Japan Day 5

Published on by Yinglan

It’s Day 5 and we have arrived at Fujikawaguchiko, a resort town near the foot of Mount Fuji, after a 2-hour bus ride. I’m so glad it’s not as hot and humid here, compared to Tokyo. In hindsight, I feel I missed quite a bit of sightseeing in Tokyo because of the heat, exhaustion, and pain but I guess this would give me a reason to visit again.

We had planned to hike Mt. Fuji many moons ago while planning the trip but with limited bus service, we decided to hold off the hike. Honestly, I was relieved.

I know this might be an old person saying but I am in pain. I’ve been in pain from the start but never complained about it. I’m not usually a complainer of pain and no one really believe me anyway when I say I’m in pain. People would just tell me I’m too young to be in pain. What about humans? Humans can be in pain, why can’t I?

I had surgeries to remove calcification in my left leg 10 years ago because I was in pain and guess what, it’s back. The calcification returned and with all the walking I’ve done in the last 5 days, the bone of my lower legs constantly feels like I’m bumping against something.

Meanwhile, I can’t sit for more than 45 minutes to an hours without my knees screaming in pain. And my back? I don’t even want to talk about it.

In the meantime, I don’t have anyone to talk to. Mom is too preoccupied with her complaints about her pain and catching up with her friend to care about my pain and suffering. I’m just a third wheel on this trip. Why am I even here? I don’t know.

So we are spending 24 hours in this resort town to see Mt. Fuji. Unfortunately, the clouds decided to hide the top of Mt. Fuji from the rest of the world. Of course, mom was upset and disappointed, which I don’t know why. She often discouraged people to see Mt. Fuji. “Seeing Mt. Fuji is a waste of money,” she’d say, “the mountains in Utah is much prettier than Mt. Fuji.” I might not had seen Mt. Fuji today but there’s no doubt in my mind that that statement is false.

I shot two of my favorite photos on this trip today – the first picture in this post and the last. I’m so glad to had switched lenses this morning to increase my reach. Otherwise, I don’t think I could’ve gotten these photos.

25 thoughts on “Japan Day 5”

    1. I think it’s the pain and the pace of the trip. I wish my mom would just stop and slow down instead of zooming past everything beautiful about Japan. Her pace is equal to that of a tour group, which I hate. My pace is slow and relaxed. I find I can actually see more this way and probably not be in so much pain.

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    1. I was born with problems. I’ve been in and out of physical therapy this year because of my back. The doctors think it might be muscle fatigue but it doesn’t feel like muscle pain to me. It feels more like nerve pain. I always carry a bottle of the strong stuff – 800 mg ibuprofen – when I travel (even hiking) and it seems to be helping a little but not a lot.

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      1. Muscle fatigue doesn’t hurt. It feels like dead arm or leg. Unless you actually hurt yourself, you’re probably right. Nerves. I take the heavy stuff too. You might try adding a gram of Tylenol.

        Ray

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      3. You may have to find other doctors. Once, about 7 years ago I had serious bag and leg pain. The orthopods could figure it out so they sent me to a pain guy. He figured it out. Stenosis. The narrowing of the sheathe that protects the nerve from the brain stem to the bottom of the spine. Essentially a pinched nerve. Two shots above and below the blockage. After about a week later no pain. It gave the pain points time to heal.

        Ray Laskowitz

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  7. I get all of your posts once a week so I am looking forward to reading your further adventures in Japan. I’m sorry the pain has been so intense. Why are you on the trip, you ask? Make this your adventure. Stop worrying about your mother. She is lucky you brought her with you and she is enjoying it. You should too!

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