So This One Day............

I was in Japan. That's right, a grand total of 28 hours in the country with a travel time of 21 hours. The original plan was a three or four day trip during my winter break, but being the procrastinator and timid person that I am, I waited to make a move. I took a 45 minute ride on the subway to the bus station, bought a bus ticket down to Busan (4 and 1/2 hours) with the hopes that I would be able to catch a ferry across the sea. Within moments an older Korean woman came up to me and directed me to the ticket counter, and while there were departing tickets available for that night, it was returning that was going to be a problem. No ferries were cruising from Dec. 31- Jan. 2, and both the Dec. 29 ferries were full, which means I would have to go for one day or have to stay in Japan for an entire week. I realized I was simply not financially prepared to spend a week in Japan (quite expensive), and plus, I need more of a recovery period than half a day. So I thought the whole idea was out the window. One day was not worth it, right? I remounted my backpack, and walked out of the terminal rather upset, for I just spent the entire afternoon getting there. I thought I would just stay in Busan overnight, and see the city over the next day, but then I heard this voice (that sounded a lot like Stephanie Renaud) saying, "Just do it. You came all the way down here, don't get much vacation, and probably won't have the opportunity again. Carpe the Diem!" So I did. That same old Korean woman found me and asked, "You buy ticket? You buy the ticket?" I was asking her about prices, and she told me the special rates for child and student. I asked if there was one for teacher, and she laughted histerically. Then while I was waiting around she made me green tea and asked me how I liked Korea. Then she rushed me to the front of the line to get through security.
Japan is gorgeous. From about 8am until 8am the next day, I wondered the streets of the port town Hakata, exploring shrines and temples and street side shops. The people are ridiculously nice, uncommonly nice; so nice I felt bad for how much trouble they were going through trying to help me with directions and such. I practically had the whole town trying to find my hotel for me. I didn't even turn in for the night, just landed in a PC Bong for a few hours and walked around some more. I wish I had gotten to stay longer, make my way up the coast, and I wish I had had someone to share the experience with. I find some rather lonely times over here........but those moments have provided some needed time for reflection.