Dreaming of Ancient Forests
by Wendy Fitzgerald
Haiku Walking in Japan 2024
For me, trips can be divided into three stages … first the dreaming and planning stage… the actual trip and then the wonderful memories that play in my mind when I get home.
Eyes open. Tread softly.
Mind open. Feel the breeze.
Travel. Listen.
I can’t remember how I heard about Jan Cornall’s ‘Haiku Walking in Japan’ trip — but I’m so glad I did. My husband wasn’t keen to come. He’s a lovely man with lots of talents, but he doesn’t walk slowly or write poetry, so I invited my friend Donna to come with me.
Donna and I bought strong walking shoes, blocked out Thursdays and started training — striding around our suburb six, seven, sometimes eight kilometres at a time. We recorded our steps, linked into a Japanese news app — (NHK World) and chatted about our pending adventure.
Frizzing with excitement.
Dreaming of ancient forests.
Bamboo and tall trunks of cedar.
Musty smell of nature
Growth.
Finally, the day came. My husband dropped us at the airport and our much-anticipated adventure began. We had two nights in Tokyo, a bullet train to Kyoto, then three nights in Kyoto before we met the walking group.
Voice on traffic lights the thrill of the forest
Surge of milling crowds. Bees buzzing
Orderly queues, polite smiles Stand still to watch
Lost Found
We got lost a few times in the cities, but kind people popped out of the crowd and went out of their way to help us find what we were looking for. Donna’s translation app on her phone was a help too.
It was an odd feeling not being able to read the signs or understand the language. To us, the Japanese figures look like dashes and dots artistically arranged like a secret code painted with flair — but it was a painting we had no hope of understanding.
Language.
We live in the cage of our own words.
What makes sense to you,
is a mystery to me.
A secret code.
The food was extraordinary. Delicious morsels of seasonal vegetables, seafood and meat. Sashimi, fish, pickles, sushi, tempura, soba noodles, Ogden, beef, udo, tofu, lotus root and more… all accompanied by fluffy white rice and miso soup. Their cakes were amazing too.
Delicate flavours arranged
Art on a tray
Ita daki ma su. (Japanese for bless this food)
Three hours cruising from Kyoto on the Shinkansen (bullet train) and we met our walking group at Fukuoka Hakata Station.
Jonathon Finger from Walk Japan was our Australian / Japanese guide. We loved him.
Jan Cornall was our mentor and fearless poetry leader. She had to pull out of our trip due to illness, but she was still there in spirit and she smiled at us through the lap top screen each morning and afternoon.
Nine women and Jan — bonded
by Haiku Walking
Ten forks in the road.
Nine women from around Australia, Costa Rica and New Mexico.
We got on famously — sharing observations, feelings, stories and experiences- and some poems as well.
We are and will remain friends — connected through What’s App.
We were brought even closer by the onsens. It’s a Japanese thing. We went to the communal bathhouse, stripped naked, washed our bodies then soaked in hot thermal pools. Another wonderful experience.
Before I left on this trip, I imagined myself wandering amongst tall ancient trees on leaf-littered trails — alert to sounds, sights, smells… poems sparking in my imagination — my pen and note book handy in my new over-shoulder pouch…
But, in reality I didn’t factor in the weather or effect of the volcanic activity over the years in the Kunisaki peninsular.
In reality, the tracks were much steeper than I had expected and we did have one very wet and windy day making the walk a little bit treacherous. So, instead, I found myself intently watching my feet, alert to loose rocks, steep inclines and slippery, mossy slopes. Ha.
Our first hike was wet. Raindrops sparkle
Slippery rocks. Steep incline. Leaves shine
Wonderful. Hair frizzes
Now I am home and I find myself dreaming of the forest, of the camaraderie of friends, of the kindness of the people. I find myself constantly craving miso soup and rice.
My sturdy walking boots call me from the garage. ‘Time for a walk,’ they say. I find myself striding out, doing a few laps of the park, looking for hills, walking just a little bit more… it’s like my boots have developed a mind of their own.
Maybe it was the exercise. Maybe it was the fresh food. Maybe it was the clear forest air. Maybe it was the natural spring water in the onsens. But I feel better — healthier than I did before the walk.
Leaves dancing. Weir gushing, water splashing.
Wind playing. Stream bubbling.
Music. Mud sticking.
I loved this adventure. Thank you, Jan Cornall, our guide Jonathan Finger and the girls. May we all stay in touch, keep walking and dreaming up haiku.
Meanwhile, I can enjoy the bento box at our local sushi restaurant. Almost as good as the real thing.
Easy track or Difficult track?
We get to choose…
the way we see this crazy world.
© Wendy Fitzgerald, April 2024.
Wendy Fitzgerald used to be a primary teacher in Sydney. Now she loves travelling, playing with words and making up stories with her 4 little grandkids.
Wendy took part in Haiku Walking in Japan with Writer’s Journey on April 2024. The next Writers in Japan journey is planned for Feb 2025.
Web: www.writersjourney.com.au
Insta: @_writersjourney
