Tuesday, June 16, 2015

My friend, the deer.

This is Jehuty Bivalve-Fronkey.





Unbeknownst to everyone, he has been my travel companion while here in Japan. I actually met him at Narita Airport, and we bonded over a coffee. He told me that he was trying to get back to his family on Miyajima Island, and wondered if I could help him.
I said I'd be going there eventually, and told him I'd get him there safely if he'd agree to accompany me on all my stops until we hit Hiroshima. He seemed happy with the whole deal, and so it was today I bid him farewell.
His home, it must be said, is amazingly beautiful, one you get past all the tourist crap. Like, 'punch yourself in the dick' level of beautiful.


After I said my goodbyes, Jehuty bounced away, shitting gleefully with each be-hooved step. I shed a tear, and resolved to see as much of his home as possible. First, I thought, I'll tackle this mountain. After all, I reached the summit of the last one with energy to spare.
Well, Mt. Misen defeated me. Much steeper than the previous mountain, the signpost said I'd only done 1.6 kilometres out of the whole 2.9, but I could feel myself 'overheating', as I call it. Where most people can exert themselves and shed sweat to compensate, my body just builds up steam until I turn a worrying shade of red and literally radiate heat.

The stubborn part of me wanted to press on, but I made the right call, and turned around. When I reached the base of the mountain, a quick check in a mirror showed I was indeed 'overheating'.
Dousing myself in water, I decided to seek more sedentary pursuits. The Miyajima aquarium seemed to fit the bill, so I wandered around there for an hour or so. Most aquatic life was repeated from the Osaka aquarium, excepting penguins, and I was lucky enough to stumble upon feeding time, and a limited window where I was allowed to pat a penguin. It was completely nonplussed by my touch, and just wanted more fish to eat.

Leaving there, and continuing the saga of patting animals, Jehuty's family are allowed free roam of the whole island, so I patted every single deer I could find. Which was a fucking lot of deer, to be honest. Wandering back into the tourist area, I purchased some gifts for the loved ones back home, and also some for my family. Zing!

The tide had receded fully by this time, so I was able to walk out to the Torii gate and take some photos. Associated as they are with Shinto shrines, I couldn't help but think this one was doubling as a gentle prayer to the gods, asking them to prevent the deer from shitting everywhere.


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