I'm no longer sad about leaving Japan, but just bummed now that I have to work.
I'm lucky enough that I live in Asia, and "going home" just meant flying back to Taiwan where I pay rent and have a full-time job. I was able to quickly get back into the travel mode at home by merely going out on my scooter for a drive and winding up at a night market on the last night of Chinese New Year. I found myself in tourist-mode again, taking pictures of all the food stalls and games and trying all the weird stuff. I suddenly appreciated the food and culture I would not get in Japan, nor anywhere else. Only here in Taiwan.
Yes, over 9 hours a day is spent at work including commute, but I've been able to keep myself in the vacation/exploration/vagabonding flow during the past week by doing the following as much as possible:
Walking - Just going out in the evenings for a walk does wonders. Around dinner time after 6/7 o'clock is when everyone is out and about and the neighborhoods come alive. The food, the people, the lights and sights. Every time I go out I can meet at least one cute girl that I wouldn't have gotten the chance to say hi to if I had just stayed in. I haven't watched one episode of Breaking Bad since I've been back. I come home from work, I rest, and then I go right back out. If not for a meal or a tea, then just to explore. You see a lot of scenes in just a 30 minute walk around the block.
Trying new things - There's this massage place right by my apartment run by some Vietnamese and I was due for a full-body massage. I had been there before, but I thought this time, screw it, let's ask if we can really make this a full, full-body massage, if you know what I mean. Just the process of hesitantly asking something I've never dreamed of asking for in English in broken Chinese to a Vietnamese woman was an experience in itself.
Traveling to another city - Right now I can hear fireworks outside. It's Lantern Festival. On a whim and a free ride I made plans to come to Taichung this weekend (I live in Hsinchu). I'm staying at a hostel for less than $20 a night (500NT) in a fantastic location. Every city in Taiwan has its own vibe and I almost forgot. I'm still traveling, just an hour away (two with traffic). I biked and walked around in the perfect weather. I got lost in the science museum until close, when they started blaring loud but soothing Taoist music to kick us out. Soon I'm going to head out and meet some friends of a friend at some social club and paint the town red.
All in all, I'm grateful I've been able to keep the travel spirit alive in my day-to-day life at my full-time residence. It's so easy to get caught up in the routine and forget that you're still on an adventure in another part of the world. I'm sure I will fall back into that rut at times, but luckily I have some tools to keep in mind to get me back out: walking, trying new things, and visiting different cities.
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Enjoy!