Pushing our Boundaries, Part 1 of Many

Writing from the home of Maiko, a wonderful Japanese girl from Couch Surfing who we are staying with in Shimonoseki (our departure point for China)...

Since our last blog, we have had the following exciting experiences (some of which we will elaborate on):
1. Slept in 2 parks
2. Slept in a hotel - 2 showers in less than 8 hours
3. Cleaned our laundry
4. Visited Shaka-In in the pouring rain
5. Emily rode a bike!
6. Used an underground tunnel to cross between 2 Japanese Islands
7. Figured out how to actually GET to China
8. Discovered (a la Chris Columbus) "Peanut Creme"

To elaborate...

1. The first park, in Osaka, we slept at the top of a slide (allowing for easy departure the next morning). Why did we sleep in a park, you ask? Where else can you sleep for free -- and where else will you meet nice homeless drunk Japanese old men whose friends buy you ice cream and sushi? When ALL you have to do is listen to one of them lecture you -- in complete japanese -- for about an hour about something involving friendship, Yakuza, and martial arts? Exactly.

4. Shaka In: After arriving in Kumamoto and taking two buses over two hours to the foot of the steps leading to Shaka-In, we finally found the place that looked like the Japan of our imagination. Small villages, beautiful countryside, many rice paddies all surrounded the small city of Kumamoto -- green, vibrant beauty everywhere. The reason that we came to Japan was to visit the temple where our martial art was founded, which lay at the top of the longest staircase in Japan -- 3333 steps that now streched out before us. Climbing these steps was meant to be a personal challenge, an obstacle that must be overcome to reach the temple, and so we each climbed seperate from the other, to rejoin at the top -- the experience was to be different for both of us. We wont share what it meant to us to do the climb, as the thoughts and emotions were individual -- but we reconnected at the top in the pouring rain, to make our way around the mountain to the actual temple of Shaka-In.

Next to the sign marking the entrance to the temple grounds was a peace pole -- which Em's dad used to make back in the states, and which Em had been thinking about for much of the trip and hoping to find. The presence of such a symbol, proclaiming "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in 4 different languages (English, Japanese, French, Spanish), was fitting for the sacred temple which we were at the foot of.

It was a very humbling experience to enter the place where our martial ancestors first envisioned the way of life interwoven with the martial art that is Kosho. The energy of the place, over 1200 years old, was unreal, ancient and powerful. It was awe-inspiring. We enjoyed lunch sitting on a bench beside the old wooden gate, before each finding a stone to take with us (and Jeff, if you're reading, we found you one too). Our long journey down the stairs was accompanied by an increase in the volume of rain pouring down on us, turing the stairs into waterfalls and filling our socks, shoes, and drenching every exposed inch of skin/clothes.

It is always important to know your history, where you come from, what your roots are. We would highly encourage that if you ever get the chance, you go to whatever place it is that your ancestors rest and treasure that moment, as we will remember this part of our journey always.

5. Emily rode a bike down a busy street half way between Osaka and Kyoto -- which was terrifying, as this was really her first excursion on a bike. She did a wonderful job, not running over any people or being run over -- a feat of pure daring! Much easier ride once we got to the park of our destination, where we spent a few hours reading,　writing, playing cards... and of course biking around. Sure, Em has a few bruises for the experience and was quite sore the next day, but an overall positive experience was had by both of us!

6. Today, our CS host Maiko took us around Shimonoseki (which is the very last city on the southern point of Honshu), and over to Moji (the very first city on the tip of Kyushu) via the Kanmon tunnel, an underwater tunnel passing under the straight between the two islands. It was marvelous to be able to walk around and talk to her, learning more about the religions of Japan (Shintoism and Buddhism), looking for extra-cute toys, and comparing cultures. Maiko is a great new friend, who we will always remember and who we hope we will meet again someday! She also let us shower and do laundry AND fed us -- extra bonus points. She is a card-shark, beating us (especially Emily) at both new games we taught her.

8. We tried to buy peanut butter, bread and bananas for an easy lunch -- no cooking when you sleep in a park -- and thought we had succeeded. With excitement, we broke into the packaging of the peanut butter... only to discover what we later came to call Peanut Creme. Basically, peanut butter and sugar -- a carmel like consistency. Delicious... or oishi, as it is in Japanese. We ate it on ice cream yesterday :).

Finally... if any of you want to send us ANYTHING, our friend in Thailand has offered her address as a place where you can send stuff that we will pick up once we get there (sometime toward the end of July/ start of AUgust). Please be sure it will arrive on time (so send it soon), and remember that we have to carry it. Special requests include money, travel games and lonely planet guides for any country after Thailand -- India, Central Asia (The 'stans), Turkey, and Greece are suggestions. THe address is below -- just mark somewhere on the box that it is for JEss Scott. And communicate using the blog so that you guys dont send the same stuff. THanks!!

Alison Schaffer
Khon Kaen University
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
English Department
123 Mitaparb Rd.
Khon Kaen, Thailand
40002

Sunday we leave for 2 days on a ferry to China, where everything will be cheaper (prompting less sleeping in parks, Moms and Dads) . We are extremely excited to go to our next country, which we know so little about. Happy 4th of july, you Independant country people. Shoutouts to people who love peanuts, as well as to our friends and loved ones. We are World Travelers Scott and Kirschner, signing off. Sayonara!