The distance alone is enough to deter anyone to travel by car from Tsukuba to Fukuoka and back. One way takes one across a thousand kilometer or more; round trip will be twice that distance. One is taken as well from the main island of Honshu to the island of Kyushu in Japan. Even if one has the luxury of time, a drive that takes at least 15 hours one way can certainly drain one’s energy along the way.
However, if one has time, the right company, and most especially, the enthusiastic attitude of adventure to do the drive, then the distance and the time become immaterial. Then the trip, although admittedly rather physically tiring at times, can turn out to be another precious learning and joyous journey.
The heavenly spectacles are unforgettable events as well. Upon entering Fukuoka, the deep red sun was in front of the car while the full moon was slowly rising at the back side. Upon returning to Tsukuba City, the full moon was still brightly shining at the left side while the beautiful morning sun was rising at the opposite side!
The lovely scenery turns one into an instant romantic and poet. One does not merely see the mist but a thin light curtain draped from one mountain to the other. One sees a river and realizes that tears are water that flow from rivers filled to the brim with emotions.
The long car drive can also be a delightful food trip. Every service area from Tsukuba to Fukuoka and back display the best items, including food, of their localities. Shizuoka with the famous majestic Fuji mountain boasts of delicious tea. Nagoya brings out hot flat noodle soup for the shivering early morning guests, and Okayama delights guests with freshly harvested, then roasted sweet castanas or kuri! If one is not careful about what one eats, one will end up gaining unwanted kilos one way and more, on the way home!
Then of course, there are the sights that make the places memorable. No one misses the beauty of now snow-capped Mt. Fuji. There is also the red Torii situated by the sea of Miyajima, declared as one of the world’s cultural heritage areas!
Then, the car trip can allow one’s mind to travel back in time. The sight of castles in Himeji near Kyoto and the castle of Nagoya brings one back to Japan’s feudal times. As one passes through Hiroshima, one recalls how the place was razed to the ground by bombs and one starts to pray for those who perished because of a war that could have been averted.
Then, just as quickly, one is brought back to the bustling present, with heavy trucks rushing to deliver their goods across distances. One sees the factories responsible for the growth of towns and cities. One sees the smog and pollution as well that accompany industrialization. The present global crisis is allowing everyone to rethink this particular path to so-called development.
Of course, the trip allows one to see various types of people, up, close and personal. There are the very energetic obachan or old women who happily welcome you to their just-cleaned ladies’ room. There are also the other hardworking salespersons manning the various counters in the service areas. And one will always remember the very tired but still up and about women who were serving their late customers for a very late dinner. One could not help notice that by the end of the day, in that late hour of the night, the women’s voices have become hoarse, their now tired eyes glancing at the clock, alerting the late customers not to tarry longer as the women themselves deserved to have their work completed and rush home to get their well-deserved rest.
There is, of course, the trip allows for bonding that takes place inside the car. There is the common joy of enjoying the same sights, of pointing out a new discovery or sharing stories and laughter. And there is always the happy thought that today’s travel will be tomorrow’s topic to be relished together over and over again.
The trip is also never complete without mentioning those one meets at one’s destination. The joy of reunions and the excitement over exchange and sharing of research notes and findings and more ideas! The happiness of being with those who have become part of one’s nuclear family, of spending and sharing quality time together certainly makes the car trip so precious, no matter how distant or long.
Finally, there is the rare occasion to meet our kababayans who live 15 hours, some 1000 kilometers away. No distance or time can separate Filipinos ever. There is always the instant bonding, the happy boisterous sounds of those from the Visayas and Mindanao babbling in their own language while those from Luzon temporarily listen but shortly join in the fun and laughter of the occasion.
One always returns home so much richer in experience and insights about nature, about history, about geography, about cultures, about our own people, our own family and our own selves. One also goes through the whole journey with so much appreciation for God’s creation and with so much gratitude for His blessing and grace of travel and learning.
* * *
Email: cherryb_thefreeman@yahoo.com