A third consecutive reunion, and the day I made a friend in the seat next to me on the plane.
A healthy morning, feeling nervous at a Fancy cafe
I woke up at 8:30 today. Interestingly, I woke up at a very healthy hour. I walked to a nearby cafe. Its rating was 4.9 and it looked really good, so I thought I might as well go.
I arrived at the cafe, but there was no one there. Because it was such a Fancy cafe I felt a bit nervous and kind of froze up. It felt like an older version of me showed up — different from the me who moved by the feelings I had while adventuring in Bromo; more like a version from a while back. I really don't like that feeling.
I do get nervous when I go into Fancy restaurants, especially alone. But when I went to a very Fancy restaurant in Jogja with friends, I felt so confident. Was it because I was with someone? Am I someone who can't feel confident when I'm alone? Is that such a sad thing?
I ordered the morning set: eggs, bacon, vegetables, a wrap, and banana chips. For a drink I had an oat milk hazelnut latte. Both were genuinely delicious. I ate while writing in my journal by myself.
A third consecutive reunion with Yogi
As the time to meet Yogi approached, I went back to the guesthouse and completed check-out. I left my luggage there to be kept. I stamped it and finished preparing the card to give to Yogi.
I was making an Instagram post in the lobby. Posts take a lot of time. Maybe because I want to be particular about them, they had become something that values aesthetics. Year by year it feels like my standards have risen a lot. But then again, maybe that's fine.
After finishing the post I went to the beach where Yogi was. I'd be meeting him three years in a row. It made me really happy — I first met him in 2023.
When I went rushing out to the beach to try surfing for the first time in my life, he happened to come up to me and ask, 'Are you Japanese?' and then taught me surfing as an instructor. That was how it started. After that I made his website, and he gave me Sarak and chips. We have lots of memories. This is the third time.
Yogi said he was hungry so we hurried to the beach. There we met an Indonesian who had been recruiting at the same school as Yogi two years ago — the person who had given me a ride into town. We took a photo together.
Canggu Beach had changed so much; both the people and the beach kept developing and I couldn't tell where the school had gone. Bali is seeing more people year by year, prices are rising, and development is accelerating. I felt that firsthand.
Lunch at the place where we met in 2023
Finally reunited with Yogi! We shook hands and immediately went to have lunch. We decided to go to the place we ate together when we first met in 2023. It was really nostalgic. Because it's local food I was a little worried about food poisoning, but I'm used to Southeast Asian food now and I was staying for five months, so I thought I'd probably be okay.
We talked with a lot of high energy. It had been a long time, and because we only meet once a year, actually meeting was something to be really happy about. We talked about things like how crazy the recent flood was — were you okay? — and about our friend Gwen.
We arrived at the restaurant and ordered after a long time. They said they had just-prepared vegetables, so we ordered those and what you might call classic Indonesian food. I kept asking every time, 'Is that not spicy?'
You can't really trust an Indonesian's 'not spicy' (lol). I paid 20K. I said I'd pay for Yogi too, but he kept refusing and wouldn't let me. I guess that's just his personality. He seems outgoing and very high-energy, but I sensed he's actually thoughtful in his own way.
Just as we were about to eat, other Indonesians were shouting things like, 'Use your hands!' (lol). Everyone was so friendly — I loved it. Yogi seemed to know everyone and was chatting with lots of people.
He asked, 'How long will you stay in Indonesia?' and I said, 'Actually, today! Right now! That's why I wanted to see you, Yogi!' He was really surprised. Then he asked about my career, how I balance travel and work, and what kind of work I do. He said he wanted to be like me.
The customary adventure notebook, and then to the airport
We finished lunch. I'd had breakfast just earlier, so I was full. As a customary event, I had him write a message in my notebook. Yogi wrote properly. I wondered if he remembered 2023.
It felt like he was used to it. After he wrote, I handed him the card. I already had to go to the airport, so we said bye quickly and I went back to the guesthouse to get my luggage.
I called a motorbike taxi to the airport. It took about an hour. The driver was very kind and let me put my large backpack in front, so I only had to carry the small bag — it was really comfortable. I headed to the airport listening to music.
There were many travelers and foreigners everywhere you looked. Bali is developing year by year, and there were so many things that surprised me — places that used to be one way are now completely different.
After arriving at the airport, I gave the motorbike taxi driver a 200-yen tip. Then I walked into the airport. Check-in went smoothly and I boarded the plane.
In the lounge I ate my last Indonesian meal. My stomach felt a bit off and I worried it might be food poisoning. But it wasn't — I had just eaten too much.
I made a friend in the seat next to me on the plane
Time to board! From Bali to Ho Chi Minh City. I'm returning to Japan via Vietnam, so I can access the HCMC lounge. I was really happy to be able to eat Vietnamese food.
My seat on the plane was 40A. Maybe my vibe was good, because for the first time I wasn't wearing earphones. The person who sat next to me also had a nice vibe, and when she was trying to put her bag under the seat I asked, 'Can't you put it up top?'
I'm surprisingly friendly, huh. My heart was really open. I must have felt her vibe.
Then she gave me candy. That's how the conversation started. She was Vietnamese and we talked about things like, 'Have you ever traveled to Vietnam?' 'Where have you been?' 'Do you like Japanese wasabi? Do you like sushi?' and so on.
She seemed like a really nice person so we kept talking. When I talk to people I meet offline like this, I tend to be very cautious, and sometimes my face stiffens and other times I'm able to be my natural self — it alternates. I felt that while talking with her.
Apparently she's been living in Canada since 2017 and her English was very fluent. During the flight she shared snacks with me and I thought she was really kind. She was going back to HCMC for three weeks, returning home once every two years or so.
When I told her I want to become a pilot so I want to go to a flight school in Canada, and that Canada is the last country on my round-the-world trip, she said, 'If you come to Canada, contact me! I'll make you coffee.'
We also shared experiences about Vietnamese coffee. When I asked, 'Do you have Instagram?' she said 'Yes!' so we agreed to exchange accounts after landing.
But during that time I kept overthinking — how to approach her, how to say goodbye — and thinking too much in my head made it hard to talk smoothly. Wanting to be liked too much makes it impossible to be natural. Still, maybe deep down I was anxious about her leaving, since she's someone from far away. So I was worrying about how to talk so I wouldn't be disliked. It's complicated.
Touchdown, and a small bit of growth
We landed. While waiting for the bus to arrive, she asked for my Instagram and we exchanged accounts. 'Nice to meet you,' she said. Then we took the bus and arrived at the airport. I missed the timing for a final goodbye. Oh well, it can't be helped. But since I managed to say 'Nice to meet you,' I thought that's okay.
Still, this was the first time I became friends with someone I sat next to on a plane, talked to, and connected with. It was a really joyful experience and became a truly happy memory. I grew a little and accomplished something. I was really glad. I'm convinced it's because I stayed true to my feelings. That's why I learned the importance of staying true to your emotions.
The Vietnam lounge, and PHUC LONG
I spent three hours in the Vietnam lounge. The beef noodles I ate for the first time in a while were really delicious. Watermelon was all-you-can-eat, so I ate a lot. I wrote in my journal and replied to friends on Instagram.
My flight was at 1 a.m., but because the lounge could only be used for three hours I left the lounge at 9:30 p.m. While walking around I replied to friends and went to Vietnam's famous cafe PHUC LONG. I ordered oolong tea and wrote in my journal. It was insanely delicious. The flavor of that tea was the best. I decided I'd go there again next time I come to Vietnam.
There were a lot of Japanese people around, and it made me feel somewhat conflicted. I thought I wanted to continue this trip just a little longer.
