| Afternoon
Well, today has been full of surprises
so far--none of them good.
I got up early and joined the morning
worship service at Temple Number 2, where I stayed last night. It
wasn't "my" prayer routine, but it was a legitimate one
(including the chanting of my beloved Hannya Shingyo with my
friend the priest), so I have to credit this as my prayer place
today--because there's no way I'm going to be able to reach Koyasan
before night fall.
I had it all figured out, and it all
fell apart. Like someone said, "I finally got my [stuff]
together, and then I forgot where I put it."
It's after 1 p.m. now, and I'm still in
Tokushima--less than an hour away from my starting point. I'll be
here until after 2:00, when the ferry leaves.
How did this happen?
I left Temple Number 2 at 8:00, and
walked back to Number 1, where I knew there was a JR Highway Bus stop
that led back to Tokushima station. The bus was due at 8:36; I was
there in plenty of time. A bus came at 8:34; I gestured to him to
stop, but he gestured back that this bus wasn't stopping. Well, I
thought, different bus. It's a bit early yet. My bus is coming.
Huh. Another bus came, near 8:40.
This guy didn't even acknowledge my gestures; he just flew on by.
Same with the next one. A little after 8:50, I gave up and walked
back to Bando station, where the next train was coming at 9:39.
I don't know what the deal was with the
buses. Was one the correct bus, and he just didn't see me?
Or was the bus I was waiting for more than 15 minutes late? I'll
never know.
Anyway, I was in Tokushima at
10-something, still plenty of time. I walked straight out of the
station and onto the waiting bus for Komatsushima port. The bus
ride takes about 30 minutes.
When I arrived, I discovered that there
hasn't been an active ferry from Komatsushima in three years. I
would have sworn that's where I arrived on Shikoku a little over
a month ago, but apparently not.
11:15--bus back to Tokushima station,
no longer laughing. A quick lunch, then checked out buses to the correct
ferry terminal.
12:10--on the bus. The station
signs seemed to indicate that from this bus I'd make a connection to the
ferry, and arrive in Wakayama at 2:10--still OK.
12:30--Wrong. That was the 12:10 ferry
that arrives in Wakayama at 2:10, not the ferry reached from the 12:10 bus.
The next ferry is at 2:10! So here I sit. I should be in
Osaka around 5:30, and it's still another two-and-a-half hours to
Koyasan from there!
So I guess I'll see the Daishi tomorrow
morning. No problem; plenty of time.
By the way, because I know that there's
no Internet connectivity from Koyasan, I'm publishing this now,
while I have the time, at the Tokushima Ferry Terminal on Shikoku.
Tonight I'll write about the rest of my day, but I won't be able to
publish it until I leave Koyasan tomorrow morning.
Please check back and see how the rest
of my day went! |
HISTORY
