This is about kindness, strangers becoming friends, openness and the great Japanese hospitality which made me fall in love with Japan already at the airport.
The above quote is so on point to what I experienced on my travels and especially it reflects my days on Hachijo-Jima, where I met Mikis, perfectly.
How did I meet Mikis?
Just how we met is already great. We both did a Vippassana retreat in Chiba together, meditating in the same place for 10 days. In absolute silence. No phone, no books, no electronics. On the last day the so called „noble silence“ is lifted and of course I talked to many people on the course to share the experiences. Also the other participants, which were mostly Japanese, approached me filled with curiosity and with many questions I happily answered. We laughed and shared stories of pain as the last day is very joyful after 10 days of hard work on your inner self and the ability to speak again.
So, it happened that also Mikis and I had a chat. As soon as he revealed he is living on a remote island, 11 hours from Tokyo, my curiosity got awakened.
See for yourself how life is in the sea far from Tokyo and what beauty it holds. meet: Mikis!
]]>Why is it so quiet Martin?
Was I just too busy taking pictures, hanging in the Gobi Desert or on my way to China? Yes. A bit of everything. As I´m now in China and spent my last days in Beijing, make sure to watch the video below because it is really bad and explains a lot why Im not posting anything new right now!
Hope you had the same fun watching as we had making this video. David and I were laughing so hard, and that this is something you pay for killed us even more. 30 Yuan well spent.
Now seriously. The reason for the long absence of posts is quite simple. In Mongolia everything is very touristy, since you have to go on organized tours and the capital Ulan Bator wasn´t just my thing. So no real chance of meeting people apart from brief chats. and I didn´t feel the vibe for any deeper portrait or story worthwhile telling. Im already in Shanghai right now and rest assured, I have one thing coming in Japan and I´m sure the next story awaits there beginning of Ocotber.
In the meantime enjoy the above video one more time and some pictures in the gallery have been added.
See you soon!
Martin
https://youtu.be/EccbqFYyBVg