Two days. Three guides. Eight Camp Adventure counselors. 220 dollars, kayaking through sea caves, lush green peninsulas, and clear blue waters, a traditional Japanese hotel, a multi-course dinner, and roof-top bathouses. Life seriously could not get any better than this past weekend.
Eight of us arrived at Outdoor Rec a little past 5 am to meet our guides, fit lifejackets, and pass out on the three hour drive to the Izu Peninsula. Our American guide Jeff has lived in Japan for 17 years now, and he answered all of our questions about the country, from the political system to rice farming to Japanese pick-up lines. More than once, as he turned around from his left-hand front seat to gesture excitedly during a story, I started to freak out in my head. PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL, LOOK AT THE ROAD, AND DRIVE! Oh, that’s right. You’re the passenger.
A couple stops for breakfast, and we had arrived at a cove on the Izu Peninsula. We all agreed it felt like a Jurassic Park set with the lush, green trees and strange dinosaur-looking birds. The Japanese guides were more than a bit concerned about letting us kayak in the actual ocean due to the high winds and large waves, but like the true college students that we are, we blazed ahead with the encouragement of our American guide. I’m not the best kayaker, but I managed decently well (by the end I could make a complete circle without hitting anything!) It was amazing to swim in clear water, see lots of sea life, and navigate my way through the caves along the shoreline.
After a full day of kayaking, we made our way to our traditional Japanese hotel, where we laid out our bed rolls, drank the tea set out for us, and donned our robes. Let me tell you about these robes. You do not wear anything under them. And you go everywhere in them. Lounging on the beach, enjoying Japan’s lack of open container policy? Check. Going to dinner in the restaurant across from your hotel? Check. Walking 15 minutes to the convinience store? Check. Our hotel also had bathhouses on the roof, and we defintely enjoyed those. There’s something about being naked on the roof of a hotel with a view of the ocean in Japan that makes you feel free. Or certifies you as crazy. Either way.
More kayaking, cave visiting, swimming, and sightseeing the next day, and then it was back to base for another week of work.
July 11 marks a month since I’ve arrived in Japan. Crazy times.
Just remember when you're back home - that you're back home.
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