Recently, I have attached a radio on my bicycle to listen to music.
I am always trying to make my condition better while I am on the bicycle. As I said before, a lot of cars and trucks passing by me while I am riding on my bicycle. And I really hate the sound of engines from those cars. Instead of those sounds, I wanted to listen to music.
The beguinning of this journey, I was listening to Beatles to put earphone of my ears. I really love to Beatles! Few days later, I recongnised that the way of listening to music is a little bit dangerous because I couldn't hear the sound of engine, it was hard to notify if those cars were approaching or not. That is why I quitted to use it to be safe more than that.
The secand stage has come.Even if I was safe more than before, still I should hear a lot of sounds from cars and trucks. How do I solve this problem?
I brought a radio by"SONY" from Japan. Radios have no border wherever waves, it will catch and start to play. Before attached it to my bicycle, I usually listen to it only when before sleeping or while I took some rest. Finally, I decided to attache it by some string.
There is several channel of radio in here. But mostly the cannel are from Lithuania but not every channel of original one. One of a interesting thing is that I can hear a Russian English channel broudcasted by Voice of Russia, it was close to British English than the American. And only when I stay in the capital of each city, I have a right to listen to BBC.
Anyway, I started to lstening to music while I am riding on a bicycle from Lithuania as well as English music. Sometimes I can hear musics which I have already known, that is one of a pleasure when I listening to radio. Few days ago, I heard a music from maroon 5 "This Love", it was reminded me of the last interview of my seminar. To be able to pass the interview, my friend Rina and a Kuranto, he was tried to pass the interview(Now, he is a student at my seminar) sung that music as a performance! It was really interested of me and from then on I preffered to listen "This Love ". And another one was "To Be With You" sung by Mr.Big. When I was a high school student, I remenbered all words of that song to pass a English examination. At that time, the teacher(his name is Kunigi) tried to use a music as a English education, that is, we need to remember at least one music of all phrases in each test. As a result of that test, I enjoyed to listen to that song as well as other songs from the States.
In conclustion, those songs are quite good old and it recalls me what I did when I listen to those music, that is one of pleasure and the teilight of my life.
I came to a pretty high latitude, the sun still shining even at 10p.m only half pass to midnight I can sleep in a tent because it is dark. I need to buy a mask for my eyes....
The Last of the Day in Lithuania
Yuji@Palanga, LT
PS. I heard the death of Michel from BBC at Vilnius.
30.6.09
28.6.09
Something New
My life in Lithuania is pretty good even if country itself has nothing especially except for the Capital and Large city!
The capital in Vilnius was really beautiful city. Everything what I felt from the city were that the beautiful old town, beautiful Russian girl and Thai massage shop!
I stayed a house of a man who is manager of a Thai massage shop at Vilnius and a beatiful girl from Russia, she is originally from Russia but now she lives in Vilnius with her parents. Probably, she is the first Rossian person who I talked with. Just imagine, the geographical feacure between Russia and Japan are very close but the relationship of politics and ecnomics are not so good, still we need a visa if I try to travel to Russia. But, it doesn't matter only when 2 person, one is from Japan the other from Russia try to talk and share their culture at the capital of Lithuania and Thai and Japan as well!
Anyway, I spend for 5 days when I came this country. And I recongnised that I need a time at least 1 week if I try to understand what is the country. So I decided to go to Baltic sea instead of going directly to Riga, the capital of Latvia. From now on, I am going to the sea and up to the peninsula along the coust and then down to Riga searching for Something New!
My first impression of Lithuania was the almost same country to Bulgaria, a country which I already passed. Nothing especially except for the Capital, mountanious, the first industry, beer of a pet bottle, horse instead of car and some people crazy for drunk, that is still developing....
But nice and kind persons everywhere in the world, there is no border!
I have remaining another 2 days to stay this country. I will find out someting new as far as I can and meet new people and learned from them!
Riding on a bike trying to find out Something New!
Yuji @ Kursenai, Lithuania
The capital in Vilnius was really beautiful city. Everything what I felt from the city were that the beautiful old town, beautiful Russian girl and Thai massage shop!
I stayed a house of a man who is manager of a Thai massage shop at Vilnius and a beatiful girl from Russia, she is originally from Russia but now she lives in Vilnius with her parents. Probably, she is the first Rossian person who I talked with. Just imagine, the geographical feacure between Russia and Japan are very close but the relationship of politics and ecnomics are not so good, still we need a visa if I try to travel to Russia. But, it doesn't matter only when 2 person, one is from Japan the other from Russia try to talk and share their culture at the capital of Lithuania and Thai and Japan as well!
Anyway, I spend for 5 days when I came this country. And I recongnised that I need a time at least 1 week if I try to understand what is the country. So I decided to go to Baltic sea instead of going directly to Riga, the capital of Latvia. From now on, I am going to the sea and up to the peninsula along the coust and then down to Riga searching for Something New!
My first impression of Lithuania was the almost same country to Bulgaria, a country which I already passed. Nothing especially except for the Capital, mountanious, the first industry, beer of a pet bottle, horse instead of car and some people crazy for drunk, that is still developing....
But nice and kind persons everywhere in the world, there is no border!
I have remaining another 2 days to stay this country. I will find out someting new as far as I can and meet new people and learned from them!
Riding on a bike trying to find out Something New!
Yuji @ Kursenai, Lithuania
25.6.09
Capital
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania.
Since I started my journey, I traveled all capitals in each countries except for Turkey. But, Istanbul was a central city of Turkey such as Dar es salaam and NY.
Anyway, what I felt everytime when I go to capital is that there are not a big differences between capitals. Moreover, only a few differences among countries in Europe.
Anyway the feacures of capital are;
Full of people including tourist
Prices are higher than any other cities
Both poor peoples and rich peoples
Skyscrapers
....
Probably there are other feacures in the capital what I haven't noticed.
By the way, I have lived in Tokyo more than 20 years. That is, my life has full of those enviromnent as I told you on above. What I felt is that compared to Tokyo and other capitals is that Tokyo is a really huge capital even if Tokyo is one of a small prefecture in Japan.
Anyway, the reason is why I go to capital of each country is that I think that there might find something new what I haven't noticed in that countries. Still I haven't that idia in Vilnus. I will expore to the city from now on!
Additionally, I heard that not only Lithuania but also other Baltic countries have great influence on the Crisis. I haven't figure out the reason why these ares had such dameges, about 15% down on GDP, if someone knows the reason, please tell me!
See you,
Yuji @ Vilnius, LT
Since I started my journey, I traveled all capitals in each countries except for Turkey. But, Istanbul was a central city of Turkey such as Dar es salaam and NY.
Anyway, what I felt everytime when I go to capital is that there are not a big differences between capitals. Moreover, only a few differences among countries in Europe.
Anyway the feacures of capital are;
Full of people including tourist
Prices are higher than any other cities
Both poor peoples and rich peoples
Skyscrapers
....
Probably there are other feacures in the capital what I haven't noticed.
By the way, I have lived in Tokyo more than 20 years. That is, my life has full of those enviromnent as I told you on above. What I felt is that compared to Tokyo and other capitals is that Tokyo is a really huge capital even if Tokyo is one of a small prefecture in Japan.
Anyway, the reason is why I go to capital of each country is that I think that there might find something new what I haven't noticed in that countries. Still I haven't that idia in Vilnus. I will expore to the city from now on!
Additionally, I heard that not only Lithuania but also other Baltic countries have great influence on the Crisis. I haven't figure out the reason why these ares had such dameges, about 15% down on GDP, if someone knows the reason, please tell me!
See you,
Yuji @ Vilnius, LT
23.6.09
5000km for 2 months
Two months has passed since when I was started of my journey.
And the distance from Istanbul to here in Lituania is 5000km correctly.
What I felt about this numbers are that it is very faster than I thought.
Probably, now is the almost the half passed of my journey. So, I will review my plan which I made before this journey.
As it were, the porpose of this journey is:
1. To be able to speak English as well as Germany and French
2. To make my communication skills better and better
3. To decide my future plan in detail
The first porpose is language. My English skills probably getting better and better. I learned it from people who I met and a book titled"Future Positive", which is for studying Global Politics.
But I still haven't read it all. I need to spend a lot of time to read that book. And sometimes I listening to Beatles and Radio to practice my English skills. It works well. In short, my English teacher are person who I met in Europe, Michel Edwars, the writer of that book and the Beatles.
Unfortunately, two languages still untouched......
The second target is to make my communication skills better. Still, I sometimes worried about what I was thought from the person who is talking to me. But those idea will be getting vanish. That is one of a Japanese identity such as sitting on a house with smiling. It was sugessted from my teacher was that 3s in Japanese, that is, Smile, Sleep and....(Iforgot the another one). Those S should be changed to Smart, Speak and Speed. Still not enough because of my English skills but it may be better than before I guess. Tell me when you meet me again.
The third plan is the most important one of my life as well as journey. What I noticed after I started of this trip is that I won't live whole my life as a traveler or advencurer such as Naomi Uemura. I met a lot of people who travels through not only Europe but also Asia or Afica all over the world. Some people quit their job for the porpose of their journey. Everytime when I hear those stories I thought that I won't be those people. Of couse I like travel but I want to solve a lot of problems we are facing with such as poverty, conflict and climate change. But, what I noticed through traveling is that I can't help people unless I can stand and eat bymyself.
It is important for me to work as a United Nations officer but at the same time, working to live and making a family also important.
Without Love and Money, we won't live long enough.
Yuji at Lithuania
PS. Today I stayed at a house of a family who I met glosary store. He asked me whether I will stay at his house or not. I really moved that offer.
And the distance from Istanbul to here in Lituania is 5000km correctly.
What I felt about this numbers are that it is very faster than I thought.
Probably, now is the almost the half passed of my journey. So, I will review my plan which I made before this journey.
As it were, the porpose of this journey is:
1. To be able to speak English as well as Germany and French
2. To make my communication skills better and better
3. To decide my future plan in detail
The first porpose is language. My English skills probably getting better and better. I learned it from people who I met and a book titled"Future Positive", which is for studying Global Politics.
But I still haven't read it all. I need to spend a lot of time to read that book. And sometimes I listening to Beatles and Radio to practice my English skills. It works well. In short, my English teacher are person who I met in Europe, Michel Edwars, the writer of that book and the Beatles.
Unfortunately, two languages still untouched......
The second target is to make my communication skills better. Still, I sometimes worried about what I was thought from the person who is talking to me. But those idea will be getting vanish. That is one of a Japanese identity such as sitting on a house with smiling. It was sugessted from my teacher was that 3s in Japanese, that is, Smile, Sleep and....(Iforgot the another one). Those S should be changed to Smart, Speak and Speed. Still not enough because of my English skills but it may be better than before I guess. Tell me when you meet me again.
The third plan is the most important one of my life as well as journey. What I noticed after I started of this trip is that I won't live whole my life as a traveler or advencurer such as Naomi Uemura. I met a lot of people who travels through not only Europe but also Asia or Afica all over the world. Some people quit their job for the porpose of their journey. Everytime when I hear those stories I thought that I won't be those people. Of couse I like travel but I want to solve a lot of problems we are facing with such as poverty, conflict and climate change. But, what I noticed through traveling is that I can't help people unless I can stand and eat bymyself.
It is important for me to work as a United Nations officer but at the same time, working to live and making a family also important.
Without Love and Money, we won't live long enough.
Yuji at Lithuania
PS. Today I stayed at a house of a family who I met glosary store. He asked me whether I will stay at his house or not. I really moved that offer.
21.6.09
Poland
18 days have passed since when I came to Poland. Today, I crossed over the border to Lithuania.Poland is one of a memorable country of this journey.
The first day in Poland, I was from High Tatora in Slovakia, that was raining and very cold. When it started to rain, I escaped to a bus stop, then few minutes later a lot of children in a kinder garden also tried to avoid the rain in the same bus stop. There were full of children and their chatting.
The second day was that the weather was still not so good. The sky was full of cloud and it would started to rain. I woke up early in the morning and headed for Krakow, one of the beautiful city in Poland. Most of building in Krakow haven't destroyed during the first and second world wars. I stayed at nice apartment with some French guys. The next day, I went to sightseeing and made some sushi for the party. Surprisingly, I could buy some Japanese rice and frozen fish in a shopping mall, that was quit expensive. There were a lot of people come to the party, most of all from Poland, but some people from other eastern Europe and others were from UK and the States. When I tried to speak in a group, I couldn't hear what they were talking about because of their speed. Still I have enough room for improvement I felt that night.
After enjoyed two days in Krakow, I went to Katowice after visited to Auschwitz as I told you before. I stayed with a house of Pawel, who hosted me for one night and brought me to Wroclow, I saw a lot of German archtecture in the city, with his friends. I was overslept because I drunk too much beer.
The next day was one of a hard day of my journey. I passed over 150km per day even if I overslept. When I woke up at 10 in the morning and eat some breakfast and then I left for Kielce. I estimated the distance between two cities about 120km. But it was too far than I thought. So, I forced to bike over 20km at once. Around 9 p.m after sun set, I finally arrived at Kielce. The host at Kielce was gay. Actually, I was afraid that I have never met gay in my life, but he changed my sence of value. He was really nice and gentleman. Though I arrived at late evening he never say to anything about it. Furthermore, he made a nice meal with rice and brocoli, that was really tasty so I took a rest for my legs.
Because of the long distance of the day before, my legs like a stick and be in a mustle pain. I believed that the best solution of this pain is moving my mustle, so I started to go to Radom. At Radom, Kamil and their family hosted me. I ate some tradisional food of Poland, that was really good. At his friend house, I tasted vodka, that was my first vodka in my life, the taste was a bit sweet but strong one. It was no time to be drunk. I talked about this trip one of his friend, he was really interested person and bike lover. Those friends are totally student and the culture of student is almost the same in everywhere in the world I felt. I enjoyed as a student.
One of unforgettable eveperience was Pionki. the host was a family of Adrine, he hosted me at Pecs in Hungary. He still studied in Hungary and I vsited his hometown. Unfortunately, his parents couldn't speak English and my Polish was poor, so we can communicate only when Adrine translated us to communicate with each other through Skype on the internet. Lunguage is important when I talk with someone who I meet first time.
The time in Pionki was really cool, I could enough rest and ate a lot of meat and sweet to have a energy to go to Warszawa.The capital was really huge and it was hard to find a place where I wanted to go. Not everyone could speak in English and I didn't have any detail map, I should bought it before. Anyway, I got to the central station in Warszawa and came across a great meeting to Rafal in the afternoon. The place when I stayed at two night was a student dorm at Warszawa university. The day was a beginning of long weekend and a lot of student going to their hometown. I couldn't have a lot of time to talk with my host, she has studied in Japan at Aoyamagakuin and will go to Japan next year.And she also came back to her hometown, so I stayed with one of her friend.The next day I spend my time with Rafal at the central area in Warszawa by bike, that old town was really beautiful even if that was destroyed during WWII. And I decided to go Gdansk with him. At night I talked with some African student who lives next door of my dorm. I asked them if they have a time to talk with them and they accepted to me to talk. They were from Cameroon and I asked him about his country but he didn't want to talk too much. So I tried to explain why I wanted to talk with you including my study and future plan, and then he opened his mouth about his country. According to his information, the problem in Cameroon is government, that was the same when I heard in Tanzania. Government in African countries are one of a key to success of their development I thought.
From the next day to three night we, I and Rafal enjoyed our trip to Gdansk.
After when I reach Gdansk I was wondering if I go to North or West and then I decided to North. Rafal was back to train to Warszawa for his job in the last day of our trip. At Gdansk, I was stayed at student dorm as well, the host, Gosia was a student of arts and graphic designer. Because of the examination she didn't have enough time to spend to me, but I really appreciate with her offer in her hard schedule.
The next day, I moved to Gdynia to visit Magda. From Gdansk to Gdynia, there is a beautiful coast exist. The sea is not so clear but the situation was really nice. People are easy access to the beach and a lot of people spend their time near the beach for a walk and to play something.I slept in the beach for a while. Magda and her family hosted me that much I talked about a lot what I experienced and where I will go. Even if I do everyone who I hosted me, their reaction to my trip are totally different, that is a interesting point when I try to talk with them.
As for the changing of my route, I turned back to Gdansk and then I headed for east part of Poland. When I arrived at the central area in Gdansk, I met a person who sell a Japanese character written in Katakana of each person's name. Actually, he is half between Japan and France. Because of his education of his father he could speak Japanese but his identity is from French as he told me because he grown up in France. We talked about Japanese culture and what was Japan by Japanese. I really enjoyed because it was hard to find a person who can speak Japanese or who interested in Japan. Additionally, his writing work was very popular not only for a tourist but also for Polish. The day I reach Elblag, the place I stayed with a Finnish guy. As I told you before he made a plan from Finland to Praha for wedding of his brother. And Ewa and her sister was our host. I really enjoyed sharing our different culture. But unfortunately, I forgot my flag at her home, which I bought in Krakow for the purpose to show my country. Maybe, she will deliver me when she come to Japan I thought.
After the day, I crossed over some hills to Olsztyn. The weather was not so good and it was started to rain in the afternoon. Regardless of the distance about 100km, I was really tired. The host was a cheerful guy, Szymon, and his girl friend was totally nice. I got some information about Nordic countries and I might go to the North cup, that is the northern point in Europe.
After the day, they made me some sandwich and a beer for the purpose of rainy day. The road from Olsztyn to Gizycko is really beautiful and easy to going except for rain. The host, Gosha is interesting person and we talked about politics, history, economy and humanism. I haven't a lot experience to talk with a woman this kind of topic in Japan, that experience was fresh and I understood what Polish people thought. At the same time, I felt that I need to study more and more if I try to understand this country as well as global society. Additionally, I never drunk a beer when I ride on a bike.
The last night was in a tent by alone. That was a second time in Poland. Only two, first and last night in Poland I slept in a tent by alone. A lot of people shared with me in their time. Because of the cooperation of those people I came here to live long enough. I really appreciate it those people who had kindly attention to me.
And today, I crossed a border to Lithuania. From now on, I am heading for Helsinki through three Baltic countries. I haven't any research for these countries but I will learn of their history and culture with communicate in English as well as internet.
PS. The host of today, Linas he studied at Waseda University as a exchange student for one year. He also interested in Japanese culture like anime.
POLAND NO MINASAN DOUMO ARIGATOU.
Yuji @Jakiskiai, Lithuania
18.6.09
To Helsinki
Gdansk is the one of a key place of this journey because that is the first sea from Istanbul and I cannot go to north anymore. My options are going to east or west. I have thought about that the direction of this journey since when I started. Before getting to Gdansk, 99% of my answer is west but it has changed. Of course, I have several reasons of this modification. Those reasons are;
1. going to Nordic conuntries better than Western Europe
2. touching a culture of old communist
3. visiting a place where there is less people and cars
Before and after I have started of this trip, I thought that it might be hard to go to Nordic countries of this time because those countries are very far and if I go there I couldn't go to a lot of eastern and western european countries. The span of this journey is three months as my first plan. I have already spend about two months through eastern european countries, that means I have no time . Whichever or anyway, I need about another two months to get to Edinburgh, that is my final destination of this journey. Even if I coundn't enough time to visit western countries such as Austria, Czech(Eastern), Italy, Swiss and Germany, the loning for Nordic is stronger than the rest of western and eastern Europe.
Through this journey my notification about Europe is that there is not a big differences between western and eastern Europe in terms of economics and politics. If this journey were 1990s it might be interested in those views. But now, even though the way of description such as"Eastern europe" and "Western europe" are feel like being obsolete. The best description of these areas are whether each country is "European Union" or not. In short, as I suggested, if I going to western europe along with the iron cartain from Berlin, it hard to see what was communism and how it has changed to Americanization. The last hope of this views are three Baltic countries, that is, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia are the best country to see those views but this time I have no changce to visit those countries because of the visa as well as time and money.
And last reason is that I just want to visit a place there is not a lot of people. The place where I have visited through this trip are alomost full of people not only tourist but also citizens. In addition, a lot of cars on a road and it is dangerous for bike. I am the person who loves nature than architecture.
That is the reason why I go to the Nordic countries.
I haven't decided after I reach Helsink wheather I will go to Arctic circle or directry go to Stockholm. I will decide it by the time when I arrive at Helsink probably.
Yuji @ Elblag, PL
P.S
Interestingly, my roommate of last night is from Finland by bike to Czech. He is going back to Finland after getting to Czech through western Europe. We might meet again anywhere in nordic countries!!
Additonally, the changing of my plan is that because I saw a sign on a road to Helsink at Gdansk by ferry(I will go by bike) and wind push me to east.
1. going to Nordic conuntries better than Western Europe
2. touching a culture of old communist
3. visiting a place where there is less people and cars
Before and after I have started of this trip, I thought that it might be hard to go to Nordic countries of this time because those countries are very far and if I go there I couldn't go to a lot of eastern and western european countries. The span of this journey is three months as my first plan. I have already spend about two months through eastern european countries, that means I have no time . Whichever or anyway, I need about another two months to get to Edinburgh, that is my final destination of this journey. Even if I coundn't enough time to visit western countries such as Austria, Czech(Eastern), Italy, Swiss and Germany, the loning for Nordic is stronger than the rest of western and eastern Europe.
Through this journey my notification about Europe is that there is not a big differences between western and eastern Europe in terms of economics and politics. If this journey were 1990s it might be interested in those views. But now, even though the way of description such as"Eastern europe" and "Western europe" are feel like being obsolete. The best description of these areas are whether each country is "European Union" or not. In short, as I suggested, if I going to western europe along with the iron cartain from Berlin, it hard to see what was communism and how it has changed to Americanization. The last hope of this views are three Baltic countries, that is, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia are the best country to see those views but this time I have no changce to visit those countries because of the visa as well as time and money.
And last reason is that I just want to visit a place there is not a lot of people. The place where I have visited through this trip are alomost full of people not only tourist but also citizens. In addition, a lot of cars on a road and it is dangerous for bike. I am the person who loves nature than architecture.
That is the reason why I go to the Nordic countries.
I haven't decided after I reach Helsink wheather I will go to Arctic circle or directry go to Stockholm. I will decide it by the time when I arrive at Helsink probably.
Yuji @ Elblag, PL
P.S
Interestingly, my roommate of last night is from Finland by bike to Czech. He is going back to Finland after getting to Czech through western Europe. We might meet again anywhere in nordic countries!!
Additonally, the changing of my plan is that because I saw a sign on a road to Helsink at Gdansk by ferry(I will go by bike) and wind push me to east.
15.6.09
A Party
For these four days, I traveled with a man who I met at Warszawa by bicycle. I have just arrived at Gdansk, one of a beatiful city in Poland near Baltic sea. The man, Refel is a Polish. When I arrived at the station of Warszawa, he talked to me. The first impression of him was positive guy with smiling, even if we were not a good English speaker. He uses bicycle for his job, so he was very interested of my journey and what I did. We talked at station about 10-20 minutes, after that he said "come to sleep my house!". I answered"No, I have decided a place to sleep". Actually, I have decided the place to sleep for free through the internet. But at the same time, I was afraid to sleep in his house because I hadn't know much about him. What I know everything of him is that he has a good smile and positive thinkng. Lastly, he gave me a phone number and said"If you need some help at Warszawa, please call me!". The day was before holiday and he had no plan for his weekend I felt.
The next day, at Warszawa I send him a message for his phone to meet him. Because, I did't like to go into the city for sightseeing by alone. Fortunately,he was gald to meet me and he guided me some about Warszawa. I spent the whole afternoon with him and went to his house. We talked about his bicycle trip and what I had experienced through this trip. The end of the day, he asked me"I have a time go with you to Gdansk, will we go there?" Actually, I wanted to go alone because I normally don't use hotel and restaulant, that is, he couldn't keep up with my living standard. And also, I couldn't trust him all even if he guided me his city and gave some food for me. I was very careful. Before I answered I asked him"Where will you sleep if you go with me?", he answered "In a tent". Sill I was wondering weather I was going to accept his offer or not. But, finally I answered "yes" and shake hands. I felt like some Japanese identity worked and also it might be nice of me if I accept it to make something new.
Two persons are enough to make a small but society. The next day we started the travel to Gdansk. We met at 8:00 in front of my sleeping place, that was student house at University of Warszawa. That was the starting point of our journey. As a result, our travel was nice even if the weather was not so good. We could get to Gdansk on time when we planed before!
What I felt of this travel was that, firstly, going with someone by bike was nice because we can share something happens through that trip, we laugh, we think, we talk, eat and sleep together! Making a party was my first time of this trip. When I belonged a mountain club at Hosei I did the almost same things. But at that time, if I try to someting like eat or sleep, the time decided. Actually, our party leader on the club decided the time to something to do. But here, even if I am not alone, who decide what I will do except for me? I decide everything what I do. To decide something by myself with someone was a strange for me, but I felt that might be natural for humankind. Nobody decide what I do in the group except for me.
And, I thought about the meaning why I traevel by alone. Sometimes, I asked,"why are you traveling by alone?" Then, I answered"I like traveling by alone and learn a lot if I am alone". Of course, I sometimes miss my friend, parents, teacher and even in a meal and city while I am traveling. But when I miss someone in here, I try to talk someone whoever can speak English, that is the only word which can use in this country but it is enough, and that is the best solution to slove this missing. Still, I believe that the decision traveling by alone was right and I won't be changed. Sometimes, I need a person who can understand what I said. I , we never live alone.
In conclusion, I am happy traveling with him. I had no idea whether he was nice person or not but it is hard to describe a human relationship in a ward and make few minute. Through those experiences we can make trust with each other.
trust a person and open-minded more and more.....
Yuji @ Gdansk, PL
PS. I came a crossroad wheather I will go to Helsinki or Berlin directly... I feel like that the wind of Nordic counry is waiting for me.
The next day, at Warszawa I send him a message for his phone to meet him. Because, I did't like to go into the city for sightseeing by alone. Fortunately,he was gald to meet me and he guided me some about Warszawa. I spent the whole afternoon with him and went to his house. We talked about his bicycle trip and what I had experienced through this trip. The end of the day, he asked me"I have a time go with you to Gdansk, will we go there?" Actually, I wanted to go alone because I normally don't use hotel and restaulant, that is, he couldn't keep up with my living standard. And also, I couldn't trust him all even if he guided me his city and gave some food for me. I was very careful. Before I answered I asked him"Where will you sleep if you go with me?", he answered "In a tent". Sill I was wondering weather I was going to accept his offer or not. But, finally I answered "yes" and shake hands. I felt like some Japanese identity worked and also it might be nice of me if I accept it to make something new.
Two persons are enough to make a small but society. The next day we started the travel to Gdansk. We met at 8:00 in front of my sleeping place, that was student house at University of Warszawa. That was the starting point of our journey. As a result, our travel was nice even if the weather was not so good. We could get to Gdansk on time when we planed before!
What I felt of this travel was that, firstly, going with someone by bike was nice because we can share something happens through that trip, we laugh, we think, we talk, eat and sleep together! Making a party was my first time of this trip. When I belonged a mountain club at Hosei I did the almost same things. But at that time, if I try to someting like eat or sleep, the time decided. Actually, our party leader on the club decided the time to something to do. But here, even if I am not alone, who decide what I will do except for me? I decide everything what I do. To decide something by myself with someone was a strange for me, but I felt that might be natural for humankind. Nobody decide what I do in the group except for me.
And, I thought about the meaning why I traevel by alone. Sometimes, I asked,"why are you traveling by alone?" Then, I answered"I like traveling by alone and learn a lot if I am alone". Of course, I sometimes miss my friend, parents, teacher and even in a meal and city while I am traveling. But when I miss someone in here, I try to talk someone whoever can speak English, that is the only word which can use in this country but it is enough, and that is the best solution to slove this missing. Still, I believe that the decision traveling by alone was right and I won't be changed. Sometimes, I need a person who can understand what I said. I , we never live alone.
In conclusion, I am happy traveling with him. I had no idea whether he was nice person or not but it is hard to describe a human relationship in a ward and make few minute. Through those experiences we can make trust with each other.
trust a person and open-minded more and more.....
Yuji @ Gdansk, PL
PS. I came a crossroad wheather I will go to Helsinki or Berlin directly... I feel like that the wind of Nordic counry is waiting for me.
9.6.09
Auschwitz
Throughout the world, Auschwitz has become a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. The German forces occupying Poland during the Second Warld War established a concentration camp, on the outskirts of the town of Oswiecim, in 1940: the German called the town Auschwitz and that is the name by which the camp was known. Over the next year it was expanded into three main camps: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Auschwitz III-Monowitz and more than forty subcamps. The first people to be brought to Auschwitz as prisoners and murdered here were Poles. They were followed by Soviet prisoners of war, Gypsies and deportees of many other nationalities. Beginning in 1942, however, Auschwitz became the setting for the most massive murder campaign in history, when the Nazis put into operation their plan to destory the entire Jewish population of Europe. The great majority of Jews who were deported to Auschwitz - men, women, and children- were sent immidiately upon arrival to death in the gas chambers of Birkenau.
When the SS realised that the end of the war was near, they attempted to remove the evidence of the atrocities committed here. They dismantled the gas chambers, crematoria, and other buildings, burned documents, and evacuated all those prisoners who could walk to the interior of Germany. Those who were not evacuated were liberated by the Red Army on January 27, 1945.
On July 2, 1947, the Polish Parliament established the State Museum of Oswiecim - Brzezinka onthe sites of the former camps at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. In 1979 these camps were formally recognized by UNESCO by thier inclusion on its World Heritage List.
_______________________________________________________________
Auschwitz is a one of a place that everybody should go to learn history of war and never will done for our future. Describing what I felt in there was totally sad even if there was the place treated for a tourist.
Poland, Germany, and Japan are the same countries which lost in the WWII. I have thought about it when I was a high school student or freshman. And I am really interested in the war, that is one of the reason why I started to learn Global Politics.
In Japan, there are two places that everyone should go to learn of the history in my opinion. The city are Hiroshima and Okinawa. Hiroshima is the place that atomic bomb was dropped into the city in the end of the WWII as a experiment of the effection(Nagasaki was also but I have never been there). I went to Hiroshima last year to visit those place. Fortunetaly, I had an oppertunity to talk with some persons who had experienced the War and they had injoured because of the bomb. Still they fight against to the government for the pourpose of payment of their cure. Support from the government is not enough to live not only of thier body but also for thier mind. What I heard was that people who had injoured of atomic bomb were getting decreasing because it was about 65 years ago. So, we need to teach what was happend at Hiroshima for next generations. Compared to Hiroshima, Okinawa is the only place which soldiers in Japan and US fought against on the ground. I have been there 4 years ago as a graduation trip of my high school life. I got inside some of a place which used for avoiding from the enemy. The place so called "gou" in Japanese, which was made under the ground about 10 meters deep from the ground and 300m or more widely. Inside of the gou was really dark and cold. I didn't remember the exact number of gou in Okinawa but that were still remaining for the people who want to go to visit there. Not just like Auschwitz or Hiroshima for the tourist but it was worth visiting.
In Iraq, Afganistan and some areas in Africa or South Asia, people are fighting with each other mainly for the purpose of political reason.
"No War" for WORLD PEACE!! , that is one of my job for my future.
Asu ha Warsaw ni tsukimasu
Yuji @ Pionki, Poland
When the SS realised that the end of the war was near, they attempted to remove the evidence of the atrocities committed here. They dismantled the gas chambers, crematoria, and other buildings, burned documents, and evacuated all those prisoners who could walk to the interior of Germany. Those who were not evacuated were liberated by the Red Army on January 27, 1945.
On July 2, 1947, the Polish Parliament established the State Museum of Oswiecim - Brzezinka onthe sites of the former camps at Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. In 1979 these camps were formally recognized by UNESCO by thier inclusion on its World Heritage List.
_______________________________________________________________
Auschwitz is a one of a place that everybody should go to learn history of war and never will done for our future. Describing what I felt in there was totally sad even if there was the place treated for a tourist.
Poland, Germany, and Japan are the same countries which lost in the WWII. I have thought about it when I was a high school student or freshman. And I am really interested in the war, that is one of the reason why I started to learn Global Politics.
In Japan, there are two places that everyone should go to learn of the history in my opinion. The city are Hiroshima and Okinawa. Hiroshima is the place that atomic bomb was dropped into the city in the end of the WWII as a experiment of the effection(Nagasaki was also but I have never been there). I went to Hiroshima last year to visit those place. Fortunetaly, I had an oppertunity to talk with some persons who had experienced the War and they had injoured because of the bomb. Still they fight against to the government for the pourpose of payment of their cure. Support from the government is not enough to live not only of thier body but also for thier mind. What I heard was that people who had injoured of atomic bomb were getting decreasing because it was about 65 years ago. So, we need to teach what was happend at Hiroshima for next generations. Compared to Hiroshima, Okinawa is the only place which soldiers in Japan and US fought against on the ground. I have been there 4 years ago as a graduation trip of my high school life. I got inside some of a place which used for avoiding from the enemy. The place so called "gou" in Japanese, which was made under the ground about 10 meters deep from the ground and 300m or more widely. Inside of the gou was really dark and cold. I didn't remember the exact number of gou in Okinawa but that were still remaining for the people who want to go to visit there. Not just like Auschwitz or Hiroshima for the tourist but it was worth visiting.
In Iraq, Afganistan and some areas in Africa or South Asia, people are fighting with each other mainly for the purpose of political reason.
"No War" for WORLD PEACE!! , that is one of my job for my future.
Asu ha Warsaw ni tsukimasu
Yuji @ Pionki, Poland
5.6.09
in Krakow
Krakow is the old capital in Poland and one of the beautiful city in Poland. Some people say that the landscape of Krakow is more beautiful than that of Warsaw. Is this right? I'll see.
During the WWII, the central Warsaw was destroyed by the Nazis but in here some church or the architecture has been still remaining. That is the reason why a lot of tourist from whole European countries.
By the way, I have traveled for one and half month through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and here. I saw a lot of churches, castles, and buildings. Recently the impact of the architecture are getting fade away. Of course, those buildings in Europe are really beautiful and a big differences compared to Japan. And the landscape of Istanbul and Budapest were putting in my mind. On of the reason to come here is longing for these buildings.
But, I think it is too much enough.
I have planed to go to Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Venice.... so called beautiful city. But is there any meaning if I go to these cities? The reason I go there just because I take some pictures and to come true what I have been longing for? If so, I am the same parson who is traveling by plain, train and car as a tourist, aren't you?
Sometimes when I come to these big city, I am close to forget to this travel. The point of this journey is that I am a 'student' even if I have been absent from my school. The learning is here the language, culture, people and who I am... In particular my interest is human and development.
Firstly, human means people who I met or I will meet. I want to a lot of people who have interesting idea, different culture, eyes, skins. I am a different guy for the people who lives in Europe. But for me in Europe is almost the same, even if they lives in a different countries. How do I classify whether a person who I meet is Hungarian or Slovakian? Similarly, people in Europe sometimes says what is the difference between Chinese and Japanese? You are almost the same!
But for us in Japanese people, there are a lot of cultural differences. But it is hard to describe in some words.
From this experience I noticed two things. For one thing, I or we need a lot of time to understand what is the culture in each countries. Of course I can touch the culture of each country if I spend in there 1 week or 10 days. But it is not enough time to understand all, as it were, it is important to know much about each countries before I traveled. I had experienced before... And the other thing is that I am the person who interested in a person. It is interesting for me to think about what is the person who I am meeting. There is not a big differences between Japanese and European and I guess African, American is almost the same because they are human even if they speaks different language and have different background.
Secondly, the development as a study which I have studied for 3 years after I enrolled in my university. In particular, my major is a development aid for a developing country such as Sub-Sahara countries and south and south-east Asian countries. I want to work for the people who are difficult situation, such as poverty, conflict, hunger and so on. When I meet a new person and sometimes they asked me"What is your dream?" Then, I answered "I want to be a UN officer!" It is easy to say that because I want to be. But am I blind? I mean, here in Europe the living standard is not so big differences in Japan even if a little differences are still there between eastern and western Europe. But I think it is not a big deal compared to the difference between those developing countries and Northern rich countries like England, United States,and also in Japan. I am a little afraid to forget those people who live in the third world because I spend too much time in here and don't have enough time to study for them.
So, the end of this travel it is better for me to go to African countries and before the travel I need to read some books like "Future Positive" while I stay in Edinburgh. It might be good for my travel as well as study!!
Asuha Ausyubittu wo otodureyouto omoimasu.
Yuji@Krakow in PL
During the WWII, the central Warsaw was destroyed by the Nazis but in here some church or the architecture has been still remaining. That is the reason why a lot of tourist from whole European countries.
By the way, I have traveled for one and half month through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and here. I saw a lot of churches, castles, and buildings. Recently the impact of the architecture are getting fade away. Of course, those buildings in Europe are really beautiful and a big differences compared to Japan. And the landscape of Istanbul and Budapest were putting in my mind. On of the reason to come here is longing for these buildings.
But, I think it is too much enough.
I have planed to go to Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Venice.... so called beautiful city. But is there any meaning if I go to these cities? The reason I go there just because I take some pictures and to come true what I have been longing for? If so, I am the same parson who is traveling by plain, train and car as a tourist, aren't you?
Sometimes when I come to these big city, I am close to forget to this travel. The point of this journey is that I am a 'student' even if I have been absent from my school. The learning is here the language, culture, people and who I am... In particular my interest is human and development.
Firstly, human means people who I met or I will meet. I want to a lot of people who have interesting idea, different culture, eyes, skins. I am a different guy for the people who lives in Europe. But for me in Europe is almost the same, even if they lives in a different countries. How do I classify whether a person who I meet is Hungarian or Slovakian? Similarly, people in Europe sometimes says what is the difference between Chinese and Japanese? You are almost the same!
But for us in Japanese people, there are a lot of cultural differences. But it is hard to describe in some words.
From this experience I noticed two things. For one thing, I or we need a lot of time to understand what is the culture in each countries. Of course I can touch the culture of each country if I spend in there 1 week or 10 days. But it is not enough time to understand all, as it were, it is important to know much about each countries before I traveled. I had experienced before... And the other thing is that I am the person who interested in a person. It is interesting for me to think about what is the person who I am meeting. There is not a big differences between Japanese and European and I guess African, American is almost the same because they are human even if they speaks different language and have different background.
Secondly, the development as a study which I have studied for 3 years after I enrolled in my university. In particular, my major is a development aid for a developing country such as Sub-Sahara countries and south and south-east Asian countries. I want to work for the people who are difficult situation, such as poverty, conflict, hunger and so on. When I meet a new person and sometimes they asked me"What is your dream?" Then, I answered "I want to be a UN officer!" It is easy to say that because I want to be. But am I blind? I mean, here in Europe the living standard is not so big differences in Japan even if a little differences are still there between eastern and western Europe. But I think it is not a big deal compared to the difference between those developing countries and Northern rich countries like England, United States,and also in Japan. I am a little afraid to forget those people who live in the third world because I spend too much time in here and don't have enough time to study for them.
So, the end of this travel it is better for me to go to African countries and before the travel I need to read some books like "Future Positive" while I stay in Edinburgh. It might be good for my travel as well as study!!
Asuha Ausyubittu wo otodureyouto omoimasu.
Yuji@Krakow in PL
3.6.09
Rute 537
High Tatora, that is one of my memory of this trip.
I passed rute 537 I never forget that hard way.
In these three days, I have passed High Tatora at the border between Slovakia and Poland.
The highest peak is 2655m, I slept in the tent near the mountain, that was very cold!!
The highest peak in Japan is Mt.Fuji, that is 3776m, located Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefecture border, in the middle of Hunshu. And I guess the highest in Europe is Mont Black that is around 4700m in Swiss. Anyway High Tatora was really high and beautiful.
The first day was cloudy and rainny.
The second day was still cloudy and sunny from the afternoon to evening. That was nice!
The third day, today, was cloudy,rainny and windy. So I spend in my time at Internet Cafe...
I rememmbered when I belonged to the Wander Vogel Club in Hosei.
Of course, there were several snow on the top of the mountain. And a lot of people to visit to see, climb, skiing and also cycling to enjoy thier holiday.
So, I just arrived at Poland few hours ago.
From now on I am heading for Gdansk, in a city near baltic sea and then to the trip , so called "Iron Cartain", from Szczecin to Trieste in Itary following the Wall. I decided to go to Northern part of Itary such as Venezia, Milano, Torino through this journey.
Tomorrow, I am going to Krakow, one of a beautiful city in PL I heard.
I am really looking forward to going there!!
See you next time,
Yuji@Nowy Targ
PS. My new record of my bicycke is 62km/h.
I passed rute 537 I never forget that hard way.
In these three days, I have passed High Tatora at the border between Slovakia and Poland.
The highest peak is 2655m, I slept in the tent near the mountain, that was very cold!!
The highest peak in Japan is Mt.Fuji, that is 3776m, located Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefecture border, in the middle of Hunshu. And I guess the highest in Europe is Mont Black that is around 4700m in Swiss. Anyway High Tatora was really high and beautiful.
The first day was cloudy and rainny.
The second day was still cloudy and sunny from the afternoon to evening. That was nice!
The third day, today, was cloudy,rainny and windy. So I spend in my time at Internet Cafe...
I rememmbered when I belonged to the Wander Vogel Club in Hosei.
Of course, there were several snow on the top of the mountain. And a lot of people to visit to see, climb, skiing and also cycling to enjoy thier holiday.
So, I just arrived at Poland few hours ago.
From now on I am heading for Gdansk, in a city near baltic sea and then to the trip , so called "Iron Cartain", from Szczecin to Trieste in Itary following the Wall. I decided to go to Northern part of Itary such as Venezia, Milano, Torino through this journey.
Tomorrow, I am going to Krakow, one of a beautiful city in PL I heard.
I am really looking forward to going there!!
See you next time,
Yuji@Nowy Targ
PS. My new record of my bicycke is 62km/h.
1.6.09
Give Money
"Give money", when I traveled in Tanzania, a country located in eastern part of Africa, everyday I asked fpr them. I really hate this word. Even 3 or 5 years child asked me, I guess they do not know Hello or Goodbye.
But sometimes I gave them some money. I did not remember why I gave them some money. I should have thought it well.....
And here, through traveling I asked three times in thier own language instead of English. At first, I cound not understand what they were getting at. But they tried to teach me by some gestures like escrape with thier fingers. So, I got it what they wanted to say.I disappointed even if we communicate with each other.
When I asked first time at Bulugaria. Actually, I gave them some momey to them. But I felt that was strange!! Why I should give them some money because Japan is a rich coutry? No! They did not know where I am from. But they knew I am turist. Turist have money I suppose, even if every turist do not have a lot.
By the way, tip is not famous in Japan. And I never heard "Give money " from homeless or begger. I guess this is related our culture because Japan has a culture of shame. We do not prefer looking down on ourselves from someone even if we have no money.
But anyway, I decided that I never gave money to someone who asked me "Give Money".The reason is that either I gave them some money or I do not gave them money, I will not feel like good after that. If I gave them, I feel like I am from rich country, so I need to give them money if they want. If so, I never go to Africa or I need to a lot of money before I go there. If I do not give them money, I feel like guilty even if I just refused it and to start thought about them. How was that!!
Development aid is important to develop in the southern developing countries. But giving money cannot a soul solusion on development. If it is true, the problem of the Third World solved histrically. It is easy if we can solve every problems just giving money. It cannot be solve!!
To fight against government of your country insted of asking me, please!!
But sometimes I gave them some money. I did not remember why I gave them some money. I should have thought it well.....
And here, through traveling I asked three times in thier own language instead of English. At first, I cound not understand what they were getting at. But they tried to teach me by some gestures like escrape with thier fingers. So, I got it what they wanted to say.I disappointed even if we communicate with each other.
When I asked first time at Bulugaria. Actually, I gave them some momey to them. But I felt that was strange!! Why I should give them some money because Japan is a rich coutry? No! They did not know where I am from. But they knew I am turist. Turist have money I suppose, even if every turist do not have a lot.
By the way, tip is not famous in Japan. And I never heard "Give money " from homeless or begger. I guess this is related our culture because Japan has a culture of shame. We do not prefer looking down on ourselves from someone even if we have no money.
But anyway, I decided that I never gave money to someone who asked me "Give Money".The reason is that either I gave them some money or I do not gave them money, I will not feel like good after that. If I gave them, I feel like I am from rich country, so I need to give them money if they want. If so, I never go to Africa or I need to a lot of money before I go there. If I do not give them money, I feel like guilty even if I just refused it and to start thought about them. How was that!!
Development aid is important to develop in the southern developing countries. But giving money cannot a soul solusion on development. If it is true, the problem of the Third World solved histrically. It is easy if we can solve every problems just giving money. It cannot be solve!!
To fight against government of your country insted of asking me, please!!
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