Musings From Paradise

Like Zion National Park, Kamikochi is accessible only by bus. Located in the Chubusangaku National Park in Japan’s Nagano prefecture, visitors to tiny Kamikochi, elevation 5,000′, are dwarfed by majestic peaks in the 10,000′ range on both sides of a narrow valley, carved patiently by the Azusagawa River over the last couple million years.

Rather than a conventional city, Kamikochi more closely resembles a collection of lodges, most within walking distance from the end-of-the-line bus terminal that serves as exclusive transportation for all travelers.
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“I’m sorry, Mr. Viani, but your ticket from Jakarta, Indonesia, to Tokyo, Narita, is scheduled for 21 June. Today is June 20. I’m afraid you’ll have to come back tomorrow.”

Now I’ve been late for some flights, and have even missed one or two. But to arrive 24 hours EARLY for anything (not to mention at 4 in the morning!) is pretty damned unbelievable.
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Justine and Caroline, two friends of Emma’s from the Saint Monica prayer circle she actively participates in, helped organize an overnight trip to Cirebon after Emma shared I was coming and very keen on Cirebon batik. Justine is familiar with the city since her father, was born there. She and Caroline had visited before and were keen on returning with us.
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Trudging up the 14th fairway at Matoa Nasional golf course in Jakarta, Indonesia, I was nearly overwhelmed by the combination of heat and humidity. Although we teed off at 6:30 a.m., here it was pushing 10:30 and it had to be in the mid-nineties.

Matoa does not permit electric golf cars and, like Bandon Dunes, the Oregon gem, golfers employ caddies to carry the sticks.
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There’s a seemingly endless supply of life’s novel events. Our latest “first” occurred this past week when Ashland experienced a severe tempest that resulted in minor flooding around town. Winds, rainfall, hail, and associated (minor) flooding were of a magnitude that few had any recollections of in recent history. At least those we’ve met during our 18+ years in Ashland. What is particularly interesting is how the most damage occurred in our immediate neighborhood; other parts of Ashland reported minor showers and ho-hum winds.
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