Fuji-san

So we did it.

Yup. We climbed this guy. No big deal.

And despite the slow-as-snails tour groups, the windy rain and soaked clothes, the hut that wouldn't serve us anything other than cup of noodles, and a thick, foggy cloud when we reached the summit, I really can't complain.

Cuz we did it!

Climbing Fuji was one of the simplest climbs I've ever endured. Simple, in that the descending trail is quick and easy and relatively painless (despite my one fall) to descend. Simple in that it's a trail people of all ages can summit since the perfectly cone-shaped mountain lends itself to an even, moderate climb, with a few rock scrambles in the 7th/8th stations. Simple in the food and water and toilet supply, even if the prices reflect the altitude.

It was also one of the most difficult. Difficult in its overcrowdedness. Difficult with regard to the trail-clogging guided tours that were super slow over the rock scrambles and incapable of clearing to one side of the trail. Difficult when the wind tries to blow you off the mountain and the rain makes the rocks slippery. Difficult when you have to summit in the dark in the middle of a cloud.

But, by far, I've never seen sunrise quite like this.

It was INCREDIBLE.

And unlike the Japanese proverb, I wouldn't mind doing it again. Mostly because the summit was enshrouded with fog and I'd love to see the sunrise on a clearer day. And then I could see into the crater, and maybe even do the 90 minute loop around the top.

I'm so proud of Blair for making it to the top, despite her beliefs much of the way that she wouldn't make it. And though she was slow, she was steady, and like the turtle, finished the race with ease. She even helped slow me down, in a way that prevented me from getting over-tired or rushing the experience. And though my legs are sore and I passed out for a solid 12 hours last night, the climb was really enjoyable and painless. Even if I did fall once.

We made some wonderful new friends Drew and Sina, and though we didn't really make the climb together due to sold-out buses and a mix-up with scheduling the bus home, we had so much fun with them. We slept in a mountain hut that only Heidi would have felt at home in, and "slept" snug as sardines in a can. Literally. That tight of quarters. And we met them at the summit and made the descent together, laughing and cajoling the whole way.

We even found a restaurant in town that made delicious American pancakes!

And they were nice enough to let us kill time, change clothes, and be obnoxious gai-jin there.

So I really have to say our trip was a success. And for all the wonderful memories and experiences I feel so blessed and grateful.

-- Like copying some crazy Japanese girls, having them take our jumping picture (at the top of the post), and ending up being wonderful friends with them (if only we had the picture of all 8 of us jumping).

-- Like being denied food at our hut and having to get by with a dinner of Cup of Noodles.

-- Like hearing the crowd scream "Ohayo" at the sun when it finally decided to peek its head around the giant dog-shaped cloud that was rotating on a spit.

-- Like the oohs and aahs when the mist would clear quickly and briefly at the summit and give us a view of the sunrise.

-- Like seeing the color GREEN in the sunrise for the first time I can ever remember.

-- Like spending the night at 3400 meters and not really sleeping.

-- Like climbing a mountain in the dark and having every instinct in my mountain boy body telling me this can't possibly be a good idea, and yet, not falling off the side of the mountain!

-- Like summit-ing a mountain at 3 AM in the dark in a cloud.

-- Like seeing a string of headlamps winding up the mountain heading to see the sunrise.

-- Like seeing people just huddled up and sleeping in the rain on the side of a mountain at 3 PM, 3 AM, or 8 AM.

-- Like making a new friend and only realizing, while waiting for the sunrise at the summit of Fuji-san, that we are both from the Denver area.

-- Like trying to explain to Blair to realize that I grew up climbing mountains, and so despite starting the day at sea level and ending above 10,000 feet, this wasn't exactly a new endeavour for me and I therefore wasn't struggling too badly.

-- Like comparing elements of the hike to Jurassic Park 3 and Harry Potter.

-- Like crossing off one of my ultimate "To Do's In Japan".

And best of all, the treat of eating a homemade PB&J at 3:30 AM at the summit of Mt. Fuji.

Priceless!

You can see the rest of the best of my 231 photos on facebook by clicking here.

Thanks, universe, for this incredible opportunity. I can't wait for the next adventure in Japan!

It's a Small World...

Today has been a beautiful day. One of those small-world, in-spite-of-the-language-barrier, special-connection kind of days. So, I previously mentioned the awesome ukelele lessons that have been happening and the characters are already so good! They learn things so quickly over here...

So to add to the fun, Mio-chan brought in his guitar today and it just instantly made me smile. You see, it was a twelve-string. And there's something about a 12-string that just hits that internal chord with me (no musical pun intended). My dad had one, and my favorite memory growing up is when we'd go camping, and the whole family would be gathered around the campfire singing songs for hours. It never really dawned on me till I was grown and he was gone that not every family spent their summer evenings singing around the campfire.

Sometimes, I'd come downstairs in the evening and he'd be fiddling around while on the couch. He liked that better than watching TV, so sometimes he'd have the sound on mute and just be softly strumming. And it was so intimate, that softer side of my dad that was so paternal and warm and comforting. I'd run up and sidle up next to him to enjoy. Or sometimes, once I was a teenager, I'd secretly sit in my room and just listen, because, you know, that whole teen angst thing caused me to hide my love for my dad. But I really did love it. You could catch him twiddling away on our old porch swing (that he built -- he was quite brilliant with his hands), beer in hand, whiling away the summer twilight hours. It's just so magical now that it's gone.
It's those little things, you know, the memories of those special times, him playing the guitar, wandering down to the basement while he was fixing something in the shop, or later in Houston when he'd always be working on some new way to fix up our yard.

Now, both my brothers have taught themselves to play guitar as well. But they both have 6 strings and that special 12-string, well, it's one of those special possessions we keep at mom's house so we can all come home and enjoy it. It's like a personal portal to my dad sitting right there in the living room. Safe and comfortable. For some reason, though, I haven't managed to learn guitar yet, though I know the basics of guitar playing and can figure it all out. Maybe someday I'll really play... For now, though, my problem is that I just wanna be able to pick it up and play the same way I can play the piano or sing.

So anyway, Mio-chan was playing the guitar, and I asked him if he knew "Puff the Dragon". It turned out most everyone did. And Mio figured out instantly by ear (seriously, that never ceases to amaze me) the chord progressions and jumped right in. And so I sang it and shared my favorite song of all with them. That song, the song about the dragon and the little boy, has always been the most personal song we'd sing around the campfire. And seriously, EVERY TIME I hear it or sing it with a guitar like that, especially a 12-string, I can't help but cry. It just breaks my heart, the life lesson about growing up, moving on, and leaving friends behind. I guess that's why I'm so thrilled Jordan is back in my life. Because we didn't have to go separate ways like Jackie Paper and Puff. We're the unwritten coda where Jackie returns.

I didn't cry too much, though I can't say the same about writing this post, and Za-chan told me how much it made her heart happy. But to be truthful, to share that musical experience with them, even though I can't explain it any deeper than the fact that it's my favorite song, to share that experience is why I will miss Summer Party so terribly after tomorrow.

I tried to get Mio to play "Jeremiah was a bullfrog", my other childhood fave, and he didn't know it well and we ran out of time. Like me right now... the show is calling.

But that is why today was so special. Because, even if they had no idea it was happening, we shared the memory of my dad, one of the best men I know. A fact I celebrated in my junior recital encore that you could hear here if I could figure out how to make it work... Maybe next post.

Oh. And I introduced the Nihon-jin to PBJ sandwiches which received mixed reactions. Some loved, some didn't. I don't think they understood that it was a Topher-ism to put potato chips inside to make it crunchy! But I hoped that since I've tried all their oishii food, they wanted to try mine.

I guess we're making the world a little bit smaller one day at a time!

A few of my favorite things about Japan (and one not so favorite)

My first favorite thing: Japanese children.

There is something about babies and children here in Japan that is just completely f'adorable. I don't know why they are so cute, but every time I see one, my heart melts just a little bit. There was the cutest baby in Pan Jewel the other day that I just couldn't help from giggling at with its chubby cheeks and crazy hair. Then yesterday in the course of an hour, I saw a baby on the back of a bike (pretty awesome), babies in strollers with plastic to protect them from the cool mist being pushed by grandparents, and finally children on the train... I literally got on to see two sets of kids on both sides of the train with their shoes neatly on the floor (so they don't dirty up the carpet seats) staring out the window in awe and goofing off bopping their mom on the head. When we pulled up to Maihama, the TDR station, the little boy started clapping his hands and jumping up and down on his knees saying "Mickey, Mickey, Mickey, Mickey, Mickey!" Frakkin' adorable.

Second favorite thing: Mickey and friends.

Yesterday we did our quick-change rehearsals and full dresses in the big studio for our final day before we are in the Hotel ballroom. First of all, seeing Mickey and Minnie and all our friends in their different outfits was really awesome. The show looks insanely awesome! So many colors and themes, and you really understand where we are in each scene due to the look of the costumes. Awesome. Secondly, just think about this for a second... like 10 years ago, going to the parks, Mickey was this elusive character you hoped you would get to see at the park. And here I am, singing a duet with him, singing to him onstage, hugging him, high-fiving him, etc. Pretty unreal. The little kid in me kinda freaks out that I just get to like hang out with Mickey and friends like it's NOT A BIG DEAL. For example, Donald Duck and I were goofing off yesterday before the run and he was commenting on my exceptionally long legs, so I encouraged him to crawl through! And he did, no problemo. No joke, yesterday Donald Duck and I essentially played leap frog. How many people can say that? Also, Goofy is very proud that he is still taller than me with his hat, though Ai-san pointed out that our eyes are at the same level! And I think my favorites are Chip & Dale. They are so funny in our show and I love it when they all speak in Japanese! When they bounce around and dance it just makes me giggle. Best moment, though? When I gesture to Mickey at the end of Dr. Jazz and say "Mickey Mouse!" and he laughs and says "That's me" than does a little "Boop Boop a Doop" ending. Hi-larious.

Third favorite thing: Tokyo adventuring.

Campbell and I went into Harajuku and Shibuya yesterday after work, had delicious Kebab street food, and managed not to get into trouble shopping. Though I might be back soon for that 50% off bag at TK. I'm surprised at how Western and tourist-y those areas are, though in truth we didn't stray too much off the beaten path since he was just showing me the sights and introducing me to some of his favorite things. I think I even found the hotel where Bestie and Chad stayed during WSS! That intersection is SO INSANE! I loved it. We also explored the Maronouchi buildings down by Tokyo station and he showed me some great spots to find American goods and Cold Stone, etc. I just can't believe how awesome Tokyo is!

Fourth favorite thing: New friends.

As I stopped in the Ito for my milk and cereal last night, I (re-)met Shiloh and talked all about her recent climb (the night before) of Mt. Fuji. It inspired me that maybe I will venture out and climb it today (though maybe not) or definitely before the month is out. And on the way home we ran into Eric (from BBB) and Jessica (one of the mermaids) who invited me out for my first Hub experience. Had a great night out, and found out that 2 J-size Tarantulas will mess you up pretty good when you have been rehearsing and not drinking for a week. I have to say I'm glad I'm blogging and not getting out of bed yet. I met most of the new Mystic Rhythms people, and Miles and Tony who will be my new dancers for BBB, as well as Luis from the Cirque show. Had a pretty great night but was drunk and tired by midnight so I made my way home and passed out!

Fifth Favorite Thing: BGP or Baka Gai-jin Power

Campbell introduced me to the fact that yes, when in Rome, we try to follow the rules like not crossing without the green walking man and not talking on the cell phone on the train... but we do have the power to get away with breaking conventions (and very occasionally rules) because we are foreigners and sometimes really have no idea what's going on. For example, there are vending machines on the train platform, but it is generally frowned upon to eat on the train, yet what is a gai-jin to do when he buys ice cream and the train comes a minute later? Eat on the train, and just chalk it up to BGP (translated: Stupid/crazy Foreigner Power). Stuff we'd pull in DC on the Metro as "tourists" despite the fact that we lived there and could clearly read the signs that said no eating or drinking.

Least favorite thing: Smoking in Japan.

Now everyone warned me people smoke like chimneys here, and while that may be true, they've passed a bunch of laws such that people only smoke in designated smoking areas. I've seen maybe two people smoking whilst walking (which isn't allowed) and have literally not been around smoking at all. But I'm guessing one of the reasons I don't feel very great this morning is that I've been a New Yorker for too long now, and going to a smoky bar has entirely 100% been wiped out of my existence. But for some strange reasons, it's still okay in Japan. And I haven't been to any of the restaurants in Tokyo proper that have smoking sections, but I'm sure I will soon discover them. I hated arriving at the Hub last night and instantly walking into a den of smoke, and then coming home reeking last night. It's just really not fun, and for anyone who doubted the transition 5/6 years ago in NY, I can't even begin to describe the difference it is to go back now. Just awful. And as always, it was one of the smokers there last night, Miles, who confirmed that he also doesn't like smelling like a den of filth and that he is one of the biggest supporters of bars being non-smoking. So there you have it. Time to jump on the bandwagon, Japan!

All in all a good day... time to go adventuring today and buy a camera and see what happens!