is increasing, that is, recognizing my heart as a vast loving space that encompasses others in all their behaviours whether it jives with my worldview and belief system or not. It’s an expansive way to live and is revealing to me some of my prejudices around education and wealth and health. I’ve seen that I’m a bit entitled to having people converse with me in English, as I’ve put less effort into learning Japanese (nihongo) language than I thought I would, perhaps because I have spoken to less locals than I hoped. More locals have been open to conversing with me in Inaka (countryside) than all the cities. Perhaps it’s because I’m less of ‘just-another-tourist-in-the-ceaseless-sea-of-people’ out here: there are fewer people to deal with, so I get more attention than in the tourist hotspots. Either way, the local interactions have felt more meaningful than much of the touristy stuff I’ve done, like playing games and singing Karaoke with the family visiting the owners of the hostel I’m staying in right now. Teaching a bit of music to the kids was great!!!
I caught the train (longer train tickets are expensive) from Takamatsu to Imabari to do the famous Shimanamo Kaido cycling Route through 7 Japanese islands across mighty suspension bridges. It’s fantastic and I highly recommend it, doable for a great range of abilities as you can rent e bikes no problem. So beautiful, good to sing on the bike again. i haven’t had anywhere near enough physical activity and music making as I want, so I’m going to plan that into my stay in Indonesia.
I have been lax lately about my diet as well, so I want to increase my planning, and learn how to make requests to match my desired outcomes. I’m seeing that I need to harden my resolve in many areas, solidify my merits into virtue. But then, who doesn’t? Hahaha good night.