It is with a mixture of happiness and sadness that I realize my travels abroad to the Far East are now completed. I feel a mild sense of euphoria about me thanks to the wonderful memories I have of the experience and also feel somewhat sad that it is over. I wish it could have continued a bit longer. Time flew by so fast. I always felt content with my undertaking and met so many new people. It is strange that I feel most comfortable with myself when I am completely out of my comfort zone, most at home when I am a stranger to the place.
Being the third and longest time I visited Japan, I considered the possibility that I would desensitise and be rid of my slight obsession with the country. But it hasn’t been the case. It is hard for me to describe the great sense of belonging I feel when I am there even though I will always be an outsider and probably never comprehend the complexity of Japanese tradition and culture. It is ironic because I feel isolated within my own culture and even country. Here I feel so different although I am not, there I feel the same while I am different.
I must not forget Thailand as it provided some incredible experiences too. I received incredible boost of self-esteem while there, because some of most beautiful woman I have seen openly expressed that they found me attractive and handsome. Regardless of intent in any of the cases, it really felt good to hear.
I am grateful to all of those who I met in Japan and the Japanese in general, for their generous hospitality and everyone else who participated in my memorable experience abroad.
I am in the process of uploading my photos and have these sets ready so far:
Oh, and thankfully my brother and I successfully graduated for our 3rd Dan.
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on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 at 12:42 pm and is filed under Japan, Stories.
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July 22nd, 2006 at 11:16 am
pretty pictures! I went to Nikko when I was very very young and don’t remember anything, so I’d like to go there again. Anyway, glad you felt “at home” in Japan
July 27th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
Nikko is amazing. Inside the Toshogu there is a room with a large dragon painted on the roof. One of the caretakers stands in a random spot and takes two wooden blocks striking them together. The sound it makes does not really sound out of the ordinary. But then he stands right underneath the mouth of the dragon mural and strikes again. This time the sound produced by the blocks rings in the room for quite some time. I wish I was allowed to take pictures inside most of the shrines and buildings I went to in Japan as many times they are prettier inside than out.
August 18th, 2006 at 10:55 am
[…] All photos I am willing to share of my trip have been uploaded and so along with the previous sets I have shared, here are the rest including Thailand: […]
October 26th, 2006 at 4:16 pm
[…] Related post: Japanese Lessons Serendipity […]
March 13th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Just saw your blog and it made me feel like going to Thailand, Hua Hin again, and it also made me want to go to Japan..
Thanks for sharing your photos and memories.