Despite being a homebody, I’ve always loved to travel. Well, under these conditions:
It’s not too hot or too cold.
It must be a hygiene place.
It must not be crowded.
The terrain must be walkable on flat shoes or high heels.
I currently don’t have any active acnes.
Obviously the options are limited so oftentimes I would just retrieve to the comfort of my room with fast Internet, good food and good movies.
But the last 2 weeks was a crazy long national holiday in Japan so I decided to spend some of my money.
The first solo trip in my life was scheduled and I was packing for Nagano.
Arrived at Iida Station.
There was some kind of campaign? going on and we were given a heartwarming welcome from these local residents.
I was going to take a front picture of them but I was so embarrassed.
My plan was to visit Magome Juku (馬籠宿). It’s a historic post town located at the end of Nakasendo - an old trail from Edo.
Most people would get here by a regular bus that stops right at the spot. But from the hotel I stay there is no such bus so I have to take highway bus, which dropped me off at somewhere about 30-min walk from the destination.
So I hold up my camera, tripod, highed up my white maxi skirt while carrying a bulky backpack climbing some bumpy hills, through super narrow lanes to get there.
It was well worth it.
Being one of the first (or probably the first) to arrive here so I had the whold place for myself. It was around 7:30AM in the morning.
Having fun doing some stupid poses.
This was my favorite shot ↓
A meow at the counter because why not?
The park I had to get thru on my way here. So beautiful and pristine, yet no one seems to take notice. What a missed opportunity!
It’s all mine, then :)
At the bus stop that I hated.
Back to Tokyo, I reunited with Victor & Thomas, the two French guys I met at the bus stop that I hated. Victor was born in Vietnam, but at 2-month old, he was adopted by a French couple so he’s basically French. Thomas seems to be an adventurous heavy drinker. :)
We really enjoyed being both entertained and educated by one another’s cultural stories.
I’m glad that I went on this trip.