Exhaustion.

There are many levels and forms of exhaustion. Post-exam exhaustion. Post-marathon exhaustion. And then there's sheer, travel induced exhaustion. It took me 24 hours to get to Tokyo Haneda airport including all travel time. On my flight from Singapore to Tokyo I was sat next to the only man on the plane who insisted on having his reading light on and on the aisle. I tried sleeping for 4 hours, once I finally fell alseep at 3.30am Australian EST, I was woken up 20 minutes later for breakfast (incidentally the last meal I had). Waking up was difficult but then I got a rush of energy once I got my rail pass and began to tackle the Japan Rail at peak hour. I have never felt so white, I have never seen oceanic waves of people moving towards me and I have never eperienced such selfless kindness in my life. In my time at the Haneda station, I had a Japanese-Irish woman and her young son push me through the crowds and take me to the beginning of my station while chatting to me, then I had an older Japanese business man pull out of the crowd ask me if I needed help when I was standing in the middle of it looking confused. Every service member I have asked has been friendly and tried their hardest to communicate in english for me!

I finally got on the Shinkansen (bullet train). I went on the TGV in France but I already knew the countryside, this was another level. The man next to me realised I didn't know I could recline my chair and helped me to so, out of the kindness of his heart and I'm positive that despite my best deoderant efforts, I probably smelled with a 20kg pack on my back. Looking out the window (when I didn't accidentally fall into a deep sleep), I saw incredible green mountains, and sprawling cities. The houses closest to the tracks looked unfinished but like they could fit a lot of people in a small space which is much more cost effective. It took about 3 hours on the Shinkanshen to get to Kyoto, from there I was shown how to get the bus but I couldn't bring myself to, so I caught a taxi for about $10 (worth it) and got to my hostel. In broken english, I discovered my room wouldn't be ready until 3 so I got my stuff together, dumped my pack and on my way out, was told my room was ready! The room has enough space for me, the bedding is potentially made of rocks but I have a (distant) view of the mountains (see pic) and a bit across the city and the street below me which makes it more than worth it. Plus, I lived in a smaller room with dirtier, smaller facilities at college for 2 years! At about 3pm after a long shower and in total, 32 hours of travel - I set an alarm for 3.30 to go and do some grovery shopping and get some food and plan for tomorrow (and write this blog). In a twist of fate, my alarm didn't go off and I woke up at 6:45am which leaves me where I am now.

My plan is to get changed, go and get some breakfast downstairs and work out how to get to the bamboo grove in Arashiyama today - maybe meet some of the travellers downstairs! Unlike in France, no one is particularly impressed by my being Australian which is a weird relief but everyone seems a impressed by my adult rosy cheeks which is new but fun! Anyway, time to start the day! Will update about todays adventures tonight.

xo Rach