What I don't know and what I want to do

after spending more than 40 years in my life, I still don’t know who I am. It seems that I usually portray expected image  of myself as if I’m interested in certain things which attract me. But in reality I came to know that I wasn’t so interested in it. Maybe I just don’t know what I really like or want to have. Maybe lots of information and propaganda influenced me to believe in something if I myself came up with such an idea.
It is really helpful to know what I don’ t know. And Pico Iyer also told me value of life. And I didn’t know that he’s living in Japan, my country which I don’t know much about it.

What do I know about Japan?

I spent most of my life in Japan but I’m losing interest in living in Japan. Some reasons are related with natural environment but it is mostly because I have been fascinated with different culture and life in abroad. I spent more than 8 years in Africa and started living in Middle East. Everyday is full of surprises. Kids are enjoying diverse culture and English medium school might have been providing diverse and rich experiences to my kids which they can’t expect to get in Japanese school.

However, a person like Pico Iyer said life in Japan is full of surprise and discovery. It means there is a lot which I don’t know about Japan. As a Japanese national, I assume that I know about Japan but it might be a huge misunderstanding. Now my decade-long experience of living in abroad may open up my eyes to different cultural and social aspects of Japan to unveil common understanding of Japanese culture and society.

What can I do?

I begin to feel like to show how Japan is for people in the world. If it shed light on completely different aspects of Japan compared with stereotyped and ordinary image of Japan, I think that’s what I like to explore. Last a couple of years, I’ve been thinking of opening up my Airbnb service somewhere in the middle of Japan to provide local tour especially for those who likes nature and culture. It is because I was so fascinated with its nature and culture in Okayama.

There are so many historical monuments here and there. What strikes me was historical stories in the area which is almost like a myth. I think I need to take steps forward to make it happen.

Okayama is the next destination

If you visited Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara, next destination in Japan could be Okayama.It’s between Osaka and Hiroshima.


There are very old traditional temples.


It wasn’t so congested like Kyoto or Nara and you can enjoy its scenery and beauty of nature, too. I think bike might be ideal means to move around this area (this is what I want to provide as optional service at my Airbnb someday).


You can easily extend your trip to Kurashiki which is so beautiful place.


To do something in Okayama, it would be great if I can visit and meet Pico Iyer somewhere in Japan to learn a lot from his spiritual lessons.

Please ask me any question at Ask.fm.

Flying over Syria from Amman to Beirut

Last few weeks, lots of posts on social media and breaking news deals with Aleppo and Syria. It’s been already half a decade after Syria crisis started as a result of Arab Spring.

Though I’m based in Amman, I frequently fly to Beirut. And I just recently came to know that my favorite flight usually pass over Syria. Middle East Airlines, a member of Sky Team, take a route like this.. 


  
You can check the route of your flight at MEA web site.

It is surely safer than taking a route over Israel, especially for a country like Lebanon having Hezbollah seriously fighting against Israel.

However, lay man like me is so scared of any incident due to flying over Syria. I know I may not know anything about Arab but having seen Malaysian flight shot down over Ukraine a few years ago, I am just so scared of this reality.

But people on board seem to be so calm and relaxed as if they are just looking forward to having a nice time in Beirut or going back home sweet home in Lebanon.