Japan's Next Top Model

Tom and I were walking near the crossing in Shibuya, one of the biggest congestions of people in the world; think Times Square in Japanese. We were minding our own business, two of the most noticeable people in Japan, just trying to blend in, when we were asked by a local how long we would be staying in Tokyo for. When we told him we were leaving to Kyoto the next day(which I will come to), he looked somewhat disappointed and told us he had been hoping we would be able to do some modeling for him in a couple of weeks. This exact encounter happened twice in the space of about 50 meters. Tom and I, confident as we were with our appearance, decided we would take this as a compliment, not as a scam.

That night, high on the elation of being deemed Japanese model worthy, we went out drinking with our three new best friends; Eagle, Patrick and anonymous. For those of you who don't know me, and are just reading my blog for no reason but to stalk me, and have no idea who I actually am, please stop now, but for those of you who do know me, you will understand the gravity of me giving up what has been a 20 month long abstinence from alcohol. Alcohol has not appealed to me since some over indulgent early teenage nights, but now, older and wiser, I deemed this, if any, the most enjoyably bizarre night to drink I would ever experience; Tom and I and three 30 year old Dutchmen in what was honestly a pretty seedy Japanese bar, Ke$ha Tik Tok pumping through the speakers. What more could one ask for in a night out? So that was our final night in Tokyo, after what was an incredible stay and a great start to the journey. We saw some beautiful things, experienced the incongruity of the Tokyo people's personable and altruistic demeanor to the frantic anonymity of city life, tasted some amazing food and mastered the Tokyo metro system. I learnt the possibility of being frugal without being stingy, and the 820 yen, 150 meter elevator ride to the viewing platform of the Tokyo Tower was proof of this. I don't want to look back on this trip in years to come and see a $10 note in my pocket and think what it could have bought me. But i now know; 820 yen buys the most amazing view of Tokyo, a city completely overwhelming and awe inspiring in its enormity, yet mind blowingly efficient. Had I have seen the view on my first night in Tokyo, I would have been intimidated by the seemingly endless lights of this incredible city, however, seeing it on my final night instilled in me a self assuredness that I had seen and experienced so much of what Tokyo had to offer. The city's vibrance and energy is simultaneously its most profound beauty and its most tiring downfall; city living is exhausting, especially as a tourist, so by 10:33 am when our train left, I was more than ready for a change of scenery and a new experience.

Coming to Kyoto has so many wonderful aspects to it; not only is it an amazing city, encompassing the majesty of Ancient Japanese culture with the newness and vivacity of modern day Japan, it is also the home of my seldom seen uncle and aunt. Being in their home, experiencing their warmth and generosity, and having them give us a personal tour of this beautiful metropolitan they now call home, has made me dread the inevitability of the return to backpacker life; the constant displacement and lack of homeliness, and that is after being away for less than a week. Kyoto so far has met and far exceeded any expectations I could have possibly held, and seeing it with family I usually have to live with/(without) only as voices on the phone or emails, has made my time here thus far even more special. Today, we have earned the home made fruit salad, waiting for us on the table when we woke up, the tofu lunch at a vegan restaurant, the soy icecream cone and the David Flanagan eggplant, pumpkin and split pea curry. We hiked up a mountain on the outskirts of Kyoto, cycled around all day (which my bottom doesn't seem to want to let me forget), walked around beautiful temples and, not surprisingly, cycled some more. Thanks to Vincent (my uncle) and Ann's (my aunt) Kyoto geography knowledge, we have now seen more of Kyoto's alleyways and backstreets than many Kyoto residents. This city really is the archetype of my expectation of Japan; it beautiful encompasses both the natural and built environments, fusing them into something more beautiful than each. The Golden Pavilion, possibly the most visited and recognisable landmarks in Japan was on our today's route, somewhere between lunch and shopping for dinner, and I realised an important lesson; that things which are tourist meccas are that way for a reason. It is stunning. I can't hope to describe the beauty of it, so I shall not let my words fall so painfully short of portraying it and instead leave it unmentioned.

As I sit here and write this now, Tom, Vincent and Ann are all in bed and I am left alone to bask in what will be one of the few nights for the next 9 months when I get to experience the simple pleasures of creature comforts and a sense of home.

On Monday, Tom, Vincent and I will be a 4 day long bike trip in Hiroshima and island hopping off the Japanese coast. From the moment Vincent suggested we could do it until now, I have been so excited to see this beautiful country in such a self sufficient way.

My bed during my time here is Vincent's massage table, which is surprisingly comfortable and as such is calling me louder and louder.

I hope since I have stayed up until 11:17 pm writing this, that someone will read it other than just Mummy, but if not, hi mum and thanks for being such a loyal fan. Love you.

Comfort and homeliness will be hard to come by this year, so I am going to go and make the most of it while I can.

Home seems like such a long way away, and I don't think that will seem any closer as the months roll on, but for now, I have Kyoto, my little port in the storm.