Saturday, December 31, 2005
hey world. you're so very beautiful you know that?
am back. from japan. a short 6 day trip that's got me yearning for more.
i am home now. only to realise that i don't belong at home. i should be out there, everyday, exploring a new place.
it was a pretty good trip, once you discount the fact that
1. those leather boots with thin soles were very painful for daily walking.
2. i ate so much and so hurriedly that i felt queasy for a third of the trip.
3. i had to take a plane and i usually get airsick.
4. i dropped a memory chip(thankfully, it was empty)
5. it was short.
Japan caught me in a really special way. usually, travelling means eating their food, touring their places, watching their shows. doing their thing. if you follow a tour package, it means get on the bus, move, get off, take some pictures, hear the guide go on and on, get back on the bus and move again.
so in a way, i was expecting a crash course in japanese history. but unlike touring china, i had no prior knowledge and trying to engage a really lost mind is tough business. besides, our guide wasn't into the introducing our destinations thing. he talked a lot about the people's habits, idiosyncrasies and street-smartness.
a few things really caught my eye.
1. their diversity in terms of scenic attractions. from cosmopolitan cities to being calve-deep in snow. the place is full of wondrous sites.
2. the people's politeness. they're so cheery and courteous, and so willing to entertain. they don't shove past you in shopping malls, or swear when you stop in your tracks.
3. their toilets. they're so clean with so many options on the toilet bowl, weak and strong flushing systems, music to disguise your pee sounds, butt washers. and their taps are automatic and actually dispense sufficient water so that the soap residue is washed away.
4. their packaging. so much effort and detail is paid to wrapping a small hairclip or coin purse. their paper and fabrics are also elaborate and pretty with many interwoven threads of gold and bronze.
5. their cleanliness. people who come to singapore say the place is clean. japan gives a whole new meaning to the word 'clean'. the only dirt i saw was probably when the vehicle exhaust and road dirt turned the snow into a muddy brown.
6. their dramatic dress sense. with LACE and knit, boots and HATS! it's really to much taste.
i really hope to go there again. it was all touch-and-go. but the trip was very rewarding. i made new friends. a family of 5 with 3 children but i don't suppose they can be called children since the eldest is my sister's age and the youngest, a year younger than me.
something else that hit home today is that people let down a lot of inhibitions when they travel. they're more open and engaging, more happy and boisterous. suddenly, the moment we landed, it was back to reality, to duties and responsibilities and we all got nervy. all the reservations were back in place and the lines became clear again.
one tour destination that i must specially mention. disneysea. it wasn't the best part of the itinerary, far from it. it was a very pretty place with the arabian kingdom and some cobblestoned paths. a beautiful mediterranean harbour with suitable architecture. it felt very out-of-this-world, very surreal. yet, coz i went to disneyland in anaheim when i was 8, i expected to enjoy myself thoroughly. experience the same thrills and be exicted by the simulation rides. but when you're 10 years older, you can't see things in the same perspective. you appreciate other aspects but 'Jumping Jellyfish' doesn't bring the same pleasure anymore. i've always wanted to visit all the amusement parks in the world and sit the rollercoasters. i still do. but i must revise my expectations.
what we see doesn't change, how we see it does.
tomorrow's new year's day. my class is meeting up for the countdown but i'm probably not going since my family's having a dinner.
it's again the time of the year to make new year's resolutions. i'll keep mine simple.
1. lose my bad habits
2. make the most of every moment, give 120% for everything.
3. walk out of the shadows
4. be independent
5. love myself
