Sayonara Tokyo

The first breezes of autumn sweep through the city, announcing the end of my long summer. The season is calling; its time for me to hit the road again.

It has been nice to have a home for a while, with the warm blanket of familiarity and routine. It was a good break from solitude too, being surrounded by people who look after me and cared for me, both my host family and my friends. When I left Australia, I had to go through the difficulties of leaving both family and friends. Now, I have to do exactly the same thing again! I waved farewell to little Vanessa, hugged a very emotional Eric goodbye, wished Amy all the best with college, and made every Japanese person I knew promise to visit me in Australia. I hung up my apron at the pub, and Doctor, ever casual, farewells me with his usual 'See you tomorrow'.

Of the 3 months I spent travelling Japan, 2 and a half of them were spent here in Tokyo...not precisely the kind of travel I had in mind when I left home! But I have no regrets about staying here, as staying in the one place turned out to be an excellent way to travel. Here I had a chance to read books, watch movies, sit in parks, walk the dog, and have meaningful relationships with the people around me. When I left Australia, I had dreams of diving headfirst into the unknown, but it turned out to be just as pleasant to sit on the edge and dip my feet in.

The main reason I stayed in Tokyo though, was less philosophical than financial. I needed to make money! And make money I did...even with all the ridiculous excesses of my Tokyo lifestyle, I now have the equivalent of $1000 in my pocket (or to be more precise, in my money belt). I am very satisfied by this achievement, and celebrate the way any sensible, mature person would - by using making the notes into a paper fan and fanning myself with it while basking in my own richness. With my purpose fulfilled, it is time to move on.

With my bags packed and a thousand goodbyes, I'll be leaving home tomorrow morning into the big wide world. With a song in my heart, as always. 'On the road again...I just can't wait to get on the road again...'