
I've been listening to a lot of cello music recently. Yoyo Ma, Elgar, Damien Rice, etc.
I don't know why, but it seems to help when I'm studying.
Cello; great for drowning out the voices in your head :o)
And at the top they showed me a couple of random rope swings. We had tones of run. Those crazy bears are as mad as me. After an afternoon of playing around I impressed them even further by sharing my cup noodles and flask of hot water. I can still see the cute expression of amazement on Daddy Bear’s face when I opened the flask and the steam wafted out into the cold autumn air. Adorable!
I made my way back alone, happy and fearless. I’m now welcome to hike in any part of the mountain I like, and they’ve even honored me by asking that I check over the place once in a while as they’ll be hibernating soon.
---------------------------------
This story is a work of fiction. Please do not worry or inform my doctor.
'Mirror, mirror on the wall'
"Please don't kill me Hunter" Here comes the Prince to save the day
Shortly after my homerun, Yuta, one of my favourite fourth-graders came running over and said ‘You are God’. I laughed, thinking he was trying to say ‘You are good’. I corrected him, but he was adamant. ‘You are God’, he said again. I enquired further to which he said 'kamisama' which is the Japanese word for God. It was hilarious. I don’t even know where he learned it. Sure, I’ve taught that class ‘You are............’ followed by many flattering adjectives. But I’ve never taught them about God or even that word, so it was really funny. Then again, maybe little Yuta is smarter than I think and he’s taking the Mickey out of my long hair and beard. Photos: The Grade 4 Trouble Makers(bottom), Soccer/Baseball(middle), A big PEACE from Grade 2's Ami Chan(top)
This was to be my fifth time to climb Kurikoma-san, but my first time alone. Arriving at the carpark, I seen the weather wasn't so great higher up. But that was cool, I've already seen all the views and I was just out for some thinking time (what's the meaning of life, how can I save Africa, will I ever be able to grow a proper beard, etc).
I climbed the whole mountain from top to bottom and only saw three other people. The ending of the leaf-viewing season and the gathering clouds seemed to keep everyone away. It was perfect. I had a nice slow dander, stopping when I liked to take photos or make a hot coffee. It's gotten pretty cold here in Japan this last week or two and I was glad I packed my beanie and fleece. Hibernation time I think. Also my fear of bears seems to have subsided (maybe because of my new teddy bear) and I was able to relax and think about what to do next year.
The final section to the top was covered in dense mist/cloud. It wasn't unpleasant, just a little eerie. But when I finally made it to the top, it was actually quite spooky. Every time I've been here before, even when there were very few people on the trails, there where always large groups up top. This time, however, there was no-one. Not a single person. There was no view at all and even the summit post and direction signs were difficult to see. And the wind was picking up a bit too, making it all seem like something from a scary movie.
I found myself a sheltered spot and made some hot noodles. It was surprisingly relaxing, surrounded by mist and wind, being the only person on top of my favourite mountain. With my fleece and hat and rainproof jacket, and all the things you don't appreciate unless you've been stuck without them before, it was like being in my own little coccoon. Just waiting to become a beautifull butterfly. Waiting and waiting and waiting...
So there’s me driving all over the place to climb mountains not even realizing there was one in my own backyard. Now don’t get me wrong, I knew it was there, I’m not that daft…….(pause for thought/self-questioning). It’s just that I thought it was inaccessible because it appeared to be in the middle of a bunch of mountains. But as it turns out there is a road. Bumpy as hell, it’s the kind of ‘road’ you’d only drive in a Land Cruiser or an eleven year old Daihatsu hatchback. Being the owner of the latter I gladly put my exhaust and madness to the test again. This mountain is called Oodogemoriyama, or something like that, and is actually in my town. At a mere 580 metres, it’s not exactly Everest. But infamous for it’s super steepness (if that’s a word), and high population of bears, none of my local friends have climbed it.
I climbed it alone on Monday. It was a beautiful afternoon with crisp autumn weather and perfect for some thinking time. Unfortunately, during my two hour hike, the only meaningful thoughts I had were ‘god, it’s steep’, and, ‘I hope a bear doesn’t eat me’. The steepness I could handle. With ropes tied to trees for most of the steep sections I could pull myself up without worrying too much about slipping on the bed of fallen leaves under my feet. But the bears, well, the bears really bugged me. I don’t mean they were calling me names or throwing paper airplanes at me like the kids in school. I mean I couldn’t get them out of my head and focus on useful thoughts like curing world hunger or what to cook for dinner (curing my hunger). Seriously, it almost became stressful at one point. Most of my hikes to date have been with other people, and usually in more open mountains. This was in the middle of the forest and the (far too) cheap bear-bell that I’d bought was bearly audible even to me.
But, alas, as this blog-post proves, I did not get eaten, or even nibbled on by a bear. However, I am buying a proper (i.e. costs more than 50p) bear-bell before climbing on my own again.
With maps like this I'll never get lost.