Sight-seeing at the nearby town

When we arrived we were introduced to Mr. Noguchi (one of Mr. Sasaki’s members), he was our tour guide for that next 2 days. He was in his late 40’s, a kind and friendly man. At that time, I realized that the Thai group consisted of 4 persons – an 8 year old disabled boy on a wheelchair. He was a very cute boy. Together with him was his dad, a lady social worker and another lady translator. Mr. Noguchi helped us to check into the rooms but to my surprise we could not check in until 3pm!

At that time it was around 11.30am, I could not believe we had to wait for another 4 hours before checking into our rooms. “I have plan when we arrived at YMCA Hotel I could straight check into our room and jumped in bed as that morning I was very tired and sleepy”. But everything changes. Since we could not check into rooms Mr. Noguchi took us for a tour around the nearby town. Even though, it was small town, the place was big. At first, I didn’t know where we were heading as we kept walking and walking until later I knew they were taking us to see the town.

There were many houses along the town, but not many people though. We saw few people walking on the road. I admired the road because it was very clean and it was level with no bumps anywhere. It was so cooling and breeze that morning. The air was really fresh. After a distant, we saw a public phone booth. Mum made a call home but could not get through so we had to try again later. We walked to the town and there I saw a lot Japanese men and women all wearing working suits walking to work. There were not many cars, but many people walking on the roads and cycling along the side path.

As it was already lunch time, we search for an eating place and found a fast food restaurant. I didn’t know how to eat their Japanese food, but luckily there were western food too. I didn’t want to spoil my appetite, so I choose western food but mum went for the Japanese dish instead as she wanted to try their food. After tasting it, she didn’t like it at all as there was some smell in it. Luckily I didn’t choose Japanese food, or else it would spoil my appetite. I had to pass half of my food to mum as I could not finish. Everyone was enjoying their lunch and chit-chatting away. I tried to make friend with the disabled boy –Non (it was short form for his full name). All Thai people have long names. I talked to him, so were others’. He could talk, but very slow as he is a Cerebral Palsy.

To be cotinue...

A never ending journey

The Thai group arrived a day earlier before us and spent a night at the motel, so when we arrived that morning we had to wait for them to get themselves ready. As we waited for them (Thai group) we went into Ms. Tasaki room (as she spent a night with them there). Since she hasn’t checked that morning, we went to her room and I rested for a while before I had to get ready and meet the Thai group.

When we reached downstairs the van had arrived and the Thai group was already in the van. I sat in front and mum was at the back of me. Mr. Sasaki told us we had to make a 2 hours trip before reaching YMCA Hotel (another city). We started our journey around 9am.

I knew there was a disabled person in the Thai group, but I didn’t know whether it was a boy or girl as they sat at the back of the van. While we were on the road, I saw many tall buildings and other things. I felt so tired that morning as I didn’t slept much in the plane, so I doffed off for a short while, but I could hear them chatting away. I felt as if it was like a long journey as we could not arrive to our destination, but at last we reached YMCA Hotel.

To be continue...

What a happy moment

1st Day - At Narita Airport - Japan

It took us 7 hours before reaching Tokyo (Narita Airport) and landed on the ground at 7am. I thank God we had a safely landing. Again I was the last to leave the plane. A Japanese young man came to assist us and wheeled me from the plane to the immigration counter. It was a long walk to the counter, since it was earlier in the morning there were very few people at the airport. When arrived at the counter we waited nearly 20mins as they checked our passports. Disabled people had a special counter at the immigration waiting place. There were only 3 of us that morning. After checking all our necessary documents, we were taken to the waiting hall.

At that time, my diaper was already wet I had to find a rest room. The rest room in the airport was very big and clean and we had lots of space to move around. It took me a while to change everything. When we came out, I saw Mr. Sasaki, he wore a formal dress and coat that morning. Together with him was Ms. Tasaki (a pretty young lady). (The last time Mr. Sasaki came to Penang with his group he was looked very simple and he the camera man at that time.) I nearly couldn't recognize him that morning but was very happy upon seeing him.

When we came out from the Airport as walked towards the Taxi stand, the morning air of early Autumn was so breeze and cool. I have never felt the air like that before as it was so refreshing. 2 taxis came to fetched us, I was surprised to find that the taxi was much bigger than our usual car. When we reached the motel I was shocked when the taxi door suddenly opened by itself. At that time I didn’t realize that the taxi man pressed a button on the drives side and the door open itself. It was a short distant to reach the motel (about 10mins drive)

To be continue...

Japan here I come!

At Changi Airport - Singapore

We arrived at Changi Airport (Singapore) around 7.15pm. I was the last person to get down together with mum and Ai Na as they needed to bring me with their small wheelchair. It was uncomfortable sitting on it as it was too small for me, but luckily it was only a short period of time before I transfered back to my own wheelchair.

After getting out from the plane we had a long walk and that was when I was so amazed to see such a big and huge airport. The airport assistant helped by pushing me until a waiting place and left us there. He asked us to wait at the same place for another assistant to assist us to the plane later that evening. There was very big shopping complex inside the airport where they sell practice everything. It was like shopping mall cum rest place for all the foreigners while waiting to board their plane. We walked a distant before we searched for a café where we could rest and have our dinner.

The airport had 4 levels highs, we went to the 2nd floor as we saw a on the board. Just after coming out from the lift, we saw drinking water for the public. It was great that they design one for able body and beside it for the disabled. Then we found the café where there were not many people, only some locals and tourists. We got ourselves a table and had our dinner. All the food there was very expensive. Though, we had 4 hours at the airport before embarking the plane to Japan. 4 hours seems to be quite long, but when we were there the period of time went very fast.

After dinner we went for a walk round to see the shopping mall. We only went for a short distant when mum made 2 phone calls to my cousin and another aunt of mine. After her calls, I needed to do my toileting. When I see the disabled rest room was so big, and clean, I felt so happy and relief. I had the chance to rest on the floor for about 10mins as mum brought a mat for me. This is my 1st experience resting in a rest room floor. We could never find any big and clean toilet like that in Penang.

Our plane to Narita, Tokyo was at 11pm and we embarked on it about 10.40pm as I was the 1st person to get into the plane together with Mum and Ai Na. There were many foreigners together with many other Japanese people too boarding the place that evening. The stewards and stewardess was serving everyone food and drinks when we on the plane. One Indian steward was very caring towards me as he kept asking whether I was alright and if I needed anything I can call for their help.

To be continue...

A dream became a reality

Two years ago, on this day 30th September 2003, my dream become a reality when I stepped into the heart of Tokyo, Japan. I couldn't believe until it came true. Follow my story and you see and know how much I enjoyed my time there.

30th September to 6th October 2003

At The Penang Airport In The Evening

It was really a wonderful dream when I got the chance to enter Japan for the first time together with my mum (as my helper) and another friend, Ai Na (who was our interpreter). With God grace, I was there for one week attending the “Flying Wheelchair Seminar”. Without “Suki” (my motorized wheelchair) I won’t be enjoying my time in Tokyo. I was told that the whole week schedules will be very tied.

A month before we depart, I had all sort of mix feeling. I could never imagine how wonderful God was to give me this precious opportunity to visit this beautiful country that my disabled friends had told me when they were to Osaka last year for a seminar. I never thought I would go to the extent as to go Japan as I knew my body could not stand the journey, but to God nothing is impossible. So He really made my beautiful dream came true and I don’t think I can ever forget this trip.

The real day had arrived, I was really excited but I did not show out. Janice and her 2 daughters together with my aunt Ai Chin dropped us at the airport about 4.40pm. Our friend, Ai Na arrived there a while before us. We checked in our luggage. There was still time as our plane SQ195 to Singapore was to board at 5.55pm
so we went around to see the shops.

This was the 1st time after many years I went into the airport and so many things had changed. I bought few postcards from a souveniour shop. Next to it were other shops selling many other things too. I saw many tourists hanged out at the Coffee Been. I was quite surprised that they open a branch at the airport.

About 5.30pm we said goodbye to everyone as we needed to go into the departure hall. A Malay lady and another young Chinese man came to assist me in transferring to another smaller wheelchair which can take me into the plane as I had to be the first to get in before all other passengers board the plane. I saw there were mostly business men boarding the plane that evening. Our plane took off about 6.15pm and inside there were stewards served everyone light dinner – cold sandwich and some drinks which I wasn't use to eating cold food so when I took a bit of the sandwich, I felt like throwing out.

To be continue....

Desire in life

Do you know why I created this blog? It's for me to express all my feeling which I have kept in my heart for such a long time. I have a very difficult time expressing my feeling throught words, that's why I need to put it into writing so that all of you can understand how I feel. I have so many things I wanted to share in words, but no one seem to understand what my heart desire. Please continue follow my stories and you will see and understand what I wish, hope and desire in life.

When I started creating my site, I sent out to all my relatives and friends. A few of them reply me that I did a great job I did with this site. They read, but non of them were on my side in supporting me, except for only one person who follow my stories closely and she is my Aunt Ai Chin. Many times, i wanted to ask her opnion about my stories but I dare not as affaid she will tell my parents what I wrote in my site. so I didn't ask neither did she say anything.

One day, when she came to my house and was in my room, she told me I wrote from my heart and I didn't catch her until later I knew what she meant. To my surprised, she read my stories. I was really happy and touched when she fully support me in what I'm doing and will explain to my parents in time to come. I never knew anyone would be on my side supporing me. That is what I needed most - to have someone on my side.