Farewell Morning
January 28th, Sragen. Today was the day to finally leave for my next destination. I packed my bags carefully, checked everything twice, and stood ready by my bicycle.
The hotel staff, who had looked after me during my stay, began gathering around. One by one, they wished me well. Hearing the words “See you again” always stirs something inside me. It makes me promise myself that I will return.
Before setting off, I went to a food stall run by a friend of the man who had taken me on a motorbike ride yesterday. There, I was served a Soto-style dish. They refused payment, saying, “It’s for your journey ahead.”
Soto has a taste similar to a thicker, richer Japanese porridge. I enjoyed every spoonful. Surrounded by the stall owner, the shopkeeper, and even relatives of the man who once studied in Japan, I felt as if the whole town was seeing me off.
On the Road
The weather was kind, not too hot, not too heavy. Perfect for riding. As I pedaled forward, the thought of the word ikigai—“reason for living”—came to my mind. Do people here think about this word? I wondered.
About 20 kilometers in, the clouds began to darken. From past experience, I have a belief: when too many good things happen, something bad often follows. Trusting my instinct, I stopped at a small stall, sipped iced tea, and waited.
Soon, heavy rain arrived. I sheltered there for nearly an hour, watching the world blur with falling water, before continuing toward the campsite.
Evening at the Camp
Finally, I reached the place where I would camp for the night. The cost was 35,000 rupiah—about 332 yen—for the space.
After setting up my tent, I noticed a single food stall nearby, the only one around. The owner looked at me and asked, “Makan?”—“Eat?” I said yes. Without another word, he disappeared into the kitchen.
I didn’t know what would come out, but instead of fear, I felt excitement. Travel is full of these small moments of uncertainty that turn into memories.
By the end of the day, I had covered close to 100 kilometers. My body was tired, but my heart was full—with gratitude, with warmth, and with the joy of another day lived on the road.
