People said that good things will come to those who wait. And wait i shall. I just wish she dissapear……I wish her gone……..Out of my sight!!
06
May
09
Today
I had to be one of the most spontaneous person ever walk this earth. Sometimes I even wonder whether it is humanly possible to reach my level of spontaneity. There was once when I was in Uni, I just leaved my textbooks and lecture notes on the roadside and follow my friends to the mall (I met them on my way back to the dorm) – I figured no one would want to steal textbooks, and I was rite. I choose my travel destination by running a pen back and forth between the letter A to Z. Wherever the pen stops, that’s where I’ll be going. Last 2 weeks on my way back from Penang, the weather was just too hot that I decided to make a 30km detour to Lata Kinjang for a dip at the waterfall.
Anywho….last Friday, a friend left a message on my facebook saying that there was an extra free ticket to Dabong up for grab. The trip includes caving and trekking to one of the highest waterfall in South East Asia. I didn’t really pay much attention at first, not knowing where on earth is Dabong. So I went about my business and around 4pm I remembered bout the free ticket and found out that Dabong is in Kelantan. I quickly googled the place and saw few pictures of the waterfall which looks pretty decent. And I figured, why the hell not. Besides, the ticket is free and I only have to cover the ground cost. I made a quick call to my mum to find out whether she needs me around for the weekend and when she said no, I knew I was meant for Dabong. The train to Dabong leaves that very night. Which means I only have 1½ hrs to pack. Yup, told ya before I’m that crazy.
I reached KL Sentral at 8pm to meet up with the rest of the pack (Whom I have never met before). After a quick and casual introduction, we were off to board the train. The Journey took 13 hrs and made several stops along the way. Surprisingly, the train’s berth is quite comfy and I sleep pretty well and was only interrupted by the announcement made when the train made a stop. I woken up around 6.30 am, made a quick dash to the lavatory to brush my teeth and wash my face. By this time, most of the passengers were already up. I picked up my book, plug-in my music player and waited for the sun to rise from the train window. The train stops for a few minutes in Limau Kasturi. I saw a few villagers waiting at the old train station heavily clothes in sweaters. It must be cold here. I touched the train window hoping that I could feel the coldness.
‘Tuan-tuan dan Puan-puan, keretapi ini akan berhenti di stesen Dabong sebentar lagi’…and immediately the train came to a halt. We waited for a few seconds in the train thinking that Dabong is probably a good 5 minutes away, until one of us looked outside and informed that we were already in Dabong. Apparently, KTMB’s definition of ‘sebentar lagi’ is equivalent to ‘sekarang’. Dabong’s station is quite small and our coach is about 200 metres away from the station. The restaurant at the train station is the rendezvous point where we will meet our guide, Pok Nik, a diehard WWF nature lover and his assistant, Ja. I had ‘nasi berlauk’ for breakfast. Near the restaurant, I noted a sign which said ‘Selamat Datang ke Pekan Dabong’ and I looked around. Pekan Dabong apparently consist of the train station, 2 small eateries, a small grocery shop, a school and a clinic. I wonder what they do for fun….
The plan was to start with caving activity in 3 different caves and then make our way to the waterfall in gunung Stong. Sounds like a plan to me, and off we go. The first cave was gua gelap (dark cave). It suits the name very well and getting through the cave was quite challenging. At one point, you have to stand sideways and slide to get to the other side. Those who are claustrophobic will really have major suffocation problem. I had a minor claustrophobic issues but I managed to distract myself by chatting. I didn’t take many pictures in gua gelap as the cave is quite narrow and quite difficult to maneuver.
At the Dabong train station
I have to say the most beautiful and breathtaking cave is definitely gua keris. All the formations are amazing and I just love the huge space within the cave. The way the sunlight penetrated into the cave gave it a dreamy feeling which I think absolutely fantastic. Look at the pictures and you’ll see what I mean (tho’ my mother totally disagree). We then moved to last cave (which I’ve forgotten the name) where a rare species of spider occupies. It lives underground and make door trap for food. It doesn’t weave spider web like any other spider. How cool is that! After the caving, we moved back to pekan Dabong for lunch before making our way to the waterfall.
One of the amazing formation in the cave
It’s rice again for lunch, and my belly starting to heat up from the chilli I had. We made our way to gunung Stong for the waterfall. Trekking up was quite strenuous and the rice and chicken I had for lunch definitely added the agony. But it was just a short strenuous uphill climb. It should be over in seconds. And I’m quite sure the view will be rewarding. We reached the checkpoint and decided to take a dip there. A few of us, me included, decided to continue to trek up till the foot of the waterfall. It was a sight to behold. I lay on a piece of flat stone on the river bed while enjoying the water flows from head to toe. I shut my eyes and feel the cool river flowing against my skin. I imagine this is probably what serenity feels like.
We had tea and some kuih at the waterfall before making our way to Pok Nik’s house for a short rest. We had dinner at one of the restaurant near the house. It was the best asam pedas I ever had. It’s different than the normal asam pedas. It looks like tomyam, but doesn’t taste like tomyam. It doesn’t look like asam pedas but had the asam taste to it. Whatever it is, It was excellent! We finished dinner round 8.30 and made our way back to Pekan Dabong to catch our train back to KL. It wasn’t long after we boarded the train that everyone fell into a deep sleep. By 8.00am we are already back in KL.
Stong waterfall
At Dabong train station
I love this cave. I love how the lights fall on its wall
Before entering the caves
05
Dec
08
The naming of cats
The naming of cats is a difficult matter,
It isn’t just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I’m mad as a hatter
When I tell you a cat must have three
different names.
First of all, there’s the name
that the family use daily,
Such as Victor, or Jonathan,
George or Bill Bailey–
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names
if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen,
some for the dames;
Such as Plato, Admetus,
Electra, Demeter–
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you,
a cat needs a name that’s particular,
A name that is peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he
keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers,
or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind,
I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quazo or Coripat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellyrum–
Names that never belong
to more than one cat.
But above and beyond
there’s still one name left over,
And that is the name that you will never guess;
The name
that no human research can discover–
But The Cat Himself Knows,
and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought,
of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
-T.S Elliot-
This is from one of my favourite poet dedicated to my lovely Bijan. She just gave birth…AGAIN! sigh…I sooo need to spay her.
04
Dec
08
MUSIC
You know why tower records use the tagline ‘no music no life’? it’s because life generates music. Music manifests life. It’s a symbiotic existence. Music gives the melody to the story of your life. Music speaks to you like no human can. Last night, I saw someone and ‘Invisible war’ by Julia Fordham immediately came to mind. Sadly, I’m still singing this song.
“Invisible war
seems we’re waging an invisible war
Strained maneuvers keeping silent score
In this invisible war
Every day I seem to lose you more
Both wishing that it was like before
In this invisible war
Talk about a fine line between love and hate
We’ve lost more than our direction of late
Talk about a fine line between lovers and friends
We’ve never been lovers now we’re not even friends
In this invisible war, seems we’re waging an invisible war
Every day I seem to lose you more
In this invisible war
Wounded deeply the scar is here to stay
Opening up all the little things I do and say
You want things to be as before
So I make you angry and you bleed a little more
In this invisible war, seems we’re waging an invisible war
Every day I seem to lose you more
In this invisible war
Want to run away, I still love you
Got to go away’ I always love you
Got to be away, Time heals all wounds
Invisible war”
– Julia Fordham-
24
Nov
08
KAHWIN
Buletin Utama, 24 November 2008
8.12 pm
“Impian seorang bakal pengantin untuk mendirikan rumah tangga esok musnah apabila dia ditangkap kerana berjudi malam tadi. Lelaki yang berusia 69 tahun itu akan bernikah dengan wanita berusia 40 tahun, tetapi rancangannya itu tertangguh apabila terpaksa bermalam didalam lokap di atas kesalahan berjudi…”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And this actually came up in prime time news on national TV. Bravo bolehland! Maybe there’s nothing important to report…
21
Nov
08
Disturbed
I feel disturbed. Yesterday, I found a guy who reminds me of ME, only better.
He is a “why not”. I haven’t found any “why not”, especially among guys.
He is confident. His confidence might translate as arrogance.
He is way smarter.
He knows he’s smart and he wants people to acknowledge that he’s smart.
He speaks better English.
He is deep.
Maybe too deep you worry you could never reach the bottom.
He is random. Spontaneous
He speaks his mind (loudly).
I bet he speaks to himself as much as I speak to myself. I am the queen of self-monologue. Oh wait! Maybe, he self-monologue more than me.
But…..
He is full of anger. I don’t know what he angry about, but he’s angry.
That’s where we depart.
This guy is complex. Intricate. Difficult
So complex that he is messing with my head.
He made me wanting more.
I need to find out more.
I need to understand more.
He stimulate me without even stimulating me.
I need to untangle this mess so I can get on with life.
What’s in his head?
What is it that he’s thinking?
Who is he?
Or maybe should I ask who am I?
I am now unsure whether i should divulge every detail of my Japan trip or just summarise everything? If i were to detail it out, it will take a few more installments (since i still have a few more days in Japan) and i am already tired of writing it. On the other hand, if i just create a sudden death it will be such an anti-climax to my story. But i am not Raja Petra or Chedet who have millions of people reading their blogs….those who read mine are my frens who have probably heard the details of my Japon experience or have nothing better to do at the office (Don’t deny it guys!) so who cares if i summarise…..
Ok here goes….I spend a few more days in the mountain, I learned how to sky and failed miserably, I learned how to snowboard and also fail, I learn how to slide and didn’t fail huhu!!! (yeah….even a dog can slide), but i almost went off the cliff and Kevin had to pull me by my windbreaker collar. We trek up a snowy hill up to the top and I saw an amazing view of the forest and the village. After 4 nights in the village, I headed back to Tokyo and i reached there in the evening rush. Tokyo station was damn pack and people seems to be in a hurry to god knows where. I am already tired at that time, I looked horrible and i haven’t had my bath that day. My backpack is a few pound heavier, thanks to the jars of homemade jam i bought. To avoid pushing and shoving, i decided to pick a spot in the station and just wait for the rush to drift through. After 1/2 hr, there seems less people and i start finding my train to shibuya. I arrived in Shibuya and decided to walk around while waiting for my friend to return home (Since i’ll be staying with her again). Probably i can sample some food in the supermarket area (easiest way to a free snack). I went to find a locker to store my bag while i walk around. My backpack can’t fit in the smaller locker no matter how hard i tried to shove it in, so i have to settle for the bigger locker that will cost me 400 yen (about RM13). And since i don’t have coins, I went to buy a bottle of water to get some change. And guess what, the locker was broken. I’ve already put in my 400 yen, and it can’t lock. I tried to ask around who is incharge of the locker (so i can get my money back) but no one seems to speak english. Fed-up, I went to buy another drink (this time a can of coffee) to get some more change. This time, to make sure that the locker works, I decided to try it first. I put my bag in, i put in my coins, lock it, and try turning the key. Click! Thank god it works. But because of my genius, I forgotten that to lock it again i need another 400 yen. And again, i had to made my way to the newspaper stand to buy another drink for some change. This is the same stand that i bought my previous drinks. By this time the lady already look at me in some weird way. 3 drinks in less than 15 minutes….
By the time i got back to the locker, someone else has taken it, and i have to find an empty compartment. Found one, i put my bag in, slot in my 400 yen and about to shut the door when i saw a writing on a piece of paper on the locker door. Since i can’t read japanese, i continue to shut the door when i realise AGAIN……they key didn’t work. Shit! the piece of paper probably say BROKEN!. By this time I’ve already spent 1200 yen on faulty lockers and i declared my hatred for that locker. I ended up with a backpain (from bending down to find an empty locker), 2 cans of coffee, 1 bottle of mineral water and a backpack still on my back. That’s when my friend called my mobile to inform that she’s already home. I took a bus straight home. Who need free food sample when i have mineral water and coffee to finish?
I spend the next day walking around Tokyo and enjoying the sakura flower. By the time i am back in Tokyo, it is already in full bloom. I spend a little bit in Tokyo and I terrorised my credit card buying pearls. I have a weakness for pearls and everything else that cost money. But shopping aside, all in all…..My trip worth every penny. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I will be back to Japan for sure. Probably sometime in Autumn for a cycling trip in the mountain. But for now I am planning for my next solo trip to Andalucia and Morocco next year. Ugh…..I just can’t wait.
I woke up the next morning to a beautiful weather. The plan was to leave sakae-mura around 8 and head to Akiyamago, the village in the mountain. We had a simple breakfast. Green tea, rice porridge with soy sauce, bread and some traditional sweet bun/cake, a gift from the couple’s neighbour. I don’t like rice porridge. The only rice porridge tolerable to me is bubur lambuk. Other than that is just no go. But I didn’t have much to eat last night and i am really hungry this morning, so i forced the porridge down my throat. My food intake that morning was enough to sustain me. I have no complaint when it comes to food. So long as i have something to sustain me, i am fine. Taste is a luxury i am willing to let go.
I learned from Kevin that their house is categorised as an ‘open house’. Unlike our Malaysian open house, theirs is a totally different concept. The owner of the house is an old lady (that explain the picture in my room) who is staying in an elderly home. She live alone and unable to take care of herself anymore. Since she do not have anyone to take over her house, it was categorised as ‘open’ – which means, someone else (related or not) can come and occupy the house. But the house would have to be returned to the owner when requested. Cool concept. Same goes for land around the area. I asked how much does a piece of land cost, and surprisingly it is not that expensive. With USD3000 you can own a piece of land to build a house with enough land to plant veggies for your own consumption. Cool eh…..
While Kevin and Tomoe prepare to leave for Akiyamago, I took a walk around the village. Although the weather was excellent, there were hardly any people outside. This i can’t understand why….Anyway, we left Sakae-mura for Akiyamago. On our way, we stopped at a local museum. I was quite lucky as they were having a class to teach traditional craftmanship. The objective of the class is to ensure that the traditional craft survive the modernisation. There were a few people there. Some were making matresses, a man was making traditional shoe, another was making rope and winter jacket using some kind of grass. I wanted to try and chose to make rope since it looks more simple than the other things they are making. Man was i wrong….I struggled to make a decent rope but fail at every attempt. At first i just wanted to continue the work of the craftsman….but he refused and insist i start a new one. I guess he knew i will ruin his work. It was a very interesting experience and i enjoyed it very much. I bought a few jar of homemade carrot, tomato and pumpkin jam as gifts for folks back home.
We left the museum and continue our journey up the mountain before we stop halfway for lunch. Lunch was a bowl of piping hot soba with mountain vegetables and grilled fish washed down with what else…..green tea. The lunch was so simple and yet very very tasty. We headed up the mountain with full stomach 
Akiyama is a very serene and beautiful place but like sakae-mura, there’s no people around. Tomoe informed me that the villagers had taken advantage of the good weather to gather woods in the forest. Hence the emptiness. We stoped at the village office cum museum cum post office. There was a lady mending the museum. She let us in and show us around.
Akiyama is famous for its bear hunter. The museum exhibits the tradition of the village as well as tools used to hunt bears. I saw and old drawing of a man standing with something in his hand held above his head with his head facing upwards. I asked Kevin ‘who’s that in the drawing? is he drunk or something?’ He took a moment to look at the picture and read the description ‘nope, that’s a local hero who just killed a bear and is blowing his horn’. Ahh……..a hero, not a drunkard. I should have just keep my big mouth shut right? Kevin told me not to worry, the museum lady don’t understand english……phew……i surely do not want to offend anyone in a bear hunter community.
We left the museum and made our way to an old traditional thatch roof house 10 minutes away which is also part of the museum. The architecture of the house is very simple. A huge communal area with a fire pit in the middle. This is where the family eat, sleep and do their other activities. Nothing elaborate, nothing fancy compared to our traditional houses. But it is extremely cold in there. My initial plan was to stay the night in that house and experience Akiyama the old school way. But after Kevin told me that we have to put off the fire before we go to sleep (so we don’t burn the house), the thought of its coldness already made me shiver and i changed my mind.
After the visit to the thatch roof house, we walked to a local onsen. It was quite far away but the great scenery made you forgot how far it is. The Onsen run by an old lady. She greeted us and i changed into my bathing suit. I got to choose either the outdoor or the indoor onsen. Since there was no one around the area, i figured why not enjoy the scenery? so i opted for the outdoor. It was such a bliss soaking in the warm onsen pool while staring at the snowcaped mountain. And the best part, i got it all to myself. No other tourist, no other foreigner….Just me drifting in my thoughts.After a satisfactory onsen session, I changed into dry clothing and we had a chat with the lady owner. She was very friendly and we were treated to some light snack.
Kevin and Tomoe had arranged for us to stay at a local inn. We also had our dinner there and the lady had prepared a wide spread of local favorites. Though the food doesn’t really suit my tastebud, How can i say no to it…..clearly she slaved all day to prepare the meal. The man of the house apparently is a bear hunter. After dinner, he start telling stories of the bear he hunted. He even bring out the bear skin he kept as a momento. Sign language seems to be the order of the day and i don’t mind it at all. We talked all night before i excused myself to bed.
I was right, that’s Kevin. We said hi and he gave me a quick tour of the village’s office. Since the weather is not permitting (It was drizzling and gloomy) and I was behind schedule, we can’t get on with ski and went straight to Kevin’s house where I met Tomoe (Kevin’s wife). She was cooking some food to be tapau-ed to their friend’s house for dinner. Tomoe suggested that I and Kevin go hunt for ‘fukinoto’, a mountain vegetable that only come out in spring. It turn out that I am not the only one who never hunt for fukinoto….Kevin also never did, but he know how it looks like and both of us have no freaking idea where to look.
By the time we went out to look for fukinoto, the sun decided to come out from its hiding and greeted us. The drizzle stopped and the weather was just excellent. We managed to find a few fukinoto, enough for tonight’s dinner. On our way back we stopped at the village temple. We went in to see whether anyone is around and a lady greeted us. She is the wife of the temple’s caretaker. She was kind enough to show us around. The temple has been around for almost 300 years and her family had been the caretaker of the temple for generations. She showed us the room where in the older days the apprentice monk will use it to study and pray. She explained the architecture of the temple helps to keep it warm in winter and cool in the summer. I can see that the name of those who build the temple carved on its ceiling. The temple was amazing and I had soooo many things to ask. But language is such a huge barrier and I pity Kevin for having to be the translator for my questions and the answers. Kevin told me I was lucky as he himself never had the chance to meet the caretaker of the temple.
It was almost dark when we reach Kevin’s house. Tomoe was already waiting. We were to have dinner at Mr. Watanabe’s house, the couple’s friend who builds his house using the traditional architecture, peculiar to that area. We drove up the dark narrow snowy mountain road in Kevin’s van-turned-4WD Daihatsu. We were joined by another guest, an American guy who teaches English in the local school (I forgotten his name). We were greeted by Watanabe-san and her 2 daughters. After a casual introduction chat, he invited us to the dinner table. The dining room was slightly warmer and I was brave enough to take off my jacket and my glove. Although I still think it’s cold, I find it quite rude to be wrapped in heavy clothing when everyone else is so at ease…. Dinner was served…….juicy roasted pork with salad and home made fruit jam! Oh….this is just great. I’m cold and I’m hungry and the only food that they serve is the exact food that I can’t eat. Then how la…..I politely informed that I am a Muslim and I can’t eat pork. Watanabe-san profusely apologized and said that had he known earlier, he would have prepared something else. I assured him its ok and tada!!!!! Tomoe open the food that she had prepared earlier, Soba and tempura vegetables. She said that she had a feeling Watanabe san might prepare pork for dinner. The dinner that I had although not filling, but enough to keep me through the night.
Watanabe-san is a composer based in Tokyo but decided to buy a piece of land in the country and build his house. He owned a factory that produce noise canceling earphone (like I know what that is…). We talked about so many things. We talked about Malaysia, Malaysian made products, experiences and life in general……It was amazing how we can still communicate even with the language barrier. I asked Mr. Watanabe whether he has any jazz music, he don’t but he have classical. So we talked while sipping coffee with Tchaikovsky in the background.
I were to have my bath in Watanabe san’s house since Kevin & Tomoe do not own a bath (water heating is so expensive). He showed me the bathroom. I freaked out. It was so canggih-fied. I am not sure what to do in there. I spend almost 10 minutes trying to figure out what to do. Should I just jump into the jakuzi-like bath (it can easily accommodate 5 adults) or should I use the shower. Where to turn on the water? How to change the temperature? Urgh…this is so intense. Finally, I decided to use the shower. Should I wash my hair? But then I need a hairdryer or my brain will freeze in this cold weather. This is the first time in my life that taking a bath requires me to think – a lot. But I took a quick shower anyway without washing my hair. When I went out from the bathroom, we were ready to depart back to sakae-mura. Watanabe-san gave me a strawberry spoon as a gift.
When we reached Kevin’s house I was too tired to chat or do anything else. I went straight to my room and changed. My room was very cold and the heater was not enough for me. So I wore 2 sweaters, 2 pair of socks and 1 pair of sock on my hand (to replace the glove). Buried under layers of clothing and blankets, I still feel the coldness. A few minutes later, I heard kevin knocked on my door. At first I wanted to pretend to be asleep but then I figured, I might just answer it. I went to open the door when I realized that I was wearing socks on my hand. He handed me another heater. By that time it was too late to take the socks off. He must have seen it. I took the heater form his hand. Kevin must have thought I’m some crazy woman. It didn’t bother me. I switch on the heater and try to get some sleep. That was before I realized there was a picture of an old man/woman hanging on the wall staring down at me. Then I started to think what if there’s ghost in this house? Argh I hate this feeling. What the hell….I am already too tired, If there’s happen to be ghost, I’ll just tell the ghost that they need to go and scare someone else cause I don’t speak Japanese.
What’s the worst that could have happen? Besides, Japan is a very safe place for traveler with its low crime rates. So in my chase to taste the real Japan, I decided to travel to Niigata, or Akiyamago to be specific. On top of being alone in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language, I also opted to stay a few days in a remote mountain area where they still practice bear hunting. I happened to bump into a website www.onelifejapan.com that offer an authentic Japanese countryside experience and they also have volunteer programme which caught my interest. I made the arrangement from KL but was informed that I might not be able to join the volunteer programme due to the timing of my visit. But I was determined to experience the authentic Japan.
I was instructed to get on the 7.55 a.m Shinkansen to Echigo Yuzawa. I had to take a bus from where I stay to catch a train to Tokyo station to board the Shinkansen. I was late about 15 minutes. Since I am directionally challenged, getting lost in the train station took up another 10 minutes, before I finally figure out the right direction and successfully arrived at Tokyo station. Purchasing the ticket was quite easy and finding my way to the right terminal was not that difficult once I got the drift. I’m glad that I managed to catch the next train to Echigo Yuzawa. The journey took 1 ½ hours and I saw the landscape slowly changed from bustling metropolitan to snow cap mountain and I started to smile. I arrived at Echigo Yuzawa and I need to board a bus to Morimiyanohara where Kevin (the guy who arranged for this) will pick me up. Communicating was a bit of a challenge since everyone I meet does not speak English and there were no foreigners (ang moh) around. I managed to find the bus counter only to find out that I missed the bus to Mori and had to wait for another 4 hours. Apparently there are only 3 services to Mori a day. Kevin had given me the name of my destination in Japanese and thank god I bought that piece of paper with me, cause I forgotten to bring my ‘simple Japanese’ book and I cursed myself for that.
Since I got 4 hours to kill, I figured I might as well walk around the town, besides the train station was not heated and I need to warm myself. I leave my backpack in the locker and started scouting the station to see what’s interesting. The station’s information office had flyers of interesting place to visit in Yuzawa but unfortunately everything in Japanese. Not a single document in English. I saw a flyer which I figured the museum and decided to find my way there. The weather was cold and it was also drizzling, and again I cursed myself for leaving my hat in the backpack in the locker, lucky I did not take off the hood of my jacket. The town was quiet, not many people outside, probably because of the cold weather, making it difficult for me to ask for direction. I went into a local inn with a hope to find a direction. The reception clerk seems to understand what I was saying and he walked me outside and with sign language, showed me to head straight to his right. He made a gesture that the museum is just nearby. I decided to just head straight. When there was no sign of the museum, I went in the next building (a shop) to ask for direction. The shopkeeper also seems to understand what I was saying and like the clerk, he walked me outside and showed me to walk straight to his left! The clerk showed me right, and this guy showed me left when their building is on the same side of the street and only 5 minutes apart. It was a fruitless attempt as I couldn’t find the museum (remember, I am directionally challenged). I just walk around the town and decided to call it quit when it started to rain. It was really cold in that unheated building, I didn’t even take off my glove. I only found out about the heated waiting room ½ hour before my bus depart, but by that time I was too worried I might miss the bus and decided to wait in the cold instead. I didn’t miss the bus.
My communication with the bus driver was very interesting since he doesn’t speak an ounce of English. When I boarded the bus, I ask ‘Morimiyanohara?’. He nodded. I am the second passenger to board the bus. I choose to sit in the middle near the exit, in case the bus got crowded (since there are only 3 services a day). I was quite worried that I might miss my stop since everything is in Japanese and I will not be able to identify my stop. I approached the bus driver again ‘sumimasen, could you please let me know when we reach Morimiyanohara…..’ I even said it slowly hoping that he will miraculously understand English, but to no avail. Finally I resorted to sign language and he replied with a puzzled look. I showed him kevin’s direction and kept on pointing at it. I finally sat down hoping that I have subconsciously embedded the name of my stop in his head. After a few minutes, the driver walked towards me and started asking in Japanese, which I replied with the same answer, ‘Morimiyanohara’. From the look on his face I can tell that he was quite concern whether there will be anyone to pick me up, where will I stay and where in Mori…This is when I told him my final destination is in sakae-mura, the village where I’ll be staying and he nodded and went back to his seat. There were only 3 people in the bus when we depart (that’s how remote the area is). The journey to Morimiyanohara took an hour and the scenery was amazing as the bus made it’s way up the mountain with snow covered hills and frozen stream along the way. The bus stopped at a few villages before finally arriving at the last station, Morimiyanohara. I paid the 800 yen fares and saw Kevin approaching. I am quite sure there can’t be many ang moh in this remote village.
To be continued………
