A couple busy weeks ago I took a trip to Kyoto by myself. There was an anxious feeling at first since I was going so far away from my friends here. Even though I often can speak to people in Nagoya in Japanese easily it was still scary. But when I got there I was able to do everything I wanted to and then some. I want to tell you why it is ok to go places alone (despite what others may tell you).

First of all you get to make your own plans without having to accommodate anyone else's interests. For example I went to the Fushimi Inari Shrine early in the morning with one of the girls staying in the same hostel. Going there together was fun, but she also wanted to go somewhere else that day and wound up leaving really soon. Fushimi Inari was the place in Japan I wanted to see the most, so I spent a good deal of time there making sure I had the full experience. If I was traveling with other people would they appreciate the same things I do? Would they get bored and want to leave when I am really getting into something? Maybe this is a selfish thing to say, but in my case I am not traveling to hang out with friends. I want to see and experience Japan as fully as I can.

The next night I ran into another girl from the hostel and we went to Kyoto Station for dinner together. Kyoto Station is huge and has a mall like atmosphere. We walked along the sky walk bridge admiring the view of the city at night. It was quiet. She said something interesting. When you travel you are always among many people, whether it be your friends, other tourists, or locals. Isn't it that you travel as a vacation from hectic life? And yet there you are among it in a place other than where you live. She said that she often does not get enough time for herself and that being on the sky walk was very relaxing. There were not a lot of people and she was enjoying spending her time slowly that night.

Getting some relaxing alone time doe’s sound nice doesn't it? I wish to spend all my trips as pleasantly as that one. ★