1.5 months, 2230km, 26 rides - I have successfully hitched rides around Kyushu, and from Fukuoka to Yokohama. It has been such an incredible, inspiring, spiritual and unforgettable experience, from months of researching, feeling all worried and anxious before the trip, meeting good (and strange) people during the journey, receiving endless kindness and hospitality from every driver, always getting lost in the middle of beautiful countrysides, listening to my instincts, thinking and plotting routes on the go, to sitting here in Yokohama, looking at my maps, thinking back about it. Wow, that was one hell of a gutsy travel method I have done. Completing this journey has also strengthened belief in myself. It doesnt matter if Im a female or not, solo or in pairs. I wanted to try hitch hiking, and granted that many places are unsafe for females but that doesnt mean it is completely impossible in this world. Cant do it in America or Europe? Do it somewhere else then - Japan! This journey is a good example to everyone out there that anything is possible if you truly put your heart into making it happen. One of my reasons for leaving my office job and choose to travel in Japan is to feel hopeful about the world and people again, and through this journey, I am overwhelmed by this very hope. There are still good people in this world. All you need to do is to break down that wall barrier, open your heart and mind, and you will be surprised by how wonderful people can be. Of course, not everything was smooth. I encountered a couple of touchy and strange drivers but it has taught me how to protect myself. I was lost countless times, but I trusted my instincts, think and look for street signs. There was no time to hide in a corner and weep. Dont expect anybody to come and comfort you. You got to pick yourself up and keep moving forward, no matter how tiring the journey was. You will pick up the momentum again, and come back as a stronger person. I will never forget this leap of faith I have made. I will be hiding in the mountains of Chichibu for the next 2 weeks. Taking a train up, because there is no way to get out of Yokohama to Tokyo since they are too close to each other. Its time to be zen and rest my mind for a while, before coming back down to Tokyo and party and socialising again.
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:34:35 +0000
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