Tokyo, She Graces
“Find a husband. Do these trips with a husband. ”
Japan.
Have you ever travelled halfway across the world and woken up at home?
Both wild and orderly - an instant love for a place that I have never known - that was/is Japan to me. This set of photos was of my first trip to Japan, one of two solo trips I took in 2019.
Tokyo > Kyoto > Naoshima Island > Tokyo - that was the pilgrimage.
Ten days of travel on my own, the perfect Cancerian vacation. Alone with my mind and not having to speak unless I really needed to. Thoughts erupted, as colours and sounds abound rolled like waves above me. Fuck. How does a city, a country, become an addiction?
Day one, was at best, a blur of Shibuya and the cacophony of the neighborhood. From the crossing, to the way the lights would chirp as they changed, to the taxis and the people. So. Many. People. So caught up in my own moment I barely took any photos - I just wanted to live in it. And I surprised myself by how quickly everything fell into place, nothing felt strange. Just new.
Day 2.
Two in the afternoon and I decided to pray.
But first, I needed to wash the sins of the night before with tacos. Yes tacos, from an actual taqueria and it was the best fucking decision. I don’t care if it isn’t regionally authentic. My guy was legit.
Anyway, prayer was the promise I made for myself. To give thanks and perhaps have a listen and note if the Gods out here would be more receptive to my questions and curiosity.
Bow. Ablution. Clap. Bow. Clap. Pray. Clap twice. Bow.
That was the routine - questions varied.
Prayer seemed to be my course for peace of mind. From temple to temple, there was the burning of bad omens. Much like the sage I scatter across my own home or the words of Allah framed and leaning against the living room window.
And so, I’ll keep praying.
