Stops: Semarang (Day 130)

Packing up for a quick hop over to Jakarta this afternoon then a red-eye back to Tokyo. After 130 days on the road this trip–and many other trips before this, it is time to retire one of my most faithful companions. U.P. Renoma Aloha, you did well.

How it started: April 1 at Haneda.

Fancy aloha shirts are not for tropical travel. Cheap aloha shirts, however, are the best. Hide all dirt, stains, or even small tears. Drip dry in no time. Are cheap. And, are not t-shirts. I had two with me this trip: above (¥500 on sale on a sidewalk table in front of Aoki Suits about 20 years ago) and a purple and grey one (12 USD in Honolulu at an ABC Shop about ten or twelve years ago). They seem indestructible, but sadly, Renoma must go upstate to retire on a quiet farm with rabbits and puppies.

Shrugging off my backpack at the ferry from Sumbawa to Lombok a couple of weeks ago, the first (noticeable) tear opened up.

Good thing I had a few safety pins with me to keep Renoma in some semblance of wearability. I have had this shirt on for so many “My ride is here” selfies. It has come with me on almost every trip to Southeast Asia for years. So much so that Etsuko says she can never tell if my travel pix are from a current trip or a decade ago–except for the hair if visible. I could keep it together for a while. But…

These other structural failures came to my attention. I hadn’t even realized before.

Not suitable for restaurants or the airport lounge.

And so, as I wrap up this first leg of my Sabbatical World Tour, U.P. will get an honored place in my bag, but shall not continue on the adventure. Thank you for your service, Renoma!