Tokashima to Temple 12

Better start this morning, managed to get up feeling great. Got on the train right but got off on the wrong station, ended up walking about 15 minutes to the previous station to get on my transfer train. I finally got to Bando station and started walking to the first temple. I met a very helpful man who got me to the temple, helped me pick out my pilgrimage gear and taught me the ways of the temples. After visiting 3 temples I headed towards some accommodation only to find myself lost. Luckily some very nice ladies printed me off a map and sent me on my way. Sweaty and tired I finally found the hotel only to be told no vacancies! What!?! My name isn’t Mary and this isn’t the bible, this cannot be happening. All was not lost though, I got a ride back to the train station and caught a train back to tokushima city and booked myself a lovely hotel. Hopefully tomorrow will see me better prepared

Mauri, or something like that, my angel — Mouri, or something like that, my angel

Mouri(?) My angels, he pulled me into his shop and made me a green tea. He then proceeded to speak Japanese to me and then got me to write my name and where I’m from in a book. He then walked me to the temple and helped me buy my pilgrimage gear. He also showed me what to do in the temples and got me to do it until I got it right. Finally he he pointed me to the direction of the next temple. He did all this whilst only knowing a very minuscule amount of English.

He lets me know where to prayer. Thanks little dude, u are my new best friend

Don't know what it is, but it tastes good — Don’t know what it is, but it tastes good

Most of the walk today was along roads and through streets. This was one of the few times it wasn't — Most of the walk today was along roads and through streets. This was one of the few times it wasn’t

Plz universe let me be on the right bus!

I've ordered this for lunch. Don't know what it will be but I'll let you know..... — I’ve ordered this for lunch. Don’t know what it will be but I’ll let you know…..

Although I planned to get to temple 10 yesterday I only made it to temple 9 at around 5:20pm yesterday (Late start and hot day). The ladies at the temple very kindly arranged accommodation and a lift for me at a lodgings located about 3km after temple 10. “No worries”, I thought, I’ll just catch a taxi to temple 10 tomorrow morning. So this morning after a lovely breakfast the front desk person called a taxi for me, I got in, pointed to temple 10 in the map, taxi driver nodded and away we went. 15 minutes and about $30 later we arrived, I pay and as he drives away I realize he has driven me to temple 11!!! I actually don’t know how I feel about this, on one hand I’ve missed on a stamp from temple 10, on the other hand I’ve knocked off 9.7km from my walking time. I wonder if this is the universe’s way of letting me know that just because things don’t always go as planned, it isn’t always a bad thing. Or maybe the universe isn’t actually telling me anything and I should learn some basic Japanese!

12.9km up a mountain to temple 12.

Hmmmm - this doesn't look too bad.... — Hmmmm – this doesn’t look too bad….

Mountain view — Wow lovely view. I’ve still got a far way UP to go

More freaking steps, mum you would just die. I'm a bit sore and tired at this point — More freaking steps, mum you would just die. I’m a bit sore and tired at this point

You have got to be kidding me, they just keep coming and coming

Ummm....... Why is this path going downhill?? This means at some stage I have to go back up again, agggghhhh — Ummm……. Why is this path going downhill?? This means at some stage I have to go back up again, agggghhhh

A Hard Day!!

Comments

Lee-anne says

August 20, 2015 at 7:42 am

Well done Liz, love your photos, especially the one u r in with MORE STAIRS in the background……priceless.
Japan is so scenic.
Don’t tell mum but I think your story writing is even better than hers…..and mum writes a great story 🙂 I look forward to following your adventure. Keep well.

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