Pre-Bangkok Blues

Twelve hours from now, I will be at Sentral catching the KLIA Express to KLIA. I have yet to pack unlike the trip to Tokyo where my luggage was ready and zipped up one week in advance. There is no sense of urgency this time. The two weeks in Tokyo had worn me out somewhat. I am still recovering but that is not the reason for my complacency.

It is always difficult to bid farewell to Wuan, what more for a journey that is going to take me away from Malaysia again. The two trainings that I am attending will last almost three weeks. That is three weeks too long to be away from Wuan. That is three weeks away from the comfort zone that I have surrounded myself with in Kuala Lumpur. That is three weeks too long in a foreign land. The fear of the unknown is definitely one of the worrying factors at the moment.

As usual, food will be a major concern. Going to new places is always a learning experience in proper dietary management. I have to be prepared for the unexpected as ingredients and cooking methods are all different. As a person living with disabilities, an extended stay in a foreign place will always come with a host of challenges. It will take a few days for me to adapt to the layout of the room and the way I manage my bathing and toileting needs. I survived two weeks of wintry Tokyo. I hope I can survive another three in Bangkok.

Nevertheless, the two trainings will provide me with sufficient knowledge and skills to implement Independent Living projects in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Together with my peers in both places, I hope to build a better future for ourselves. We are living in a grossly imperfect world. It is high time we change things, not only for people with disabilities, but for all with similar needs as ours.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. View all posts by Peter Tan