Jan 10 -12, 2009 we went on a holiday trip to Hokkaido island, northern of Japan. Hokkaido known as very natural place, green the summer, white in the winter.

Transportation:
Home - Haneda airport by our own car, parked in airport’s parking.
Haneda, Tokyo - Chitose, Hokkaido by JAL, JL 513. Chitose, Hokkaido - Haneda, Tokyo by ANA, NH 76. Inland, Mitsubishi Pajero 4×4 rented from ORIX rent a car.

Accommodations:
Jan 10, Grand Asahikawa Hotel, Asahikawa city. 16th floor.
Jan 11, The Tower, Alpha Resort, Tomamu. 30th floor.

Itinerary:
Jan 10: Chitose airport to Asahikawa by straight highway (2 hours). Asahikawa hill top. Asahikawa city walk.
Jan 11: Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa-Tomamu by local road (2,5 hours). Tomamu: Snow plays, indoor swimming pool, ice village, ice bar.
Jan 12: Tomamu: Ski lesson, gondola up hill, kids snow park. Tomamu - Chitose by car, accident at local road. Continue by helper’s car to airport by highway.

F&B:
Jan 10: Home-made salmon onigiri as breakfast at Haneda airport. Tempura udon lunch at Iwamizawa pit-stop. Hokkaido seafood dinner at Asahikawa restaurant (I missed the name of this nice resto). Birthday cake on snow.
Jan 11: Super breakfast buffet at hotel, snacking whole afternoon (no lunch), Hokkaido Seafood & Lobster grill at Hokkaido Grill Restaurant, Tomamu forest mall.
Jan 12: Super breakfast buffet at hotel, no lunch (accident), Uni-don & kani-don dinner at Chitose airport.

Impression:
Question: What is the greatest thing you like from this trip?
Hubby : The safe of our family. The scenario written for us by God. The snow, the food, the car, the toilet. I’m impressed with the sophisticated and cleanliness of toilet wherever I go in this island.
Me : The whole package: The pat on the shoulder. The view, like a dream. The snow, so fluffy and unbroken flakes. The togetherness. The kind, helpful and friendly local people. My birthday cake on snow, sweet.
Raisa : Allah. He is great to give this family safety in the accident. I like the penguin too. I like the ski lesson, I’m happy I can ski down the hill now.
Ken : The airplane. Swimming pool with many balls in it.

Question: What thing you don’t really like from this trip?
Hubby : The coldness. I think I will like Hokkaido better in the summer, see the open fresh green and perfect cool weather. Winter is just too cold.
Me : The helpless worry of children’s safety when the accident was happening. The huge luggages of thick clothes and boots. The cost, but hey, it’s worth it. I wish I can go onsen too. Rotemburo will be perfect.
Raisa : The pain in the ear before the airplane landed. So many layers of clothes.
Ken: (no respond)

Question: Do you think Hokkaido’s food is as delicious as its reputation?
Hubby : To some extend yes it is delicious, but there are so many delicious food in Tokyo too.
Me : Seafood specially uni, yes.
Raisa : I think everywhere food is delicious. Hokkaido milk tasted just the same with Chiba milk.
Ken : I want to eat salmon!

Question: Do you want to come back to Hokkaido again?
Hubby : With the same amount of money, I will choose to experience new place. But if I will come back, I will be back in summer time.
Me : Same with Hubby, only I want to see the Spring time.
Raisa : Yes, I want to do ski again.
Ken : Iku yo! (Let’s go!)

Dear God,
Thank you for the special birthday gift. It was so special, I never had in my previous 35 birthdays.

The three days beauty of white picturesque landscape, so beautiful like in postcards. My humble words can’t even close to describe.
Line of pine trees covered by snow, frozen river in the middle of it. Icicles so clear like crystal.
Those who think something un-color isn’t a thing, must come and prove what shades of whites can do.
Crispy snow flakes which doesn’t even break when landed on my palm.
Perfect weather, complete set of snowy and sunny.
Smooth itinerary, best of facility, delicious food melt on the tounge.
The local Hokkaido people so friendly like old friends.
Happy and healthy family to enjoy those beauty together
So warm at heart, warm enough to beat the frozen temperature.
All of that fulfill the dream of a tropical country origin girl like me. Couldn’t ask for more.
I thank you for that.

But most of all, I thank you for your pat on my shoulder. The real gift to show me on the essence of all.
At the end of the perfect three days. At that curve road down Mt.Tomamu. On our way to Chitose airport to end the trip.
All happened so fast. The turn wasn’t sharp at all. The speed was a safe 30-40kmph.
But you showed your power.

Even dear husband behind the wheel has experience driving on snowy road over dozens of times.
Even the whole three days was a perfect drive. No significant obstacle when passed much more dangerous snowy/icy road.
Even we choosed at the rental, the best wheel of 2008 Pajero, 4X4, with best snow tire model.
Perfect device for the given slippery road.
But nothing seems matter. Human being can only plan and propose.

It was so fast. My mind can’t even win the race. When the car started to go out of control, slid to the right when the curve was to the left. Then to the left and hit the pile of old snow, tilt to right. And landed right-side-down. And on that condition, it rotate 360 degree and slid through. In a split second I can only wish it stop. In a split second I pray if anyone should “go” this time, let it be me, not my young ones.

Then it stopped.
Windshield shattered. Right windows too. Right frame crumbled. Things from inside the car thrown outside thru the broken windows. Including my purse, cell phone, etc which were before placed inside my handbag placed just near my leg. The force of rotation threw them out.
I was hanging on the air with my seatbelt holding me when the car made no more movement. The minus five degree air come thru from the broken windows.

My chidren was in my reflex thought. Please, ya Allah, I would die for them. I couldn’t instantly see them on the back seats.
Ken’s cried of shock relieved me at once. Raisa’s voice tried to calm him down sound so beautiful. They both concious.
She placed her hand on her small brother chest tried to soothed him when he was hanging on the belt, while she her self still buckled lower to him. What a big sister instict.
Husband too was concious and stood over his nerves. I can see trace of blood on his lips. But not much.
He quickly checked on everyone and asked us to calm down.
He unbuckeld the seatbelt and turn off the engine which still roared.
I thank you, God, to give him sense of control, ability to calm us that make us feel secured even at that given situation. Ken stopped crying instantly.

Moments later I can hear those kind souls of people you sent to help us.
Somebody shout “Are there any children in the car? Hold on, we are coming to help you!”
All done so fast. They evacuate us from the car windows.
The lady picked Ken and ensure him warmth. The old man was so strong to pull and picked me out.
We were seated at one of the car. Those strangers who by happened passed the quiet mountain road at sudden became our hero.

A remote location with no cellular signal. Can’t call the police. Nor the ambulance.
But dear Allah, you are so kind. We don’t need one. The dot on husband lips , half cm cut on his hand and smaller on mine were the only injuries we got. Like a miracle.
You let our children untouch by any single hurt and pain. What can I ask for more than that?

You send this group of kind people to help us. Who made a great team in the emergency situation.
The man who drove us down the mountain to nearby police station. Who accompanied us all the way and even drove us two hours away to the airport.
Who numerous times tried to ensure we are warm, safe and able to catch our flight home.
He didn’t want us to even pay the highway fee. He put his personal business aside.
The family who stopped and lending their time, hand and attention. Though they have a baby and a two years old in the car. They emptied their front seat to bring our luggage.
The husband climbed inside the car to ensure we got all of our belongings taken before leaving the car. So brave even some oil keep on dripping from the bottom of the broken car.
Checked the situation and placed the emergency light before our car to avoid accident of other car.
The wife full of attention and help to comfort the kids, offered some candy to switch them from the traumatic experience. And they too won’t leave us until ensured all is ok till we left for the airport.

The policemen who was so attentive assist us with all the assistance needed. Eased our mind by telling us that this winter alone, there has been 100 of this kind of ice-slipt accident.
That the it’s nothing new, even Hokkaido locals too experienced this. (but this won’t discount our experience). And even ran to catch us to give some cans of drink to go, a take-out gift from police department.
The procedure which smooth and uncomplicated from the car rental company that we can still catch our plane home, leave the island on time.
All treatment made us feel being attentively cared.

Thank you dear God.
For the group of kind people you placed their cars behind ours. Bless them.
For made this accident occured at the left turned road so the gravity pulled and tilted and slided our car to the right, where the cliff with river at bottom was located at the left.
For the unharm and safety of my family. The most important thing I have in my life.

And thank you dear God,
For giving me this experience. On my birthday trip.
Opened my eyes and reminded me, that you can give me all the beauty and happiness.
But it can be taken anytime, anywhere. In a split second.
But you spared us. You still giving us the gift of life, unharmed.
A more completed life. So we will appreciate and embrace it even more.
And always remember the ultimate power and love from you.

This lesson, doesn’t come everyday. Even lucky if it come once in a lifetime.
So I thank you for the special birthday gift. It was so special, I never had in my previous 35 birthdays.

Accident occured about 1:45PM Jan 12, 2009

View of Minato Mirai Yokohama taken from Landmark Tower tallest building in Japan on Jan 3rd 2009.

 decided this year, not to make any resolution.
Promises and targets which I set myself, made or broke myself.
I just want to be a better person. In any possible side of life.
Go with the flow. Embrace the goods, learn from the mistakes.
But that’s not a new year resolution.
That is the way I want myself to be. This year and every year followed.

…and it is the start of the year again.

Wishing you all my family and friends, the happiness, love, health and success this year.
Wishing the world of survival, bouncing back and peace on earth.