#15: Escapade

Day 15 of 30 days writing challenge

Escapade

If I want to run away, I will go somewhere far where I don't have to think about tomorrow. Anywhere but here. 

Punthuk Setumbu sunrise, Magelang

A contemplation 

When I was in a mess at the past, I traveled somewhere alone just to find peace. At that time, there were two places that I went to: Hokkaido and Jogja, on different time and occasion.

Why Hokkaido?

In a winter, about 3-4 years ago, I went there alone. Always been on my bucketlist, Hokkaido seemed like a winter wonderland to me at that time. Took a cheap flight, transit in Kuala Lumpur continued to Sapporo. But too much snow for more than three days, especially alone, seemed a bit off. My ex let me went there alone. Always been a naïve person, never did I suspect that he's actually an avid womanizer (but that's for another story).  

Anyway, Hokkaido's not as lovely as I thought it would be. Too cold, the people too, way too cold. And the winter snow sculpture festival already over at the time I arrived. And as a foreigner traveling alone, I always got that look, not that I mind though. The immigration was curious (because I traveled alone) and I got questioned for two hours, and finally got released because they realised I'm just a normal Japanese enthusiast (read: weebs), thanks to my Doraemon keychain and my broken Japanese. At that moment I wonder did I just experienced racism or Islamophobia or both? Been questioned before in Narita on a field trip at a course because of my hijab and always wonder how severe it is about diversity issue in Japan? It's human nature to be suspicious (?). 

Anyways, regardless the loneliness and bitter people I met there, I did some amazing experience there: went to my first onsen (Japanese hotspring). It's like in a farm/resort(?) outskirt of Sapporo. Had a snow-sled banana boat and some interesting snow experience for a day (sat in an Igloo while drinking hot cocoa). It was a day trip, and I was there with 3 Chinese people, on a small group with different reservations (I was alone obviously, and there's 3 of them). 

Having an impulsive getaway alone without anyone to think about was really relaxing, because you don't have to think about anyone or in charge of anything except for yourself. I even experienced my first blizzard there in Otaru, a town by the sea, and nearly got lost for following a crow's footprints. Luckily I salvaged in a nearby familymart, where I ordered a 100yen coffee, just to keep warm. And after that, I ate full all-you-can-eat jingisukan (a famous Mongolian buffet, signature Hokkaido food I think, other than ramen of course) in winter (it was supposed to be a summer food, but while there why not?) Btw, Otaru Canal was lovely, but since I was alone and it was super freezing 😂😂😂 and I went too to the orgel museum, where it was full with Chinese tourists.

 

Maybe in another time I will go there again during more proper season, and of course hopefully the pandemic is already over. It will be nice to have another escapade.

Why Jogja?

Even before I'm with a Jogjanese like now, always feel Jogja as my happy place. Eventhough it will be hard if you can't speak Javanese (you'll got overcharged every now and then, because you're deemed as a tourist, hence the price), but the romantic atmosphere was always there. Might not showed, but actually I'm a quite romantic person. Lol.

The most absurd escapade there was when I went to Jogja for doing 5k Run on Jogja marathon event. If you know me, you'll know I'm not into running. But I actually won a ticket from Garuda for participating in Jogja marathon (though I know my limit, 5k is more than enough for me). So I practiced running everyday. Like literary everyday, no matter it was sun or rain, I kept on running for about 1.5 months everyday before the event. My ex was indifferent, as always, and never cared what I did (it's a sign obviously, if you have a spouse that has zero interest in your life or feelings whatsoever, it's a red flag, run.). And as you can tell, I went to Jogja alone, to run, literally. 😂. Now that I see everything clearer, obviously I was depressed but don't know why. Being married to someone, it's a must to be affectionate. It's not like that back then, should've know better. 

Where now?

Hmm. Being realistic, my escapade is now only a few steps away, to the mall up front, or the park and the pond nearby. Lol. Hardware store and the bookstore there at the mall already kinda filled me with a relief during pandemic time, though being in a mall actually exposed you to germs 😂 since I am always an easy to be pleased person. It's such a pity some people took this trait for granted. 

No fancy trip thanks to CoVid.