[Blindtlk] international cane travel

Tue Oct 11 21:35:34 UTC 2011

This is just about the best articulate piece of advice I have ever read in
my life. Thank you for sharing this. I'd better now save the email somewhere
safe for my records. (smile)  

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of David Evans
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 11:17 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel

Dear All,

As a world traveler, by virtue of being a Navy brat,.  I have had the 
experience of traveling in snow and ice in Alaska and the tropical jungles 
of Southeast Asia, Guam, Hawaii and Panama.  Throw in the swamps in Florida,

the deserts in California and the high mountains.
I have dealt with the traffic in Tokyo, Sidney, Moscow, Hong Cong and Paris.
In many other countries, the car is king and you better get out of the way 
or get plowed under.
I think it goes back to an earlier time when only the rich could afford a 
car and the rich made the rules.
In many places the streets are as nice as any you can find in the States and

in others, they are not much more that a goat trail through the bushes.
You have to be ready for all kinds of road surfaces and materials, such 
things as sand, gravel, small rocks, cobble stones, packed earth, loose 
earth and asphalt.
Crossing bridges can be an adventure too as they can be steel, wooden, made 
of rope and bamboo, chains and planks and may come with or without 
crocodiles, sharks or paronna fish underneath just in case you have a slip 
and fall.
Don't forget the killer whales polar bears and maybe a jaguar or too that 
might want to know what you are having for dinner.
Using a cane to travel can really have it's challenges and your arms and 
wrist will get a real work out as the tip may tend to get caught on 
everything, unless you are in a modern city setting.
I have had to walk down dirt roads slapping my cane against the banks or 
tapping it along the edge of a drainage ditch to shoreline the edge of the 
road.

Once in the monsoon season, I walked through a farmers flooded rice patty as

I could not tell the difference between it and the flooded road.
You never know when a cape buffalo may want to block your way or an 
alligator might want to ask directions to the nearest watering hole.

The streets in Spain are very nice and there is a very large population of 
Blind people there, especially in Barcelona.
when traveling in certain places always keep your cane handy, even if you 
use a guide dog as your travel tool.  The guide dog can make a good 
diversion if you are attacked by a lion or tiger.  While the dog is being 
eaten, you and your cane can make a quick get away, unless the tiger or lion

is planning on using your white cane as a tooth pick after he is done with 
you and the dog.  Grin!
For the most part, traveling in the worlds cities is mostly the same as in 
the states.
In crowds, you choack up on the cane and dodge the people as best you can. 
People, depending upon the culture, will show different degrees of respect 
and curtesy, same as here.  People are people where ever you go and there 
are good ones and bad ones.  There are some who will think nothing of 
knocking you down and robbing you on the spot and others who will help pick 
you up and care if you are hurt.
Travel there as you would travel here.  Don't wear or carry items that can 
be snatched on the fly by thieves or purse snatchers.  Don't carry or wear 
expensive looking clothes  or jewelry.  Don't flash allot of cash and split 
it up and carry it in different places in case you are robbed they may not 
get it all.
Carry an extra cane as if you break your cane, you may not be able to 
replace it in a foreign land.
Take enough dog food for your dog or make sure that you can get the brand of

dog food in the place you are going.  a Guide dog with an upset tummy is no 
fun for anyone.  Give your guide dog bottled water too.  If you need bottled

water, so does he to prevent getting certain diseases and parasites.

Make sure the address of your hotel is written don on a piece of paper in 
your language as well as the language spoken in that country in case you 
need directions to get back to it if you get lost.  Usually the hotel staff 
will do this for you if you ask.
Watch out for the cab drivers as they can cheat you.  Give them the address 
first and ask them how much to drive you there first, before you get in 
their cab.  Don't be afraid to shop around for the best deal.  Ask the hotel

about how much the cabs charge for a normal trip and then use your better 
judgment.
  Lock your valuables up in a room safer the hotel safe to prevent them from

being stolen.  Carry only what you need for the day plus 10%.
Button pockets or use safety pins to secure pockets from pick pockets and 
check your pockets any time someone bumps into you.
Be ware of the "bump and stall" method of pocket picking where one person 
accidentally runs into you from the front and another picks your pockets 
from behind.  This is very popular in the U.K., France, Italy and the Far 
East.  Beware of what and who is around you and look as if you are paying 
attention to avoid being a victim.

Be careful of seemingly well meaning strangers as they may try to lead you 
to a isolated spot so they can rob you.  Get good directions from a trusted 
source such as a policeman, your hotel staff or the people at the place you 
are looking to travel too.
Don't advertise that you are an American by wearing U.S. flags or symbols as

this can make you a target in some places.  If asked, tell them you are from

Canada.  Everyone loves the Canadians.

Be sure to keep up with the latest exchange rates for dealing with money 
situations.
Talk to your hotel about places to avoid for your safety.  You don't want to

be caught in the wrong "hood" and wearing the wrong "colors."

I hope that some of this helps and don't be put off about that part 
concerning the lions, tigers and bears.  I just made it up for the "oh 
heavens" effect.
Just use the skills you have been taught and you will be fine.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nikki Wundeerlich" <nikki0222 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 7:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel

> in Spain the sidewalks and streets are pretty well maintained.
>
>
> Nikki wunderlich
> sent from my iPod
>
> On Oct 5, 2011, at 6:27 PM, "T. Joseph Carter" 
> <tjcarter at spiritsubstance.com> wrote:
>
>> That's not terribly unusual in cities like Portland, but Portland is 
>> nothing compared to, say, Tokyo!  In such cities, my only other advice is

>> mind your wallet!  Pickpockets love crowds.
>>
>> Joseph
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 08:10:45PM -0400, Cindy Handel wrote:
>>> Yes, that could be, but she said there are a lot more pedestrians than
>>> vehicles.
>>>
>>> Cindy
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "T. Joseph Carter" <tjcarter at spiritsubstance.com>
>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 6:35 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel
>>>
>>>
>>> Sounds like most cities to me, with the exception of the lack of
>>> sidewalks.
>>>
>>> Joseph
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 06:06:31PM -0400, Cindy Handel wrote:
>>>> My niece is in Malawi in southern Africa right now.  She says there are

>>>> few
>>>> sidewalks and drivers are crazy.  Most people walk, but pedestrians do 
>>>> not
>>>> have the right of way.  When a car is coming, the driver does not slow
>>>> down;
>>>> it's just up to you to get out of the way.  Sounds crazy to me!
>>>>
>>>> Cindy
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "T. Joseph Carter" <tjcarter at spiritsubstance.com>
>>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 4:52 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] international cane travel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I've never been to a developing country, but urban areas in such
>>>> countries have got to be a combination of urban traffic as in the US,
>>>> with rural roads and pathways.  That is, expect a lot of broken
>>>> pavement, poor or non-existent sidewalks, and tons of people in and
>>>> out of cars.
>>>>
>>>> Proceed with caution, and don't get distracted.
>>>>
>>>> Come to think of it, I can name urban places here in the United
>>>> States that are fairly similar in description.
>>>>
>>>> Oh, you may want to ask about different traffic laws (and traffic
>>>> realities, legal or otherwise) wherever you are going.  Even in the
>>>> US, the traffic laws vary a bit.  Here in Oregon, right turns (and
>>>> even left turns on one-way streets) are legal on a red light.  Cars
>>>> may not cross a lane of traffic to do it, however.  The traffic
>>>> reality is that the part about not crossing a lane of traffic gets
>>>> ignored often enough to be a concern.  Good to know if you're coming
>>>> to Oregon!
>>>>
>>>> It'll be hard to give specifics without knowing where you're going.
>>>> But the general travel skills apply with very slight variations for
>>>> specific circumstances pretty much everywhere you go.
>>>>
>>>> Joseph
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Oct 05, 2011 at 12:34:42PM -0400, John Davis wrote:
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm thinking of traveling abroad with some friends soon for a few
>>>>> weeks. I've never left the country before, but our plan is to see
>>>>> parts of Asia and Europe.
>>>>>
>>>>> First, I use an NFB cane with the standard metal tip for travel
>>>>> everywhere I go. I do use a combination of touch and slide technique
>>>>> depending on the situation. I had never thought to ask this question
>>>>> until a friend who went to Africa over the summer told me that, being
>>>>> in a developing country, the roads and sidewalks look completely
>>>>> different from the suburbs and cities of the US! With that, I'm
>>>>> wondering If I'll have any trouble using a cane in some foreign
>>>>> countries? From what I've heard a lot of sidewalks can have huge holes
>>>>> and cracks everywhere and the like which might make using a cane hard
>>>>> abroad. especially in more developing countries ... apparently it's
>>>>> quite chaotic and a total mess in some places even for people who can
>>>>> see! I ask because the NFB metal tip can succumb to rough spots and
>>>>> cracks and the like here on occasion, so I'm suddenly wondering If
>>>>> I'll have trouble abroad. I will be with a group of friends so maybe I
>>>>> won't need to use my cane too much on my own, but I thought I'd ask
>>>>> before I leave anyway. Apologies if these are silly or the wrong lists
>>>>> to ask these questions on.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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