Running Away from the City: Hachijō-jima

Getting bored sitting in the office, facing the rectangular screen. And my mind still hang in the southern island.

That's my yearly run away. Run away from the concrete city. Run away from work. Run away from the realities.

My second camping trip with Tokyo Gaijin, to Hachijō-jima, a volcanic island, located at the southernmost of the Izu Seven Islands. 12 hours ride on the ferry and what welcome us was the spectacular sun rise in the middle of the sea.

The island is famous for diving. Me, not even a good swimmer, had to cross that out from the to-do list shamefully only hoping that some day in the future, I can get pass my phobia with the sea and dive into the mysterious world... crossed out the sea, concurring the volcanic peak of Hachijō-fuji was the best experience I had on the island.

There is another peak Mt. Mihara on the island, but it was a disappointment especially when the expectation was lifted with the Hachijō-fuji. The route to waterfalls seem abandoned and the hike end with a long hours of walks.

It was children's day and there was the festival, with a routine fire-stunt shows. Tried out some long exposure shot hand holding the camera. Most of them craps but got a couple that maybe some will called art?

And my trip end with a terrible news from Malaysia. Death of Democracy. We failed to throw out the rotten government that had stayed on power for too long. With dirty tactics, apparently they managed to hold on their breath for another five years. The sun rising in front of me was a big gap of what I felt about the future of my country in the hand of a group of racist morons...

As for today, racist issues is again played, student activist was detained. The road to true democracy seem far and unattainable...sometimes I can't help but questioning myself, why hide in Japan and complain? Why not try to change something? Why not go back and fight along with the fellow Malaysian..........