Days 22-29: 22-29 April 2009 (Fukushima)

LOCATION: FUKUSHIMA
MOOD: LISTLESS
LISTENING TO: CANIBUS – MY NAME IS NOBODY

GRATEFUL DAYS:

I woke up early on the morning of the 22^nd and, having packed my bags and said my goodbyes the night before, quietly got changed and left my friend's apartment to start the long trip back to Fukushima. I went down to the 7-Eleven to pick up breakfast and then waited in the brisk morning chill for the bus to Kyoto station. From Kyoto station I hopped onto a kousoku bus to Osaka Itami airport and caught a flight back to Fukushima. I was home by lunch.

On the topic of food, this was our first (and to date our only) foray into cooking. It was supposed to be fried rice.

This mess would actually have been justified if we had produced something good, but it was an instructive experience nonetheless.

I have to say that it was nice to be back in Fukushima, even though I had really enjoyed my two weeks in the Kansai region. I had been eating haphazardly, sleeping irregularly and travelling intensely for the whole 14 days, and it felt nice to be able to just chill out and recuperate before heading out on my next journey. I was next scheduled to head off on the 8^th of May, meaning that I had two weeks to relax.

As a result of that first attempt at cooking I've since gotten most of my lunches from this takeaway place down the road from Henry's apartment.

Contrary to popular opinion it is possible to cheap out in Japan. A filling meal like this sets you back 390 yen (around six dollars).

Slightly more expensive (still under 500 yen), but every now and then you need to have a bit of meat.

The first week (essentially the remainder of March) was spent between arranging my next trip (finalising my itinerary and booking accommodation), going out for meals with Henry, catching up on blog entries and raiding Henry's internet connection. Fibre optics are standard in Japan (even in a backwater like Fukushima), and there are no download limits. The opportunity was just too good to pass up. I'm really not looking forward to returning to Stephen Conroy's Australia.

Boredom is the mother of all randomness.

The week wasn't entirely just food and computers; we also visited the neighbouring city of Koriyama (the largest city in Fukushima) and had dinner with Henry's Japanese supervisor and her husband. All in all it was a nice relaxing break from the hectic pace of life on the road, and by the end of it I was well acquainted with the local area and Henry's love of buffets (we went to about four).