Day 66
June 5th
Takamatsu is a quaint port city. Nestled by the changing currents of the Inland Sea, this place has the charm of coastal views, but with a fraction of the obnoxious bustle. I spent the bulk of yesterday island hopping, so I’ve already seen some of Takamatsu's most notorious sites. However, there’s one sacred place that fits the tone of what I have planned today.
Within the city limits of Takamatsu, there’s a garden that’s said to be one of the most pristine in the country. The place I’m referring to is Ritsurin Garden. The plan for today was to visit the garden and quite frankly, have a bit of a rest. A few hours on the road isn’t too bad, but weeks of vagabond style moving tends to wear on your body. No amount of vending machine coffee could rehabilitate me like a good old fashioned rest day.
Before strolling through the infamous garden, I doubled down on some Udon for lunch. Surprisingly, the noodles stayed pat during the boat rides yesterday. Given the amount that I ate, I was certain that I was going to add chum to the water. Nevertheless, I found another Udon restaurant and slowly slurped through lunch.
While consuming my mid-day meal, I got a text from a fellow travel buddy (he stayed at the same place as I in Tokyo, which led to a few blurry nights). He told me that he’ll be in the region later this week, and would like to meet up. For the uninitiated, it may be a concept difficult to understand. To many, it’s a simple “wanna do something?” text. To a solo traveler, this text is a form of social currency.
As rewarding as it can be to travel on your own, it can really depress your social needs. There comes a point where seeing the most magnificent attraction loses its luster, partly because of who’s around you. I’ve been fortunate to see a litany of different sites in my life, but few of them were shared with a loved one. If there’s anything I’ve learned through these years of travel, it’s that a part of you never leaves home, no matter how far away you may be.
I’ll never trade what I’ve experienced for anything, rather, I just wish I could have had a friend at my side. Experiences like this are rare, but exploring with a pal creates a bond stronger than any adhesive. It’s why I share a unique bond with my travel friends. A trip can be arduous and lonely, but the right friend can alleviate any depression.
With lunch out of the way (and spontaneous plans made with my travel buddy), I rode over to the Ritsurin Gardens. With its origins traced back to the Edo Period, the garden has been revered as one of the best in the country. Upon initial glance, it looks like a microcosm of the country itself. The carefully manicured greenery, the peaceful ponds, and rolling hills provide the backdrop for a traditional site.
Amidst the beauty of the surroundings, there’s a number of gift shops and museums tucked onto the premises. I had no interest in any trinkets, but a shop owner did tell me of their “rest areas”. A common practice at Ritsurin, visitors can occupy these rest houses, have a beverage, and take in the scenery. Hearing those words roll off of their tongue was euphoric, as my sluggish conscience can’t resist the idea of lounging.
For a small fee, I chose the teahouse on the south side of the garden. With this view, I was able to enjoy the serene aura of the pond, with vast amounts of tea. While absorbing the serenity of my surroundings, I struck up a conversation with a couple from New Zealand. They were recently retired and finally had the means to explore, on their own accord.
We traded stories about our careers, interests, goals, etc. Considering our surroundings, it seemed like an apt time to have a philosophical conversation. In the midst of our conversation, the Mrs. asked about my loved ones. As you can imagine, my reaction was rather melancholic, yet polite. I didn’t want to open the wounds of my past, let alone with complete strangers.
The Mrs. could tell that I was apprehensive, so she rephrased the question. Instead, she was wondering what my loved ones think of my adventures. I proceeded to tell her that this wasn’t my first trip, as I’ve become seasoned to life on the road. Amidst my rambling about past trips, I realized her strategy. Without trying, she lured the answer she wanted from my mind.
It’s in that moment that I realized something. Maybe my adventures aren’t a product of curiosity but rather, a longing for new connections. I’ve always been an independent spirit, happily marching to the beat of my own Taiko. Like the thunderous group, though, perhaps the power of the experience isn’t what you’re seeing, but who you’re seeing it with.
The message was so simple, yet sincere. Have I just been longing for new experiences with old friends this whole time? I mean, I threw your itinerary to the wind when my buddy texted me during lunch. Maybe my instincts are telling me that I do need more bonding time with my loved ones. Conversations like this illuminate that point so thoroughly.
Before parting, I asked the Mrs. for her opinion of my plight. Simply put, she responded with maybe the best perspective to look through.
“Ayden, everyone has a different path in life. Yours is driven through via motorcycle and seeing new sights. For others (especially those close to you), that could be married with 3 children, rarely leaving their home state.
What you chose to pursue doesn’t mean you miss out on other life experiences. All it means is that you took the scenic route to find your way home.”
And just like that, our afternoon in the garden had passed. The hours of shaded, tea driven dialogue had seemingly zoomed into an instant. It was this afternoon where, of all places, a complete stranger helped recenter my perspective on life. I shouldn’t be so hard on my past decisions, as the road I’m on today has led to many wonderful experiences (and people). Some of those people happened to share tea with me today.
Just because you didn’t meet your wife at age 15 doesn’t mean that you’ll never find love. Just because you didn’t get the right degree in college doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a job you dislike. Just because you didn’t go on one adventure, it doesn’t mean that you’ll never get to experience anything new again.
Sometimes, I just need to remind myself that everyone’s life is different. No matter how unique my route is (compared to my friends), that doesn’t mean that my life is unfulfilled. Rather, you’ve been able to live through experiences that countless people will never get to do. Instead of lamenting over what I missed out on, I should embrace the time I have with my loved ones, and yearn to have new bonding experiences together. That’s the true takeaway from tea time today.
With my philosophizing complete, I’m calling it a day. Tomorrow, I’m making my way down to Kochi, along the Yoshino River. Thanks again and I look forward to making new memories with you soon!
-Ayden
