Tag: japan

Japan? Completed It Mate

Al1 Comment

So a couple of posts back, I spoke about my upcoming trip to Japan.

The day finally came…

I had a panic attack on the way there and was given oxygen and a wheelchair. I also cried and nearly got a plane back home while waiting for our connecting flight in Dubai. It took me a couple of days after arriving to be confident to leave the hotel and eat outside of my room and a couple more after that to go any further than the park across the road.

But

After pushing myself every day, planning and taking care of myself, I can say that is the happiest and most accomplished I have felt it a very very long time.

A few achievements:

  • Getting on an insanely crowded train
  • Travelling to the other side of Tokyo on my own
  • Visiting an art gallery with limited signs, no floor plan and hard to find exhibits.
  • Braving the tiny aisles of Don Quijote at an insanely busy time
  • Getting completely lost and keeping my head (Embarrassed to say more than once and I had Google Maps)
  • Travelling 11 hours to Dubai, getting 3 hours sleep and then going out to explore with no idea where I was going
  • After getting back to the hotel in Dubai, going straight to the hotel restaurant, eating a meal quickly and getting in a car back to the airport. No time for resting.
  • Braving the Shinjuku station area at rush hour
  • Catching 11 trains in one day (my feet are still recovering from the adventuring).

Safe to say I thrived.

I feel like a different person in all honesty.

If you are looking for something completely different to your everyday and feel ready for the challenge, I would definitely recommend Tokyo.

Here’s why…

As I travel more and see more countries, I’ll be able to make more posts giving you the run down. I know before I went, I had seen good reviews from anxious travelers, but I had hoped for something a little more comprehensive. I hope you find this useful.

Get in touch if you have any questions and I will answer them the best I can!

I’m Travelling 19 Hours On Public Transport To The Busiest Place On Earth…Help!

Al2 Comments

It’s perfectly reasonable for an agoraphobic who has never left England to travel to the other side of the world, to a place with a completely different language, culture and some insanely busy streets….right?

So last year when I was still working, my sister, dad and I booked a once in a lifetime trip to Tokyo as I kind of retreat after the loss of mum. I was apprehensive, but hey, I was working 3 jobs and was emotionally stable, it’d be fine.

In the 10 months that followed, I had quit all of my jobs and had a bit of a mental breakdown.

I’ve been trying really hard to get myself back on track to make sure that I can actually get on the plane, unlike my recent failed Berlin attempt.

So, what am I doing about it?

Plan Plan Plan!
If I was on Mastermind, this journey would be my specialist subject.
I know everything. From the layout of the airports to every way to get to the hotel once we’ve arrived.
I would like to note that this is really not a healthy level of planning and I know that, but it’s my first trip, cut me a bit of slack!

Make it easier
Special assistance is getting sorted; my green lanyard is sorted out and ready for collection (I will expand on this in a later blog) and I’ve visited the airport a couple of times.

Don’t kid yourself
It’s going to be stressful; it is going to be busy and there is every chance that I will have a panic attack. It’s just a part of the journey I will have to accept. The first step is always the hardest.

Prepare
Packing lists are my best friend, use them wisely. Download podcasts for the airport and flight. Make sure I have money for snacks (very important!) Pleeaaaseee don’t forget medication!

Learn important phrases
Familiarise myself with useful phrases such as:
“Where is the convenience store?” and “For the love of God, somebody please help me”

Get excited
Excitement and anxiousness produce the same physical response in many respects, it’s the way we approach them that determines everything.
I’m going on holiday, I’m going to see some amazing things and maybe re-enact Lost in Translation.

This is a huge step and one I feel ready to take.

I can do this.