Climb Every Mountain

I went to Japan for 5 days. Hokkaido to be exact. The folks were going, so I invited myself along.

Food great. Coach rides not so great. Natural hot spring baths every night divine... especially the outdoor ones. Ever seen footage on National Geographic of those Japanese mountain monkeys bathing in natural rock pools in the middle of winter, whilst snow falls around them? And how content and relaxed they looked, faces flushed rosey pink they are languidly close to nodding off? That was me, minus the fur and the snow.

It is the custom in Japan to bathe in public baths in the nude. To cover your modesty you are allowed one small towel. I struggled with that small towel on the first day. It simply wouldn't stretch beyond what seemed like the size of a fig leaf. Facing the reality of the situation I plunged (excuse the pun) into the world of nude public bathing. It wasn't so bad. Being in a roomful of naked women, mostly of a retired age-group, I took a sigh of relief knowing these women weren't interested in sniggering like teenage girls I once knew (or were).

Once you sink into that neck-high bath with your fellow bathers, you feel at peace and at one with everybody there and the world. After an enjoyable soak you can stand and walk away without clinging to your fig leaf. You've overcome a cultural barrier, you've done as the Romans did, you've understood the connection we all have as human beings, to the planets, and the universe. You are on the top of the world.

Just don't slip on the wet floor on your way out.