MEANINGFUL TRAVEL | HENRO | PILGRIMAGES IN JAPAN | SHIKOKU88
By SENSEISTEVE88 January 2024
'Come to Queensland and see the world' - Expo88 advertising
1988 Japanese Central High-Definition TV screens - heralding
a means of communication that would only become
commercially viable in the early 2000s.
In 1988, 'Expo' (Brisbane AUS) would provide the Universe's first genuine 'nudge' for Sophie's narrator to explore the 'East' and ultimately reconcile my 2 'selves'.
By 1988 I had almost completed a University degree part-time and was living and working in Sydney. My girlfriend at the time and another couple hatched a plan to head to Brisbane for a holiday and attend Expo88 (World Expo was a big thing back then and the city of Brisbane had pulled off a coup to host it).
Countries competed to draw attention to there exhibit and Japan's was among the most in demand. The measure of being in demand, however, was queue waiting time. Due to some childhood trauma (see Henro Ch.2) I was bloody-minded about queueing up in the hot Brisbane sun to get my chance to see how Japan was promoting itself. My fellow travelers did not share my passion and opted out.
Three outcomes resulted:
A love affair and obsession with Japan began;
I got separated from my companions after a terse conversation ... in a world before mobile phones!
My girlfriend was NOT HAPPY upon finally (14hrs later) reconnecting!
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