​Hi, my name is Mikhal Banas. I’m 30 years old and live with muscular dystrophy, a rare neuromuscular disease that affects every muscle in my body. The only functional movement I have is limited use of my arms, so I rely on an electric wheelchair and cannot transfer into a regular vehicle. ​For the past 14 years in Campbell River, transportation has been a major struggle. Taxis are unreliable and expensive, and HandyDART often requires booking weeks in advance. These barriers even forced me to leave my 7-year job as a Walmart greeter. ​I’m fundraising for a wheelchair-accessible van so I can regain my independence, work, and live a more spontaneous life. Any help sharing my GoFundMe page would mean the world to me. Thank you for your support! You can follow the link to the GO FUND ME page https://gofund.me/ea3b3a3f7

My First Wheelchair-Accessible International Trip After I began using a wheelchair, I thought my jet-setting days were over. But it turns out, fear lives only in the mind. Singapore became my first international trip since, and it holds a special place in my heart. I’ve now been there twice — and I’ll keep going back for how empowered, safe, and seen it makes me feel. To read about my other travels, you can visit here. Why I chose Singapore? I didn’t want my first flight to be a long-haul one, and Singapore’s proximity to India helped. The tourist visa process is simple, crowd levels are manageable, and most importantly, Singapore is often voted the most accessible city in the world. So, I thought — why not? Turns out, it was one of the best“why nots” of my life. Getting Around: The MRT Made Easy I always use the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). It’s the easiest way to roll in and out of the metro without needing help. Every station is accessible with elevators, and there’s a special boarding zone for passengers with disabilities. I usually buy the3-day tourist pass at Changi Airport, which is super convenient. People are courteous, the platforms are clean, and the trains are rarely overcrowded. Only the Green and Red lines need a little assist; my dad gives me a quick one-second lift since the platform gap is wider there. At Changi Airport, the Green Line is unavoidable, but I transfer to the Blue Line right after. Tip: If you’re new to metro systems, keep a printed map handy — transfers are easy once you know where they connect. Alternative: In rare cases when I need a cab, I use the Grab app, which lets you book foldable-wheelchair–friendly rides. Drivers are trained and genuinely helpful. Where I Stay: Bencoolen Neighbourhood I love staying around Bencoolen— it’s lively, central, and right next to the Bencoolen Blue Line MRT, which connects easily to the rest of the city. Hotel rooms in Singapore are smaller than in most cities, but honestly, I only use them to sleep and freshen up. The area is full of students, cafés, and energy. It also has an Indian and a Chinese temple next to each other, both close to the beautiful Church of Saints Peter and Paul- what a beautiful blend of cultures. It’s one of those neighbourhoods that just feels good. My Favourite Places to Visit: S.E.A Aquarium- A mesmerising surprise. I’m not usually an aquarium person, but this one blew my mind. The massive viewing panels are hypnotic — I could’ve sat there for hours. The whole place is wheelchair accessible. Take the MRT to HarbourFront Station, then the Sentosa Express Monorail. Worth every bit of effort (and ticket money!). Buddha Tooth Relic Temple -Calm and ornate. My first time in a Chinese Buddhist temple and wow, what an experience. The grand decor is unreal. It is completely wheelchair accessible. I took the lift to the 4th floor where the tooth relic is. Visitors were meditating. Just make sure your shoulders and knees are covered. Chinatown -Murals, markets and vibes. I love Chinatowns in any city, so this was a must. There are around 15 popular murals you can easily find with a quick Google Maps search. The MRT exit can be confusing the first time — take the Garden Link pedestrian bridge, walk through a small mall, then take the lift down to Pagoda Street. From there, just enjoy the vibe and wander. Bayfront -The real highlight. This is a must-do. Skip the top floor of Marina Bay Sands — it’s expensive and overrated. Instead, explore the area around theArtScience MuseumandLouis Vuitton Island Maison. Catch the 15-minute Spectra light and water show— I like the last 5 minutes with rock music are sweet surprise. Roll along the bay (not via the Helix Bridge side) towards the Apple Store and Merlion. It’s a bit of a walk… though not for me 😉. The skyline at night is stunning, and watching locals play games or jog by adds such a sense of calm. Jewel -A meditative waterfall moment. Yes, it’s crowded, but the view is totally worth it. Take the spacious lifts (Lobby C, E, or H) where priority is given to wheelchair users. The indoor waterfall is every bit as magical as it looks online. There’s a light show around 7 PM — I watched it from the ground floor, in silence, completely mesmerised. It was oddly meditative for me… (maybe not for you 😄) Gardens of the Bay -Beautiful but overrated. Controversial opinion: I wasn’t too taken by it. The Supertree Grove is lovely, especially on a weekday, but the light-and-sound show didn’t do much for me. Still, it’s one of those must-sees; check it off the list. Clarke Quay -Music and vibes. A lively riverfront spot, full of expats and live 80's music. Most restaurants have stairs, so I didn’t dine there, but I loved soaking up the atmosphere. Just sitting by the water, with music drifting across, felt perfect. Orchard Road: Chill and charm overload. Singapore’s famous shopping street; the malls are all interconnected underground. For those of us in wheelchairs, the queue up for the elevators can be a pretty frustrating experience with the large crowd.I got off at Somerset Station, rolled along to Orchard MRT, and instead explored Emerald Hill Lane— a charming street perfect for photos. If shopping isn’t your thing, the underground basements full of locals at midnight are an experience in themselves. Lau Pa Sat- Food, food! You can’t leave Singapore without visiting a hawker centre, and Lau Pa Sat is my favourite. It’s colonial, pretty, and full of energy. I had the famous chicken rice and satays, and both lived up to the hype. Pro tip and a fun fact: I found it strange that every time I ordered drinks with ‘no ice’ I got charged an extra $1! Apparently, saying ‘no ice’ in Singapore is a luxury request. Who knew! Final Thoughts I love that it drizzles for a few minutes every day — just enough to cool things down. Don’t bother over-preparing for the rain; there’s always shelter nearby. If you’ve never travelled internationally as a wheelchair user and wonder where to start — start with Singapore. It’s safe, accessible, empowering, and welcoming. It reminded me that the world is still wide open and I’m freewheeling right through it 😉.

My journey with accessible travel started long before Travaxy. It started with my own life. As a person with a disability who uses a wheelchair, I learned very early that accessibility is not a small detail. It can be the difference between independence and dependence, between confidence and stress, between feeling welcome and feeling like an afterthought. Travel has always been a powerful part of my life. It opened the world for me, gave me freedom, and showed me how much is possible when the right conditions exist. As a former Paralympic athlete, I had the privilege of traveling to different places, meeting people from around the world, and experiencing how travel can change the way we see ourselves and others. But I also experienced the difficult side of travel. I experienced what happens when a hotel says it is “accessible,” but the reality is different. When the shower is not usable. When the room is too tight. When the path to the restaurant includes stairs. When the person on the other side of the phone wants to help, but does not really know what questions to ask. For many travelers with disabilities, seniors, and families, this uncertainty turns travel into a stressful project. Before the vacation even begins, there are hours of calls, emails, photos, doubts, and second guesses. And still, after all that effort, there is often no real confidence. Over time, I realized this was not only my personal experience. It was a much bigger problem. The travel industry wanted to serve people with accessibility needs, but it was missing the right tools, the right data, and the right language. Hotels often did not know how to explain what they really offered. Travel agents were expected to become accessibility experts without training. Booking platforms treated accessibility as a simple checkbox, even though every traveler’s needs are different. That realization became the beginning of Travaxy. I did not start Travaxy only to build another travel technology company. I started it because I believe accessible travel should be easier, clearer, and more dignified for everyone involved. Travaxy was created from lived experience - from the understanding that accessibility is not one general word but a personal match between a traveler’s needs and the reality of a hotel, service, or destination. Our mission is to help the travel industry make that match with more confidence, more intelligence, and more humanity. For travelers, it means less fear and more freedom. For families, it means peace of mind. For travel companies, it means the ability to support people with accessibility needs in a better, smarter, and more respectful way. For me, Travaxy is the continuation of a personal journey. A journey from experiencing the problem, to understanding how many people face it, to building a solution that can help change the way the world travels. Because accessible travel is not about asking for special treatment. It is about giving people the opportunity to travel with dignity, confidence, and choice.

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