Day 36 - The Chūgoku 33 Temple Kannon Pilgrimage, Japan - Walking Along the Blue Sea and Through Long Tunnels - From Abu City to Susa
Day 36 - The Chūgoku 33 Temple Kannon Pilgrimage, Japan - Walking Along the Blue Sea and Through Long Tunnels - From Abu City to Susa
We started the day very early, continuing to walk north, towards Masuda.
The meandering coastal road snaked along the rocky shore, offering vast, uninterrupted views of the beautiful sea.
I am still surprised to see that there are virtually no tourists visiting this stretch of the Sea of Japan.
There is no industry here, no factories on the water, just a long stretch of very clear waters, large seaweed the size of underwater trees, small fishing villages and a very tropical feeling.
The air is fragrant with the great smell of wild jasmine, assorted colorful flowers and honeysuckle vines.
The fragrance is intensified by the sun, which makes the flowers emit even stronger smells.
There were a few tunnels cutting through the mountains, but at first we were able to take the bypass road, and climb the mountains instead. We were rewarded for our efforts by great views of the sea.
But when the road curved away from the shores of the sea and into the mountains, we had no choice but to walk through the tunnels.
It was cool inside the tunnels, which offered us a bit of relief from walking on this sunny hot day with very little shade.
Some of the tunnels were very dark and long.
One was 1.5 km and the other nearly a Kilometer.
We did have sidewalks to walk on, but still it was a little unnerving, because of the poor visibility and poor ventilation, but we did get through them and into the small town of Susa.
We arrived in Susa about 45 minutes before our return train back to Hagi, so we sat in the train station and enjoyed the fresh strawberries that we had bought for today’s snack.
Jules went to the toilet, and returned with his pants’ zipper broken.
Since his pants were an older pair of very well-used hiking pants, we decided to buy him a new pair of pants when we return to Hagi.
We also wanted to do our laundry, because our Ryokan hotel did not have a coin laundry.
After we got back in Hagi, we walked to Uniqlo, a clothing store that sells everyday clothing from underwear to coats.
Jules bought a replacement pair of pants, and then we went to have another lovely lunch at the Gallery Cafe in town.
We went back to the hotel, collected our laundry and walked over to the coin laundromat.
Nearby there was a cafe, and we sat there until our clothes were washed and dry.
Since we had lunch so late, we were not hungry for dinner.
But our room rate included dinner, so we asked to delay it as much as they could.
I explained that our stomachs were very full from eating a late lunch.
The response was positive.
They agreed to delay dinner to 8 pm, saying:
“Yes, I understand, but it is wonderful that your stomach is very full, wonderful!”
I was thinking about how for me, having a full stomach is not such a positive thing.
It means that I can barely move, feel sleepy and lethargic and very full.
But in a culture that knew food shortages and real hunger during the recent world wars, having a full stomach is still considered a good thing, not an uncomfortable thing.
We decided that we will eat only what we can comfortably eat, regardless of how much and how many dishes we are served.
The Kaiseki dinner was another lavish vegetarian feast.
We had many small dishes, which we just took morsels of.
We apologized to our attending hostess, saying that everything was delicious but we were just too full.
When we finished our meal, she asked to enter our room, and said that since this was our last night in the hotel, she would like to sing us a song.
She handed me the words to the song, and proceeded to sing the song in a lovely voice.
Jules was clapping along and I was so touched.
How often do you sit in a private dining room and get a lovely older lady in a beautiful Kimono, singing you a sweet song?
I was thinking about the limiting concept of “difficulty.”
I noticed that when I have been really exhausted on this pilgrimage, and if I happen to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror or in a shop window, I look old.
But when I am fresh and energetic, rested and in alignment with my Spirit, I look timeless.
I was thinking that since the physical eyes “see” only the past, when I see myself as old, I really see myself as rundown and tired.
In the Onsen, I looked around me at the naked women.
The ones that looked old, did look tired.
Perhaps old age is not much more than a person feeling tired and exhausted from life....believing that everything is difficult to do.
Difficult to move around, difficult to make money, to enjoy life, to dream of a fabulous future....
Never believe it is “difficult” to enjoy your life.
At any time in your life, you can decide that you can enjoy great health, or great abundance or loving and nourishing relationships with others!
How could this be otherwise, when you have within you the power that creates worlds?
Why do old people develop cataracts in their eyes?
“Because sadness clouds the eyes!”
We are Beings of LIGHT, and we are able to influence all events in our lives by altering the energy patterns inside us, by adjusting our thoughts and choosing our feelings, by adjusting our words and actions to align with the frequencies of great health and well-being.
As Light Beings, we must consciously continue to raise our vibrations.
Time and counting the years, are not real but are a part of the Maya, the world of illusions.
Remember this:
You are birthless, deathless, joyful, blissful, an ever glorious Soul!
With love and bliss,
Tali
Daily Stats:
Steps: 34,654 steps
Distance Walked: 25.5 Kilometers
Active Walking: 6 hours
Total Time: 7 hours
Total distance walked on the pilgrimage so far: 740 Kilometers
Temple Visited: None
Accommodation: Senshunraku Hagi Onsen Ryokan
A large Hot Spring hotel, with spacious Tatami mat rooms, very attentive and personable service, serving good dinners and breakfast.
Has a nice salty indoor and outdoor hot spring pools.
