Never let anyone tell you that climbing Mount Fuji is easy...and never let anyone tell you it isn't worth it all to stand at the top and look down...

From my paper traveling journal:

30 July 2002
Camp Zama, Japan
~1950
Mt. Fuji. there is some sort of old Japanese proverb, something along the lines of, "It is a fool that never climbs Mt. Fuji. It is double the fool who climbs it twice." Truer words have not echoed so resiliently to me in the last few years. The ascent is not a walk through the woods. The trail often times climbs straight up the volcano, amongst rocky crags requiring sure footing. The height causes altitude sickness, and Doc carried two bottle of pure O2. We began the climb at 2130 (ed. note, I went with a group of other people from my unit as a morale and welfare function) and I made it in seven hours, just in time for the sunrise. It was the most welcome sunrise I've ever seen, overshadowing even the morning at the Grand Canyon (ed note, when I had hiked out of it the previous evening under a constant fear of death should I fail to retake the rim...)
The thin air affected me...I had a headache that required resting often, and nauseousness...neither of which went away until several hours (ed note, and I mean like, 12 hours) after descending the descent that we took (there are actually three trails up/down actually) switchbacked (steeply) about 1/3...then straight down (soft and thick) layers of volcanic ash and rocks the rest of the way.
I have lived in Japan. I have climbed Mt. Fuji. I have accomplished much by that. I am blessed by the opportunity, challenege that it was. I can leave this country, satisfied that I have not wasted all of my time or missed out.
Monday's jumop was scratched due to fog. I was greatly dissapointed until i saw for myself that we wouldn't even have seen the mountain whilst in the air...

Not counting the hour or so of cat naps I had going up and on the top, I was awake for 42 straight hours because of this adventure. I slept quite soundly Tuesday evening...
Wedneday we visited Kamakara--the shinto shrines and buddhist temples there. I think I am close to embracing buddhism. The only problem I had with it ealier in my life was the idea of reincarnation and "judgement" of your enlightened statues...due to it's implication of a higher power or source or being or what you will...I have grown past that stumbling block over the years...

we will see. Perhaps my "reason" (if you will believe in the whole reason for everything mindset) for coming to asia was to settle myself on this. Perhaps my insight into life and human nature has come from many many iterations of incarnation on this planet. I know I am nowhere near true enlightenment because but I am too full of myself, and too seeking in praise...I am not spiritually centered and removed from earthly desires such as admiration. I am not humble enough. I still seek the respect of my peers. A truly enlightened spirit would crave not such things. And I am even worse off because of my belief that, besides that flaw...I am close... 

current mood:  drained
current music: The Doors 
 

 
9:34p - A Few more things 
I have more stuff that didn't *fit* the flow of my last entry...

The origin of that all so hickish slang "hunky dori" originates from a red light district in Japan. Commodore Perry visited the island in the 1800s (I can't remember when exactly) and the sailors on ship found this district on Honki Dori (dori means "street"). So when asked how they were later, they'd say "Man, I'm back on Honki Dori." evocating images of happiness and an all around well being of the world... It got shortened to honkey dorrey"
I didn't see the area...this story was explained on the way to our tour of kamikara.

I rubbed the belly of the largest bronze buddha in Japan...from the inside.

We had free time Wednesday and I found myself wandering Machida in a small group...tons of shopping malls and outdoor bazaars type district. Really sweet. Picked up some CDs and tried on a Gregory Shasta...

I was right about the sizing...I'm a medium. I put the pack on and had to explain to my friends that it was normal for it to rest on my hips, and that we have "must surive an atom bomb" type of gear in the service, not "comfortable" gear.

When I took it off I felt...incomplete. For the short moments that I had it on my back, even without any weight in it...it became part of me. It gave me a really positive feeling that the altitude sickness symptoms on Mt. Fuji weened away at.

The train/rail system in Japan is the most extensive that I have ever seen. It puts San Fran, Chicago, New York, and DC all to hideous shame.

It is good to be home. So very very good...the trip offered up a LOT of frustration--mostly due to transportation problems that had us waiting four to five hours...on more than one day...

and still...it was all worth it, of course. I look forward to my visit next year with D...

but if he wants to climb Fuji I'll have to respectfully bow out and let him go his own happy way alone ;) 

current music: _Almost Famous_  

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