14 January 2008

Not entirely sure what to write today. I have started doing a bit of writing about Japan, for a sense of release (and, if I'm honest, nostalgia). I find London so uninspiring by comparison - sure there are parks but the nature here is so controlled. I miss mountains and rocks and sky everywhere and more than anything the great, rolling, angry expanse of sea on windy, cloudy days like today. I never got bored of the sea - sitting by it, watching the sun rise over it, listening to it - it's so great and strong. All that power to move, to kill, to support life, in constant flux.

Actually, talking of the sea, I just remembered something. This was the first picture I posted on this blog, and I remember very clearly the day I took it. I had gone out to Senjojiki (a formation of volcanic rock jutting out into the sea) and was walking about on all the rocks, getting as close to the sea as I could, striding over channels of seething, swirling water, watching the waves crash against the slabs of rock. I was only five minutes from the car, there were other people around and I knew I was safe; but I felt totally alone, like I had passed through a curtain onto the stage of the sea, and suddenly there was nothing else. I was swallowed up, at least figuratively, at least for a while.

It's 4.30pm and not quite dark - another couple of weeks and I reckon it'll be light to walk home in...