On a mildly cool afternoon I sauntered along the airy canal and manifold shops of Otaru, savoring the sight and sound of things around, cherishing the last few days of stay in Hokkaido. A kitten, on the sidewalk opposite of mine, was about the cross the busy street, where cars and light trucks traveled on both directions at a rather high pace. I let out a gasp, seeing the kitten stamping his paws on the road when cars on both directions were closing in. My entrails convulsed at the thought of the kitten being crushed by the oncoming traffic. Fortunately, a loud squeaking braking sound was heard: traffic on both ends came to a temporary halt. The kitten huddled into a small furry ball, frozen in the middle of the road. The drivers let out a chorus of car horn and shouting and proceeded the kitten to the safety of the sidewalk. Tragedy averted, right in front of me. I regrouped from my momentary pasty appearance, made a murmuring sound toward the kitten, but enticed nothing. The kitten dashed for the narrow alley, in search of his fancy. "Good luck, kitten," I murmured, as the kitten disappeared into the distant alley. I consciously smiled on in watching the kitten venture on in life: a smile that is genuine and unaffected. I walked on toward the south end of the canal, relishing the sweet air of travel, feeling a bit better about the world.

Catching a bus back to Sapporo, a sense of doziness gradually overtook my faculty, I put down the novel, head resting on the bus window, and slept all the way back, perhaps with my mouth open. The sky was heavy with cloud by the time the bus arrived in the city, and the air imbued with wetness. After checking in at the Renaissance, I strolled around the streets, rode the subway just because I miss riding it, rub shoulders with Japanese high schoolers at the train station, blending into the mass of black hair, lost myself in the gait of the city. Utilizing the calm before the impending heavy rain, I stopped by the Old City Hall, Tokeidai, and Odori Park, taking in whatever sight and sound that were there, for my days of escaping reality were coming to an end soon. With a bit of an effort I found a twilit cafe with wireless connection. I ordered a cup of coffee together with a cream puff that was too big for my appetite, at once to write down the happening of the past few days before they escape from memory. Rain by now were pouring down hard and, with enough moisture in the air, snow seemed imminent. The panoramic glass window offered an unobtrusive view from the 3rd floor, where each sumptuous raindrop can be observed spattering the city. The clinking sound of silver spoon stirring coffee made me realize that I am unable to reflect the blissfulness of the past few days into words.

Tags: Hokkaido, 北海道, Japan, Travel, Otaru, 小樽, Sapporo, 札幌