Today, I travelled to London to collect my renewed passport.
It was a long journey — nearly three hours each way by coach — but it turned into a really good day. From the bus stop, I decided to walk to the embassy, and on the way I passed Buckingham Palace just as the Changing of the Guard was taking place. Even though it was a weekday, there were so many people watching.
After that, I spent some time wandering into a few lovely shops and walking around the city. I had sushi for lunch — much smaller than the sushi I’m used to, which made me laugh — but the miso soup tasted just like proper Japanese miso soup, and it was honestly so good.
I picked up my passport without any problems and did a bit more shopping before heading back. I tried to catch a local bus to the coach stop, but because I didn’t raise my hand, it didn’t stop. In the end, I took a taxi and made it back calmly, with no rushing.
It was my first time going to London alone, and I really enjoyed it. Spending a full day by myself like this — moving at my own pace — gave me a quiet confidence. It made me realise I can handle more than I sometimes think.