Journey of Discovery

Well, this is it. I’m back at Narita Airport, where my entire trip began, and where it shall also end. I don’t know what to think, say, or feel! I know that this will all be part of what I call post-travel depression, but I know that, with time, I’ll get back to my old exciting lifestyle that I had back home. I’m only 23, I have loads of time left to travel and visit friends that I’ve made on this trip.

Looking at it now, things look to be promising when I go back home. I’m making a lot of options for myself so that I don’t end up stuck in limbo, waiting for something to happen. I’m going to continue studying Japanese with OJLS, I’m going to take a photography course (not that I want to make a career out of it, but something to do as a hobby), I will broaden my technical skills by teaching myself about Adobe CS4, and maybe go back to school, either to study law or to become better with numbers. I still have an interview with Interac Network when I get back, and if all fails back home, I may very well take the teachig position available in Japan. Like I said, I need to make some options…

Even though my trip ends today, this won’t be my last blog post. There are elements to discuss regarding a homecoming after 5 months of traveling abroad, and I want to share those feelings with you. I’ll try to keep the material as interesting as it was when I was on the road.

With this blog post, however, I want to say my goodbyes to everyone that have made my trip so grand. I can’t thank any of you enough for all that you have done for me. Goodbye Zin and Jumi, your hostel remains one of the highlights on this trip; Goodbye Pilar (David, Knut, Diogo, and Justin), I’ll see you all at the next flight competition; Goodbye Ella, Baimei, Sabrina, and Nancy, Sims’ would not have been the same without your sparkling personalities! Goodbye Sim and Maki, your hostel is on the top of my list, and your service and hospitality remains unmatched! Goodbye Daniel, your drive and motivation will surely lead you to success. Always work hard and aim high! Goodbye to everyone I met at Club 88 and Babi Club, thanks for ALL the free drinks! Haha! Goodbye Martin, I’ll pop in next time I’m in Japan. Goodbye PADI crew (Loes, Linda, Margheritta, Hannes, and David), best PADI crew of life! Goodbye Anne and Ning, thanks for the wild nights on Samui! Goodbye A, I will see you again one day. Goodbye Bovi, may your sadness only last a day as it had in the past. =P Goodbye Nozomi, think of me when you’re sailig around Antarctica! Goodbye Samita, thanks for making life in Kathmandu a little easier for me. Goodbye Pierre and Geneviève, Montreal’s not too far away, expect a pop-in! Goodbye Rob, thanks for the mind-busting strikes to the brain!

Now, there has to be some special shoutouts here. Maz, my first real travel friend. Our meeting was pure coincidence, seeing as how when we met, you were supposed to be trekking in the Japanese Alps, but we ended up meeting in a small Takayama Temple instead. I consider myself fortunate though, you’ve seen so much of the world and I’m glad to have been part of some of your adventures. You stuck with me through the best and worst: missing my boat to Shanghai, my unbelievable sickness on Tiger Leapig Gorge and pretty much all of Yunnan, etc. There’s so much, and it’s all been great. Good luck with your future, I’ll see you on the Gold Coast.

Max, what can I say. It’s always good to meet some fellow Canadians when traveling, and a privilage to meet one such as yourself. What haven’t we been through? Pain, diving, expensive dinners, nice suits, wild nights, improper dress (I.e. Sandals), frustrations, drama (oh, the god damned drama), but all of it makes for some solid memories that we’ll have to go over one day over a beer in the ski lodges of Kicking Horse! Count on it buddy!

Tony and Lindsay, geez… I’m completely speechless! Some of the funniest times on my trip were spent with you two. Honestly, is there such a thing as an unfunny British person?I’m going to miss the witty, sarcastic, and intellectual puns, jokes, and comments. Tony, you made me fall for soccer, which I shall forever call football. Lindsay, you put up with Tony and I’s shenanigans, when most other women would surely lose all hope and faith in men. Brokeback? Oh yeah, we went there! Haha! I can go on and on, but I have to save some stuff for the wedding speech! Good luck with eveything you two, I’ll see you both in July!

Finally, Megumi and the Okabe family in Nagoya, Japan. You took me in your home without even knowing me! Your hospitality was second to none, Akiko-san’s food was divine, and Nagoya ended up not sucking as much as I had originally thought! Megumi, thanks for everything. You ended up being not so boring and weird after all (well… Maybe still weird! =P). Don’t forget to say goodbye to Anko for me. As much as I WON’T miss her, she still provided some entertainment. Oh, I wasn’t able to tell you this in person, but I wanted you to know… I’m fucking Matt Damon!

This trip would not have been the same without all of you. So, one last time, thanks to all of you. You have been immortalized in my memory (and on this blog).

Time to fly… Sayonara, Bai-Bai, Sawatdee Krup, Namaste!

-LL

P.S. It’s almost time for my flight………… BACK THROUGH TIME!!!