Lost Guido - T52

May 14 cont...

Makoto San was one of those Japanese enigmas who could sleep upright and instantly – he was a marvel to witness.

Pretty soon I nodded off too.

I got a text that stirred me and was just reading it when I heard lots of people shouting. I looked up to see everyone on the bus looking back at us, pointing and yelling Taisan Ji!! It was our stop. Makoto San woke up and we hurriedly paid and got off.
Both of us were still a bit groggy as we worked out which way to go.

We had to walk fast because we only had 10 minutes to get to the stamp office at Temple 52. Makoto San sped way up in front of me until I lost sight of him. I assumed he must have run.
At last, puffing and legs pumped, I made it to the Temple. I looked around and couldn’t see Makoto San or an office. I did my Gya Teis and was standing bewildered, knowing something had gone wrong, when he came rushing up the stairs, pointing back down the driveway saying Office First!! He then indicated I follow and we ran down the hill again.
I had lost him because he had turned off the track to go to the office which was on a completely different compound. I had seen a sign but, because I couldn’t understand it, I assumed it must have been for something else and after my Bangai embarrassment, I didn’t want to risk making a further spectacle of myself.

I got my scroll signed and suggested to Makoto San that he go up to the Temple because I had already completed my ritual. I was then able to relax before we set off again.