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...The final leg of my tour is accompanied by an amalgamation of indiscernible emotions. I sat with a larger than life frown in Hong Kong International Airport as the tourism official ploughed on with her inquisition despite my obvious disinterest. Truth be told, I suppose I was glad for the distraction for I was more than reluctant to be leaving people and a country that had hosted me so well. Yes, Nick you can take that as a personal compliment! I flew, Hong Kong to Singapore, having no time to exploit the free internet and other services at Changi Airport before being swiftly hauled onto a connecting flight that would bring me here: to the home of bullet trains, technological advance, strange foods and shinto temples, where beneath the concrete jungle of buildings, lurks a scurry of life steeped in cultural traditions and a way that is, authentically Japanese. In fact, so Japanese that after seven months of solo travel across the globe, I am experiencing the most extensive cultural shock suffered thus far. At the moment I am in the big T - the capital city of Tokyo, which, I had presumed to be relatively international.

Final Leg of RTW tour

Asha Patel
2006-10-05 21:04:50

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out more hot air onto the rooftop, heating the concrete and drenching me in sweat before I'd even begun. So, in a city of 12million people, I found my space, my own piece of paradise, and practiced. By virtue of the positive energies that Ira must've left on that mat, my workout was powerful, progressive. I showered and set about my errands. Outside the laundrette I sat on a bench and became acquainted with other foreigners staying at the same guesthouse. One Finnish rockstar, and Adam. I woke Ira at 1pm and we headed to Yoyogi Park in Harajuku whilst she recounted more of her life stories that had my admiration of her multiply tenfold. She departed in the early evening for a meeting whilst I strolled the streets of Harajuku fascinated by the punk culture and extravagance of the eccentric area... Once I'd been kicked out of the coffee shop again that night, I walked along to the Senso-ji shrine that was eerily aglow in the dark. Called Anthony before going to bed.

...Rain prevented rooftop yoga this morning. That pessimistic slant to the day followed through to the failed shopping mission. I need a yoga mat. And, something to occupy my mind until I leave...Ira and I went out in Roppongi that night, though didn't make it to the Park Hyatt in time for the bar. The views were good though. As was the time spent in her company... On my final full day, I woke late, and was late for my rendez-vous with Yu. Adorably, he wasn't in the least annoyed. We went for sushi as arranged, and ate far more than we should've. But, hey-ho, we don't get sushi bars this good in England. He took me to Tokyu-Hands dept store to find rows of yoga mats, all shapes, colours and sizes. Needless to say, I spent a good 20mins deciding on colour and ended up with the same salmon pink I'd begun with. A final coffee together before we said our goodbyes. I continued on to walk the colourful Takashita-dori before my appointment. Back to the hostel for more packing, shoving and pushing into the backpack. I was watched amusingly by a new German girl in the dorm who had a dry sarcastic sense of humour that I appreciated as I'd missed it on my travels. Slept in my clothes so that a 5:30am departure was possible. Ira was out on her new job and so I hoped I could see her in the morning before I left...

...Fate assured that I did, for we bumped into each other as she was returning from work at 6:45am; barefoot, black silk dress, red shawl, ruffled blonde hair, tired eyes, and, beautiful as ever. We said goodbye, knowing that we might never meet again but glad for the amazing few days we'd spent in one another's company. The trek to the airport was something of an ordeal but I finally arrived at Narita...

-- Gate 27, Tokyo Narita Airport. Flight VS901 10:50 to LHR --

...'LHR' - those three characters that have appeared not infrequently in the pages of these blog entries. Six long months later I am either disbelieving, or simply indifferent. For I am as emotionless as the black tarmac out on the runway... The past few days of anticipation have been a tiresome blur...