Two days into my brief summer, my body has not, and will never, adjusted to the tenacious heat or the humidity. Words such as uncomfortable, overwhelming, sweltering, and the like, cannot possibly hope to describe what it feels like to walk through the hell known as summer in Japan. It's like a living in a sauna, steam rising from your pores as sweat cascades into your clothing. And what could be worse than the "Trying to work up a sweat" old men crowding the saunas of the world, you ask? The Japanese people crowding your every possible line of sight, wearing pants, jackets, hats, leggings, and any other article of clothing that would cause me to perish if i were to even get too close. And to make things worse, hardly anybody seems to have broken a sweat. There I am drowning in my own filth, watching Japanese person after person comfortably stroll by in layers of clothing, without a single bead of sweat to be seen.
Three days ago marked the genesis of my travel chaos. Nearly two days of nonstop hassle caused by the inability to check in until 3 hours prior to my flight, culminated when some unknown barbarian threw my travel companion (Ashland Co-op water bottle) in a toilet full of pee. I spent nearly eight hours waiting in Christchurch, before flying up to Auckland where a 10.5 hour layover awaited me. (In the midst of which my bottle was violated in the worst way) After a hectic check in I was finally able to board the 777 bound for Japan. Exhausted from countless hours attempting to sleep on a bench bathed in the golden glow of the MacDonald's arches, I allowed myself to be herded down the floating tunnel into the bowels of the aircraft.
In all honesty, after a miserable experience in the airports of New Zealand, the flight to Japan with Air New Zealand was a thing of beauty. An incredible movie selection, touch screens, games, and reasonably comfortable seats. Even the food was palatable. Being airplane food, my expectations for it were rather low, yet I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised.
So here I am, sitting at my computer trying not to drip sweat on the keyboard, anticipating a busy yet very exciting two weeks of visiting friends and family.
Welcome to hour upon hour of waiting to sit for another 10 hours...
down, up, up, straight up.
Where's Wall-do?
Still dark, the airport begins to stir...
" 'scuse me" - As i stick my elbow in my neighbors face to take some photos.
Gigi taking the shopping home
