This Mom Let Her Son Write Japan Travel Journal And It Is The Best Thing You'll Read Today
Looking back at old memories is the best feeling you have ever had! Imagined reading your old diaries or journal where all your secrets and thoughts are inside that one little book. Plus, I'm pretty sure each of us has their own way of captured memories, either through pictures, writing or even drawing. Just like this mom who encourages her son to jot down all his wanderlust in the cutest way possible!
The awesome mom known as Fauziah A Halim started to teach her son to write a travel journal back in 2016. That's how 'The Adventures of Irfan Hakimi b. Ahmad Fadzly' was born!
The reason behind the travel journal:
Fauziah tells us that she wanted him to document all his travels either local or overseas trip and at the same time, help him to become a better writer. Another thing that this activity also helps him to write an essay for academic purposes as well.
Welcome to The Adventures of Irfan Hakimi b. Ahmad Fadzly!
Back in 2016, she created a template so it will be much easier for his 10-year-old son to write in phrases, circle things where necessary and even draw happy or sad faces. At that time, he started his first journal with Tokyo, Yuzawa, Kyoto and Osaka trip.
What kind of traveller am I?
One of her tips is to ask questions in a travel journal.
Early this year when he turned 11 years old, Fauziah stopped making a template and exchange them with prompt questions for him to answer, such as:
How does travelling make me feel?
After changing the format, she advised other people that ...
Don't expect them to write more than one page at their age. As long as they write something, it is enough.
Things to do for the trip is actually a practice of both writing and drawing!
I am excited about
- Going to Japan
- Going to Disneyland
- Playing with snow
- Cat cafeThings I plan on doing are
To complete Irfan travel journal, her mom provided him something special. Irfan did a lot of writing and drawing earlier but to make it more memorable, her mom gave him a Polaroid camera. It makes things easier for him to document his day during the travelling period around Osaka and Kyoto. Apart from the photo, he also added some wording and stickers according to his creativity which we found so kawaii! By the way, who can spot miso soup sticker on this photo?
Honolu Halal Ramen
22-2-2017
Some of his Polaroid collections on the journal.
Fauziah surprised by his actions
When Irfan started to write a journal, she actually surprised to read all of it because he remembers every single thing he did throughout the journeys. One of the example as quoted below:
halal restaurant
I'm pretty sure her mom is really proud how he put so much effort to write diligently on every page because I know I will!
Take a note from Irfan for those who are planning to visit Disney Sea soon!
Tokyo Disneyland SURVIVAL GUIDE by Irfan Hakimi
1. Buy your tickets early
2. Bring snacks and drinks from home
3. In Feb, bring thick jackets and mittens and an umbrella.
4. Go early
5. Subways to Disneyland are very crowded
6. Halal food in Tokyo Disneyland are french fries, seafood calzone, churros, popcorn and seafood pizza.
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Fauziah shared with us what she asked her kid to write upon starting this travel journal. Nothing complicated. It was just simple questions.... Such as, what he plans to do for the day, what happened, how he feels and what he learned from the day trip.
"You will be amazed at how kids view the world, especially the world that is foreign to them and his take on these travels are totally different from ours. You will definitely learn something from them," - Fauziah
5 things that Irfan learned from Osaka trip.
5 Things I Learned from this Osaka Trip
1. If you don't want to walk up the escalator, stay on the right. Why? To let other people who are in a hurry pass.
2. Japanese use more public transport. Why: Their public transport are efficient and they don't want to pollute.
3. Japanese use IC cards to pay for everything. Why? So they do not need to carry cash.
4. Think of it as a good experience or keep an open mind. Why: So it will give you a good experience.
5. Japanese are very slim due to healthy lifestyle. Why: So they don't get sick very easy. They also walk or ride bicycle most of the time
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I'm pretty sure you are smiling when you are reading this post because I was smiling ears to ears myself! If you read his travel journal on the picture you can actually feel the emotions that he tried to bring out in every single words or drawing. It is true what people said about there are times children can teach us things that adult aren't aware of and I think that is the beauty of it. If you have interesting stories to share about Japan do contact us and we will do our best to feature it!
And if you want to start to write again, you might want to download our apps Halal Navi and write a simple review of the Halal restaurant that you've visited! Who knows your honest review might help other Muslim for a Japan trip 😉
