I keep returning to my Onigiri picture. I love Onigiri. I bought one while I was in Tokyo. After visiting the Sensoji Temple, I became disoriented in an area with numerous shop carts selling food and beverages. It was crowded, but my eyes were drawn to one cart: onigiri. Two ladies invited visitors to stop by, while two elderly men were busy preparing the ordered onigiri. They were successful in convincing me, and I ended up buying one with salmon in it. My favorite.
I remember taking a bite and thinking, “Hmm…this onigiri tastes extremely good. The salmon is fresh. The rice was also tasty.” I joined the crowd, sat in a park, and ate the onigiri happily.
When I saw the picture today, I wondered again: why it was different. I buy onigiri in Jakarta frequently, but why was this one different? It tasted different. It brought me a different kind of happiness. The salmon looked fresh and tasted better than what I usually get in Jakarta. Perhaps I was being dramatic, thinking, ‘Ah, I am eating the real onigiri di Japan.’
But, seriously, why was it different? Was it all due to the quality of the onigiri? I’m sure it was good. But was it that good? Maybe! It’s amazing how a piece of onigiri can make me so happy. That is why I believe it isn’t just about the onigiri.
I think my mood statement contributed significantly to the good taste of the onigiri. I was on vacation, and it was not a typical vacation. I was having the most-free time after being exhausted from working hard for an extended period of time. I felt like a bird, flying for the first time to wherever I wanted. There is no destination. No set agenda. No deadline. No office drama. Completely free! I believe that sense of liberation made everything look and taste better than before. Does it mean that I could be happy wherever I am? That I don’t have to travel far to another country to find happiness and freedom? Because it isn’t about going to new places, eating good food, or buying something? I am unsure. Perhaps it works well for most people. But not me. I still want to travel! I’ll be back, Japan!
