On the Road Again

I didn't make up my mind till the last minute whether I should attend D76 Fall Conference 2010 in Kumamoto or not. Last Monday, when I finally booked my airline tickets on line, the price went so high. In the end, I had to arrive in Japan a few days earlier in order to cut down the price of the tickets.

Cathay Air 0510N 2010/11/14 17:50 Taoyuan 20:55 Fukuoka
Cathay Air 0511N 2010/11/25 10:25 Fukuoka 12:05 Taoyuan

To be honest, were it not for Toastmaster Kyoko Kawano’s invitation to visit her parents in Amakusa three days after the Fall Conference (Kyoko will be escorting IP Pat Johnson after the conference), I wouldn't attend D76 Fall Conference 2010 as the sole visitor from Taiwan, simply because the yen is outrageously strong (1 JPY = 0.3718 TWD).

Toastmaster Kyoko Kawano came to D67 Spring Conference 2010 in Taichung in April. It was her first time to visit Taiwan. Kyoko returned to Taipei with her parents and her younger sister in September. Toastmasters Michelle Chen and Erick Suen and I were invited to a sumptuous dinner at the Grand Formosa Regent Taipei. When I heard Kyoko’s father utter a few Mandarin words at the age of 90, I was touched. Kyoko's father graduated from Manchuria Medical School and practiced Medicine in Amakusa during and after the Second World War. After dinner, Kyoko's mother invited us to visit her house in Amakusa to enjoy the seafood in November. I found myself a reason to attend D76 Fall Conference 2010 in Kumamoto.

The Journey of Traveling Light

For the first time in my life, I decided to travel light. I had a small hand-carry suitcase plus a backpack bag with a total weight of less than 15 kilograms. I left the beautiful clothes, shoes, and accessories at home. I carried only a few books and electronic devices plus a new chipao for D76 Fall Conference dinner party.

There are three reasons behind the change of my traveling philosophy. Firstly, I overheard a lady complain her tour group member carry six overcoats in Hakkaido to show off two days before my departure. I felt she was sending out a signal to me. I agreed that beauty was only skin deep, and I didn't need to change clothes and shoes everyday while traveling abroad. Secondly, as I get older, I catch less attention from the people around me. Nobody really cares what I wear anyway. Thirdly, I refused to be the slave of my appearance anymore. It is time I traveled light from now on.

The Journey of a False Eyelash

Human beings are carriers. When people move from one place to another, they carry known and unknown items along with them. A person might carry quite a few seeds on his pants and jacket by accident after an afternoon stroll in the park.

I carried a false eyelash dangling on my Crocs to the airport. It stuck on the Crocs after I performed the debut line dance "Mambo Five" with four golden ladies Toastmasters at Irene's brother's campaign for the head of Yu-chen Borough Saturday morning (Irene's brother won the election two weeks later). I didn't notice it until I got back from the wedding party at Miramar Shopping Mall Saturday evening.

The eyelash hung on my Crocs mischievously even I changed three subways to get home. The following Sunday morning, I saw my brother in the hospital with the eyelash on my Crocs. My husband teased about my journey to Japan, a journey of eyelash. And I was curious where the eyelash would eventually settle down. In the end, the eyelash dropped on the floor of the airplane. I guess it would like to stay on cloud nine as much as I do.

The Journey of Japanese Courtesy

I wore a big smile walking out of the immigration desk till I was singled out to open my hand-carry suitcase and backpack bag on the custom counter. Then for unknown reason, I was requested to enter a private room for a thorough inspection.

The young lady customer officer looked at me with suspicious eyes and asked me repeatedly if I carried any drugs with me, pointing at a board of controlled substances. Being a pharmacist, I couldn't have known better the damages of the drugs than most passengers. I waved my head and said "no" to the inspector friendly. Her eyes turned stern and asked me to walk behind a curtain. She pulled my bras, and thrust my private part with her elbow. I was in no position to take offense, I observed the humiliating incidence with interest, because it would make a speech in Toastmasters one day.

Nevertheless, I couldn't help but feeling pathetic for the young lady inspector. What a challenging job she had to examine people around her with the suspicion of terrorists and drug dealers. After the unexpected body inspection for the first time in my life, I was the last passenger of my flight to leave the empty hall of custom in Fukuoka. All custom officers watched me leave as I had done something wrong being a regular visitor to Japan. If I should have known what I had to go through at Fukuoka Airport, I would have a serious thought about my attending D76 Fall Conference 2010 in Kumamoto.

The End is Well, All is Well

Traveling light was indeed a smart move. I felt like a bird meandering along Takenoshita Avenue after I arrived Hakata Station. When I saw a couple of food venders on the street and I was so curious to peek at what's going on behind the curtains. No sooner than later, I bumped into a love couple on the bike. The young man riding the bike shouted at me, "please watch what's in front of you while walking". I apologized to the young man and his girlfriend at the back. I was just too excited to see the journey of Japan in front of me.

I arrived at Khaosan Fukuoka late but safely, fetched my room key at the counter on the first floor, took a hot show on the 3rd floor, snuggled in a warm bed at Room 301, slept like a top, had a good dream of my first night in Japan.