Lost in Translation
Trip Start
Jun 05, 2006
1
73
94
Trip End
Jul 15, 2007
Tokyo,
Japan
Monday, December 11, 2006
123 Yellow (Japan)
. Johnny Nomad's list of the top 5 most interestingly strange creatures to walk this earth:
1. Pirates
2. Midgets
3. Japanese
4. Wookies
5. People who watch Dr. Phil
I think that Japanese are so much fun that I am thinking about trying to take one home with me. Think of the hours of entertainment me and my American friends could have if I had a vertically challenged aged Japanese man as a pet. I guess kind of like having sea monkeys only that instead of living 21 days it would live to be about 100. I am not sure if transporting Japanese as pets is kosher with American immigration? I will have to look more into it! I of course would promise to keep it safely locked up in my closet when not being amused.
Japan is impressively expensive. It is an amazing contrast to the other Asian countries I have spent time in (outside of Singapore.) In places like Cambodia and Mongolia the average family has to survive on about $20 a month, and here in Tokyo that is a beer in some bars
A Look Below (Japan)
. But like most of the developed world the Japanese have become slaves to a life style. The cost of living is so high that Japanese have to work ridiculous hours just to survive. It has been interesting thing to see that when I would try to buy things in South East Asia with a $5 bill they would look at me like I was crazy (they usually do not have that much change on hand) and here in Japan anything under $10 is simple pocket money. Here I am at the Eastern most point of my journey; from here it is nothing but the long trip overland to Europe. I figure that the rest of my journey will take me about 7 months and then it is on to the place I call home. Like some of you know I spend most of my days on the road wondering around aimlessly with not much to do but think (that is where most of this nonsense is created.) Well anyway I left almost 3 years ago with very little purpose or direction to my trip at the beginning other then I wanted to take a little time to enjoy life, and maybe find myself in the process. Well plenty of enjoyable moments later here I am not really felling that I am any way closer to finding any real direction or purpose to my life. Of course now that I start the journey home the pressure is on to make decisions on what I want to do next. One thing for sure is that I am not the same person I was 3 years of experience ago. I am not the same naive small town kid I was
A look in the Eyes (Japan)
. The indescribable beauty and cruelty that I have experienced of this world has changed me in so many different ways. I really doubt being able to successfully settle down into the same contemporary life that I gave a big fuck you salute to 3 years ago. The one thing I know for sure is that I have grown accustomed to seeking out the unknown. I have spent the last 3 years living for the moment. If a situation or place starts to bore me I simply pack my bags and move on. That is a hard mind set and life style to break. Above all contemporary thinking people bore me! The only thing I am for sure of is that I find purpose in getting up in the morning and I am living a lifestyle amuses me (and others) and for know that gives me purpose and makes me happy! "Not bonzai, BANZAI!" -Mr. Miyagi
Fear does not exist in this dojo!!! -Johnny Nomad (Tekwando - white belt yellow tip circa 1989)
Can of Coke from 711 = $1
Beer in a bar = $6-20
Night in a Japanese hostel = $15 - 30
All night karaoke jam session (including drinks) = $27
A meal in an average cheap restaurant = $10 - 15
Having the potential to rub "fun zones" with a cute little Japanese girls (who's names I cannot pronounce but sound similar to mid size family sedans) solely because I am a cliché looking white guy = Priceless!
