Let alone looked them over for anything embarrassing.
But despite these issues, I've decided to throw up day two of my adventures at Yakushima.
Day 2 – The Fun Never Stops
I woke up early (7:30) and was out of
the hostel by 8:00. I decided to take a casual stroll down to the
pier since I wouldn’t have any real time to spend in Kagoshima.
Along the main road, the city had erected innumerous statues and
plaques commemorating the important historical events that happened
in the city. Most of it centered around the Meiji Restoration. For
those of you not fluent in Japanese history, this was about the
1800s, when the Japanese Shogunate abruptly came to an end and a new
monarchial parliament was put into place.
When I arrived at the pier I took a
few pictures of Sakurajima – the volcanic island that never stops
smoking. Once I gave up on trying to get something decent I strolled
into the ferry office to discover it had left at 8:30.
Frantic, I confirmed that my ticket
was still valid for tomorrow then meandered back to the inhospitable
hostel trying to figure out what I would do in the city I had
completely written off. I also worried about my hostel bookings in
Yakushima and how well I would be able to change them.
Course, I stepped into the hostel and
was abruptly asked for my reservation. I tried to explain my
situation but the owner didn’t care, telling me that the hostel was
completely full. I thought this was odd, since my booking last night
had been last minute and when I was there only two other people were
in my dorm.
It also struck me as odd that a hostel
would be full on Christmas day when, presumably, most people would be
visiting their families.
God damn it.
I pulled out my Lonely Planet and went
searching for the next cheapest hotel. Wandered around the block
about three times before giving up (having no desire in repeating the
previous night). During my walk I pieced together all the disparate
information I had gathered about my travel.
I was caught off-guard by there only
being one ferry because there was no listed time on my ticket. I had
read in my travel book that the ferries had a tendency to cancel at
the first sign of a dark cloud in the sky and that catching the next
ferry was usually a simple task unless you traveled during Golden
Week or the summer. I also found out that the ferry ride was 13
hours!
I then realized that I had been
confusing the JetFoil and ferry as one and the same. I had assumed
the difference in my ticket prices was because Mary found me a
holiday deal and not that I was taking two different types of boats.
When I was planning my holiday, I still needed to prepare for my
climb on the day I arrived in Yakushima and I wouldn’t be able to
do this if I took the ferry.
So, I decided to just swallow the $40
ferry ticket and purchase and Jet Foil ticket. I sat in the Jet Foil
lobby, waiting for my boat to arrive (there was an amusing mix-up
between the two companies and my ticket and instead of trying to sort
it out I just decided to take a later boat with the same company as
my return ticket).
There is one other white couple in the lobby but
otherwise I’m surrounded by a bunch of old Japanese. I’m also
beginning to suspect that Yakushima won’t be as green as these
videos are suggesting.
…
Nope, Yakushima is green. And a little
rainy.
I had a brief run in with the couple
from the ferry when I rushed outside to take pictures of Sakurajima
exploding. However, I haven’t seen them since landing. Finding my
hostel was easy enough. I just had to walk down the street and turn
left. It’s a small, unremarkable building pressed up against some
sea rusted factory. The proprietor is miles friendlier than the
Kagoshima dirty one-sixth dozen and he communicates to me mostly in
Japanese. Whether this is out of consideration or necessity I’m not
entirely sure.
I stocked up on supplies before
hunkering down in the hostel for the rest of the day. My first human
contact was with a small group of Australians who weren’t very
outgoing. I focused on packing my food, showering one last time and
not reminding myself how alone I was. Also, I had to avoid the
proprietor who is trying to tell me my path is snowed in. Obviously,
if he can’t discuss the situation with me, the snow won’t be
there when I arrive tomorrow.
That’s how things work right?
My roommates began to arrive later in
the evening. The first was a very friendly Japanese man from Saitama
with acceptable English. His sunny disposition lifted my spirits and
his forthright attitude helped break the ice with my other roommate.
Though likely just starved for
company, I chatted up the young Australian for quite awhile. He, too,
is an ALT working with Interac. He’s placed somewhere near
Kagoshima in two junior high schools. This is his second year
teaching and he hopes to continue for several more. We share a
similar taste in fiction though his taste in movies and music leaves
something to be desired.
Translation: he likes noise.
Though, I have a small confession to
make. While traveling in Japan I don’t like to admit that I am an
ALT working here. I don’t know why, perhaps I feel it makes for a
good excuse why my Japanese is so terrible. Also, it avoids the
awkward “marry my daughter” moments with Japanese parents. Why I
tell other ALTs that I’m just traveling is likely just to maintain
appearances. Also, it spares having to do the same song and dance
about my company, work and the other tired conversations that often
come up between co-workers.
Dammit, I’m on vacation! I refuse to
discuss Interac for the rest of the week!
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