Excitement can trigger amnesia. Maybe? Well, sometimes when we get super excited, we forget about a lot of things for as long as we are happy, like nothing else matters. Can you relate? When Mount Fuji has awakened my high-energy cells, forgetfulness kicked in. This was how it happened.

During our Nikko tour in May 1, we chose to meet the staff in Shinjuku train station from 7 AM before heading off to the Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal, where all tour buses depart. It took half an hour to arrive at the bus terminal and upon arrival, there was already a crowd there. The people were scattered looking lost and searching for the proper queue to confirm their bookings, which by the way included us. Everyone was holding a colored piece of paper to identify the type of tour booked. We were just squeezing into the crowd by following those people holding the same colored paper as ours. We fell in line but still not sure if it was the correct queue but we waited anyway.

Finally, our bookings were confirmed and we were able to get our bus assignment. The staff would repeatedly announce that there were no toilets in the tour buses so everyone was expected to visit the toilet before boarding the bus, which eventually packed the toilets. Due to the long line, we came out alive but almost missed our bus. We thought we were the first to board the bus but the moment we saw the bus park in front of the gate, people were already inside. Oh, it was already the second (and last) round of pick-up! Whew!

The next day, during the Fuji trip, we knew better! Hah! We have learned how to maneuver into the crowd and we were able to get into the correct queue in no time. Bookings confirmed. Bus assigned. The time to depart said “9:15” so it was one of the last buses to leave. No rush then for us and we can chill a bit before visiting the toilet, which was still packed at that time.

Around 9 AM, the bus terminal already felt empty, just us and few other people in the area. This meant that the toilets were also vacant. Great. It was the perfect time to go. I could not wait to see Mount Fuji! I happily did my business and quickly left because I don’t want us to be the last to board again.

We finally boarded the bus and half an hour later, I wanted to prepare my phone camera for any interesting sights. However, as my hand was searching from inside my bag, at the back of my mind, I knew that I did not put it in. Oops.

I have this habit of hanging my bag on any hooks available inside the cubicle and putting my phone down if the toilet has a vacant ledge behind it. Bad habit. This was exactly what happened. Because I left hurriedly, I just took my bag that was hanging in front of me and stormed out. Tadah, my poor phone became lonely.

I did not panic and told my friend Mikee about the incident. The moment the tour guide came close to us who was very patient and kind, we raised the issue and she said she will try to contact the personnel in the terminal. In moments like this, I prepare my mind to do the necessary next steps in case it was really lost. With the technology today and the cloud, personal data can be synchronized online, which is going to be very beneficial in cases like this. Thank God. What I will greatly lose would be the photos I have not transferred yet to my hard drive. Only those ones I believe. This would also be a good test for me how I would react in these kinds of situations.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the tour guide approaching us and I was just hopeful. She only came to say that she was able to call the crew and they would try to check the toilet for me. I gave her the description of my phone so it would be easier for them to confirm.

The excitement over Mount Fuji still dominated my feelings and probably because my mind was already set to the next best step, which was to let go and move on.

Few more minutes later, the 3rd installment of information came. Our super nice tour guide gave me news that the phone was found. I was immensely relieved! Thank God simply for the honesty! I was so ready to let go but in Japan, the things I would really commend are the safety, honesty, and their being helpful in spite of the language barrier.

And now the question was how to get it. At the end of the tour, the bus would drop us at Shinjuku train station directly, which would require a half-hour trip to the bus terminal. Also, before I realized that I lost my phone, we had planned to drop by at Akihabara for shopping in the evening. Oh well, bye bye shopping.

Mikee accompanied me to retrieve my phone and there we were again, one more leg of extra amazing race. When they handed my back my phone, it was even neatly wrapped and protected, perhaps even better when it was new. Hehe. Amazing! Thank God!

May we learn from these experiences and that may we apply it in our lives as well.