Less Luggage, More Purpose
I've made it back to Gunma, and my travel preparations are steadily coming together.
The gear sitting in front of me is basically everything I'll be taking into "battle" on this next adventure. Compared to my last trip, I've managed to cut my luggage in half. If you factor in the bicycle, it's actually less than a third of what I used to carry. I might even ruthlessly downsize a bit more before I actually hit the road.
I've realized that the true purpose of traveling isn't to haul around a bunch of stuff; it's about bringing only what is truly practical and what adds genuine depth to the experience.
The Philosophy of Deep Travel
The overarching theme of this upcoming journey is all about creating "depth" and focusing on learning. Instead of just breezing through towns, regions, and countries, I want to plant myself in these communities a little longer than usual.
I want to actively communicate with the locals and experience the raw, unfiltered reality of the places I visit. That kind of authentic connection is incredibly important to me, so I'm tailoring my travel methods to make it happen. When I asked myself if lugging around a massive backpack was necessary to achieve that connection, the answer was a resounding "no". Carrying less physical weight allows for a more immersive and meaningful journey.
Curry, Documentaries, and Quiet Evenings
Night has fallen, and I had curry for dinner—probably my fourth time having it since I got back here. It's absolutely the best. I'm a huge fan of curry, so I plan to eat as much of it as I can while it's readily available.
After dinner, I unwound by watching an NHK Special documentary. I honestly love tuning into these 11 PM late-night broadcasts. Tonight's episode was about an overseas topic, and like always, it offered such a unique and fascinating perspective. It's nice to just soak in some new knowledge and deepen my understanding of the world as I map out my next steps. With my mind engaged and my gear prepared, I'll be more than ready to kick off this next chapter whenever the departure day finally arrives.
