This picture is based on something I really did. I had considered asking one of my artist friends to draw it for me, but I'm not sure they could capture the moment the way I felt it. I am not the best artist, but you can't get better if you don't try, right? Maybe it will even help an artist to draw this for me if they see my picture first.

The story is, a few years ago I was in Japan and I went to a real onsen (hot springs) up in the mountains, far away from any town. The main part was outdoors. After washing up inside, you go outdoors to sit in the nice warm water. This was a very strange, yet wonderful experience for me. First of all, I'm naked. Most of you don't know me that well, but I am incredibly shy in person, to the point where I'm on medication just to be able to handle things like going outside in public places. Because of the cultural differences, I actually deal pretty well with Japan. It's hard to explain if you haven't spent a lot of time there. Just being naked in itself isn't that big a deal. Being naked with other people and outside is pretty darn unusual for me though! While not a public place, this isn't private either. (It is separate for men and women by the way. I know some of you must have been wondering.) Now, being naked outside is a strange feeling for me, but there's more. It was also snowing and getting dark. Not a heavy snow, in fact I think most of it was just blowing off the trees and cliffs since it wasn't very overcast. The area around the spring was already covered with snow. Snow itself is a great novelty for me, since I am from a hot climate. The experience I hoped to draw was being warm, wet, naked while outdoors in the dark and snow. It was a nice experience that I will always remember. I was totally at ease at this moment.

When it was time to get out and walk back to the building, naked, wet, barefoot, and without the benefit of being up to your neck in warm water, that was a whole different experience! (Maybe someone can draw that someday.)

After that, I made it to the safety of the indoor bath to recover for a bit, then had some soba with mushrooms and sake.