Today was our last day in Tokyo. We would take the 6 p.m. (Tokyo Time) flight and would arrive in Singapore at 11.55 p.m. (Singapore Time). It would take about seven hours in traveling.

We woke up at 7.30 a.m. We packed our luggage last night. After cleaning up, we kept the most of our belonging in luggage, so that we did not need to carry the heavy suitcases.

When three of us woke up, we tidied up the room. Whatever needed to keep in the wardrobe, we put them in. We arranged the pillowcases and put aside. Mrs. Toyoda asked us not to wash them because she would do it.

We followed the custom to separate the rubbish into different bags. We brought either to Tobu Store or Tokiwadai Station and threw them in the rubbish bins. There was one day when we forgot to throw the rubbish at Tokiwadai Station and remembered only when we were onboard. We finally threw them at Ikebukuro.

Finally I Bought A Few Shirts

We went to Tobu Store at 10.15 a.m. We bought our breakfast and lunch in the Store and went to the shopping mall upstairs. That was the last chance for us to see if there was any clothing we would like to buy.

Solomon had found the socks and trousers he liked in Tokyo. He saw a shirt he liked in the shopping mall. His mother gave too many comments that made he not happy to buy it. I looked around for a while and could not find any other shirt suitable for him. Therefore I bought the shirt he liked with a slightly bigger size. He would be able to wear it when he studied in Secondary School. I also saw a shirt I liked very much, and I bought all the three pieces.

Sending Off At Airport

Mrs. Toyoda told us last night that they would send us to airport. They came around 1.30 p.m. They were supposed to wait for us downstairs. I requested Mrs. Toyoda to come up to the apartment. When Mrs. Toyoda came to the apartment, I showed her the door that was damaged by us. She said it was all right. They would fix it up with paper.

We also showed her where we place the pillowcases that needed to be washed. We also returned the handphone, stored value bus cards and train cards.

The traffic was very smooth. We arrived at Narita Airport at 2.45 p.m. Mr. Toyoda had installed the navigator system in his van. It showed where we were all the way. On the way, Mr. Toyoda showed me a document. It was the article I wrote about him and was published in my website. I wrote that article in English and Mr. Toyoda had translated it into Japanese by computer system. There were many Kanji and the article was written by me, so I read and understood it.

Mr. Toyoda helped us to get the boarding passes. It was early and there was not many people, so we got it done fast. By 3.15 p.m., we said goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. Toyoda and entered the gate.

On the Way Home

We found that Yahoo provided free Internet surfing in the airport. Solomon and I were very happy. We did not surf the Internet for ten days. We got to one of the terminal and checked our e-mails and the messages in my guest books. After surfing the Internet for half an hours, we went to the shops and bought some Japanese caddies. After that, we went to the cafe to have some snacks and drinks.

At 5.35 p.m. the boarding time, we queued at the first class entrance. When the airhostess found out we were at the wrong queue, she wanted to tell us. But she saw Solomon and let us to get to the plane before the others.

Drinks and tit-bits were served after taking off by 30 minutes. Dinners were served at one and a half an hours. After that, we started to play computer games or watch movies. At 9.30 to 9.40 p.m. (Singapore time), we saw the "fasten seat belts" sign lighted. The pilot told us to fasten seat belts too. We soon knew that there was a turbulence.

We landed at Changi Airport at 11.45 p.m. After collecting our luggage and passed through the custom, it was 12.15. We took a taxi home and reached home at 1 a.m. We arranged our luggage and put the clothes to be washed, new clothes and souvenir separately and went to bed at 3 a.m.

Deeply grateful and a little Regret

We felt very honoured of the hospitality Mr. and Mrs. Toyoda had shown us. In October 2004, when Mr. Toyoda was in Singapore, he said that he would send the air-tickets for us. I did not take it serious at that time. He wrote to mention it again in April 2005. I thought I should not let him spend money. I then wrote to him that we would buy our own air-tickets and later let him know the actual dates. On the first day we arrived in Tokyo, he gave me an envelope with the airfare. I was very touch by his generosity.

Besides, he let us stay in the apartment. Mrs. Toyoda wrote the notes of instruction in using the appliances. She also showed us how to use them. Bottles of mineral water were placed in the refrigerator. Tea bags, sugar, tooth brushes, toothpaste, bath foam and shampoo all were ready for us.

Mr. Toyoda got ready many copies of travel guides, routes of trains, stored value bus card and train cards for us. He also let me hold and use his handphone in that ten days. He even set a one-touch button for me to get him at home.

Mr. Toyoda really prepared the gifts for us with his heart. We were very pleased with his friendliness. I was especially moved when he presented his family heirloom to me. I did not know what to do when I saw the silk kerchief with the Mandarin ducks. I finally accepted it with ease. I have to keep the silk kerchief well and hand it over to Solomon when he grows up. Both Mr. and Mrs. Toyoda love Solomon very much and Solomon understands what a family heirloom is.