Planes, Trains, Automobiles (and Buses)

This was quite a marathon trip. We haven't done anything this complicated since Bangladesh.

We left home at 3:00am to take a taxi to the airport in Boston. After a short flight to NY, we left on American Airlines for a thirteen hour flight to Tokyo. Bused to the other terminal to find the cell phone rental company. Since we had booked the express train to Tokyo Station and missed the earlier departure, we waited a couple hours for the next train.

At Tokyo Station, we met up with old friend Junji Mitobe whom we hadn't seen in 25 years. We had dinner with him but were so tired that we totally forgot to take a picture.

We had reserved for an overnight express bus to the northern city of Morioka and had to wait in Tokyo Station sitting on our luggage (no apparent waiting rooms or benches there) for another three hours. We found where the bus stops (on a rainy street corner a few blocks from the station) and boarded. Unlike Haiti, where people ride in decommissioned US school buses, six people across, we had first-class seats that reclined and had privacy hoods so you could sleep. Quite luxurious.

At Morioka Station

Arrived in Morioka at 5:30 AM and found the stop for the local buses. Met another All Hands volunteer, Yaron from Israel/Miami). After another three hour wait, we started the final leg to Ofunato on the coast. After two days of traveling, we got off the bus a couple blocks from our base in the Sakari section of Ofunato and started walking in the wrong direction. Three people in a truck spotted three disoriented-looking gringos and got out to point the way for us.

A few minuted later we were being briefed by Jess UK, fed a nice lunch, and went off to the trenches (literally) to work. More rain.

Relaxing at Sakari Base

After work, we had dinner at Sakari base and got the All Hands shuttle bus to our living annex located a couple miles away at the Fukushinosato Center. Safely located up in the hills away from the tsunami zone, this is a modern rehab facility located in a civic complex.

Map of Civic Complex

Entrance to Fukushinosato Center

Out of consideration for the All Hands volunteers in Haiti who may be reading this, we will refrain at this time from describing the luxuries available there (Hint: hot tub and heated toilet seats.)

We commute each day to Sakari base and then to our project locations throughout the town of Ofunato and neighboring Rikuzentakata. You may have seen footage of these places on tv already.

Our Sleeping Quarters