The Hitch-Hiking Gospel
As I mentioned last week I met blog reader Kayne, who's leaving Japan soon. He wanted to travel to Nagoya on the cheap, and the prospect of hitch-hiking like I did in these types of stories came up. He decided to make the plunge and just a couple days later he set off on his maiden voyage...an 800km trip all the way to Nagoya! He's even crashing in net cafes and capsule hotels, hard core all the way.
His first night his driver made a detour to a Taeko drumming concert, and the next day his drivers took him to a Zen Temple to meditate...basically, the kind of wish-list cultural stuff everyone wants to do when they come to Japan, but rarely actually get to. Now it's all falling in his lap, and for free. Tonight he's in Hiroshima, and tomorrow he'll head to Osaka via the expressway, maybe hit up Kyoto or Nara...(at least that's what I suggested- I get messages from him by cell phone and live vicariously through him by texting him hitching advice and suggesting plans, while I sit at home boringly marking endless papers).
It's funny, another blog reader Gabriel will stop by next week and was wanted some travel advice here. Best advice I can give is Hitch-hike- it rules! [Well, that, and don't forget sunscreen...right Kayne? ; ) ]
1 comments:
dont forget the sunscreen when youre standing in the middle of a backwater town with your thumb out in the middle of the scorching summer sun...
yesterday was pretty cool. i got two rides to Osaka from Hiroshima. one was a young family from Kurashiki near Okayama. Their son, Ryusei (just 4 years old was so cute). He could even introduce himself in English but was very shy. The family dropped me off at the Kibi Rest Area after buying me a momento of Okayama! some きびだんご！The next ride was a man and his two sons who were coming back to Osaka after visiting his Grandmothers house on an Island near Okayama. He even offered to let me stay at their house, but I politely declined. That night I met two Japanese guys in Dotombori. I asked them where a capsule hotel was and they didnt know because they were on holiday from Tokyo. After showing me where one was, we had a drink together. After the drink they even paid for my meal and a few drinks! Astounding generosity. Now, Im pondering going to Kobe.
Kayne
Post a Comment