401. Second Honeymoon

401. Second Honeymoon

I am writing this blog in Hakone, a small city known for the onsen, a natural hot spring in Japan. It was a great way to wrap up our trip, as the trip involved a lot of walking and exploring.

I planned the trip into two parts. The first part was exploring Tokyo and spending time with my cousin’s family. The second part was exploring Kyoto, known for traditional Japanese architecture, which Jennifer wanted to see. Tokyo was a very busy city, but we enjoyed the vibe that comes from thoughtful design, narrow alleys and cleanliness.

My cousin’s wedding was great. I googled the wrong train station so we were a bit late but made it to all the important parts. All his relatives in Korea couldn’t make it for various reasons, so we were the only relatives who attended the wedding. So my aunt and uncle were very appreciative of our presence at the wedding. Getting to know my cousin’s wife was great, and I was happy for my cousin, as she was bright and thoughtful.

We took the bullet train called “Shinkansen” from Tokyo to Kyoto on the 2nd week. Kyoto was a beautiful city and we enjoyed exploring different scenic places. I burnt the roof of my mouth at the end of the first week, so I was a bit sad I couldn’t enjoy hot food very well. But somehow I managed to remain content, so I am thankful for the grace.

While I was planning the trip to Japan, I was a bit overwhelmed, so I made a prayer, submitting my plan to God. I specifically asked God for his favour through pleasant surprises. One of the greatest surprises was the weather. It was perfect fall weather, and we were able to enjoy the walk and unobstructed views of the landmarks.

At the wedding reception, my aunt confided to me that she wouldn’t have invited us if the wedding was happening in Korea. But as it was happening in Japan, she invited us, thinking it would be like a second honeymoon for us if we could make it. When I heard that, the entire trip seemed like God’s surprise gift for us, an undeniably pleasant surprise. God always gives more than we ask for.