Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnBraden
I went five years ago to Tokyo for 10 days with my best friend. After 3 days, I felt all he was doing was tagging along everywhere I went. I didn't know if he wanted to go elsewhere-he wouldn't say. I wasn't sure how long I should stay at each place, or if he even wanted to go there. The last three days we spent them doing our own thing. I think it was more the fact I went prepared with some sort of idea of what to do and where to go while he just literally tagged along that perhaps made his experience not as fulfilling. Added to that, one of his shoes squeaked (not his fault!) made things worse, as the constant squeaking drove me nuts.... At least I knew he was behind me. Even many of the photos we took were about the same things from a slightly, and I mean very slightly different angle. (He was behind me most of the time)
I'm headed back there for another 10 days in a few weeks and I'm going alone. That way I can do what I want, when I want and for how long I want. No one to answer to. We are still friends, but not as close as we used to be. And I've know him for years-nearly nine now....
MMM is right. A foreign place, a foreign language-these things can really test any relationship....
|
When I took my longer trips around Japan, I went alone, for precisely the same reason you stated... the ability to go where I wanted, when I wanted, and do exactly what I wanted. When I felt like staying an extra half day in Nagasaki and thus skipping through Beppu, I did. When I ate Christmas dinner at a ramen stand in Fukuoka, no one said "Oh c'mon, we need to do something fancier, it's Christmas!" While there were times I wished I could share what I was seeing and doing, there were many other times I was glad I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted.
sounds like you guys have a nice plan 
