Switzerland

With a bit of insanity, a dash of bravado and a whole lot of recklessness, I embarked on the most daring adventure I have ever undertook so far. On the 8th October 2010, I boarded a crowded flight EK405 of Emirates, alone and excited, to Switzerland, 5959km in all with transit at Dubai International.

I intended to stay for two to three weeks but didn't really plan an itinerary. I flew on a one-way ticket, which was sort of booked on the spur of a moment (very enthusiastically), and had no idea when and where I should fly back. A gung-ho instant soon followed by nervousness and uncertainty.

Did I pack enough warm clothing? Can I secure transport correctly and timely? Is the hotel booked really convenient for me? Am I able to move around freely with a luggage in tow?

Anyway, all I could do was to keep my wits and not panic in front of any unforeseen circumstances. I didn't want to waste all the effort, confidence and support my family had given me.

So how does I travel solo?

Switzerland is an extremely wheelchair-friendly country, apart from the steeply slopes and bumpy cobblestone roads which I found out the hard way. Without superhuman arm power or an electric wheelchair, it is impossible to roll up some of the walkways or roads. Fortunately there was always somewhere nearby offering help to me. Thank you!

I actually like the cobblestone roads. They are one of the charms of an old city. When you walk on one of these, you feel as though you are living in the 18th/19th century. I immersed thoroughly in exploring the winding sidewalks and small pathways within old sections of the cities while subjecting my wheelchair to the brutality of cobblestones.

Each city I visited has an excellent public transportation system, comprising of buses and trams. They reach practically all parts of the city and most cater to handicapped passengers, thus it was very easy for me to get around. Taxis are readily available but they are too costly. I think people take them only if they are in an emergency.

SBB trains connect all the cities together. They are fast and punctual to the microsecond of the clock. It's amazing! Most trains allow wheelchairs to board directly but the SBB advises to call for assistance in advance in case it's one of those older trains you are boarding.

So I city-hopped from Zurich to Basel, Berne, Montreux-Vevay and Geneva this way. Lucerne was the only exception where I travelled by tour bus for a day trip.

I experimented with having my luggage hanged on the handlebars behind and my backpack secured in front. I thought that should provide a balance so things wouldn't topple over but it proved to be much harder to maneuver. I changed to hanging my backpack behind and latched the luggage's handle to the backpack and pulled it like a trolley. It saved me a lot of energy.

Just like my logo of this website, I was a wheelchair train!