[Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally

Fri Aug 3 04:20:28 UTC 2012

Hey travelers list,
I'd like to mention a couple of things regarding my recent travels in
Vietnam since the email I'm responding to mentioned the subject of "third
world countries." Vietnam, like Ghana ranks well into the bottom half of
countries in terms of GDP per capita. Well I thought I'd note I was able to
find readily many cheap one-bedroom hotel rooms in Vietnam's major cities
for between $12 and $17 per night. The rooms were clean, included wifi, TV,
small fridge, AC, and bathrooms. The bathrooms usually did not have separate
tubs or shower stalls, and I traveled with toilet paper much of the time.
The water usually was not automatically connected to heating, but this could
be done after contact with a hotel staff member. I don't remember ever
needing to pay extra for hot water, though I went without it sometimes,
since the unheated water really wasn't that cold. The hotels could sell you
bottles of water for perhaps thirty cents. 
My travels were pretty much unplanned. I went from city to city on a bus or
the back of a motorbike. Guys from the hotels would be ready to pitch to
prospective customers at the bus arrival areas. My Vietnamese was poor; but
I was traveling with a Vietnamese friend who was able to do some bargaining
on my behalf, which was routine for many services. A great way to get to
know a place is to at least try to learn the language and use it.      
Vietnam was totally awesome. Beautiful temples, shrines, forests, bays,
islands, art and people. Food was great--usually--and everything, save land
is cheap there. Toilets are often lacking there, and if present may include
the squatting type, and--if you are lucky--bidet type spraying hoses; though
all the hotels I experienced had the toilets we're used to. I remember
staying at a beautiful house in the country side of Ha Noi that included TV,
internet, and AC, but no running water or bathroom. The residents preferred
well water and mother nature.
Trevor Attenberg

--Original Message-----
From: travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 3:11 PM
To: travelandtourism
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally

Well all of this information is good go know for Ghana, which is a beautiful
country in Africa, not many people do travel there, but these are good
things to know.
You have family there, and would be nice to know if any services they have
for the blind, or are still not there yet.  Ghana is also a poor country.
What you mentioned about water and taxis, etc.
Should be noted when you are visiting third world countries, you will not
usually get hot and cold running water unless you are staying in 4 and 5
star hotels, and that is usually the norm, like for countries like India,
and places in Africa, and some places in Central and South America.
So planning on visiting these areas, which many have done, like Robert
Newman, if any of you were at the division meeting at convention, it was
discussed as well.
Unfortunately, we didn't have anyone recording our meeting, so I hope
possibly that Robert and possibly Karl Smith will come and speak on either
our monthly teleconferences or on my radio show the 1st Wednesday of the
month, at 8pm Eastern Time, on the WTOE Network, www.thruoureyes.org, or you
can go to www.echevarriatravel.com, and listen to the video being streamed
live there.
Stayed tuned for more information on that as well.
Doug, thank you again for posting this information.

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria,
Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatrave
l.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Help fuel the "Dream Machine" of the Imagination Fund by visiting
www.nfb.org/imaginationfund to make a donation using your credit card ortext
the word "blind" to 85944 and you will automatically donate $10 worth of
fuel via your cell phone bill.

> From: doug.lawlor at gmail.com
> Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2012 15:39:23 -0230
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally
> 
> Hi Cheryl,
> I have no problem with you using any information I can provide. Did you
have any particular questions? When I travel to Ghana I have friends that
assist me when i'm their, so I usually stay in a private residence. 
> 
> Some more things to keep in mind:
> 
> Most houses do not have hot water and a lot more do not even have running
water. The houses that have running water are not to a standard that we
would expect to see in the western world. Running water is good for things
like washing hands but when it comes to showering you are using buckets of
water to wash with. There is just not enough pressure in the taps to provide
for the shower. 
> Do not under any circumstances drink water from the taps. Purified bottled
or small bags of water can be found anywhere so drink that instead. I don't
believe tap water is treated their, at least not in the same way we have
become used to in the west. This is the hardest thing I had to get used to
when I was their. Houses that do have running water will have flushing
toy-lets, so that is a good thing.
> 
> If you want to use a cell phone, such as an iPhone, make sure it is
unlocked. Although locked phones will work, you will be paying very, and I
mean very expensive rates to your home carrier. Bell Mobility was charging
something like $2.99 Canadian per minute. I bought an unlocked iPhone 3GS to
take with me when I went the last time. 
> 
> To sign up with a phone carrier such as MTN or Vodafone you go to their
office and register for a sim card. You must have your passport to register.
When you get your sim installed you then by phone credit from either stores
or street vendors. These are cards you can by in different denominations
which you have to scratch off a number on the back of the card and enter
this into your phone using the phone's keypad. I just get someone sited to
do this for me. 
> 
> Although credit and bank cards can be used at ATMs. This presents a
problem. Although many people can speak good passible english they have a
hard time reading english instructions. So make sure you can find someone
who can read english as well as speak it to read the instructions from the
ATM for you. 
> 
> Get used to carrying cash. All people I have met their use cash to pay for
goods. All stores mainly except cash and nothing else. 
> The currency in Ghana is the Ghana Seedy. I may be mistaken but as I
understand it this currency has to be obtained in the country and you are
not allowed to leave with it. 
> 
> Transportation between short distances can be provided by taxi which can
take you anywhere you want to go or via small vans that travel preset routes
Larger busses are used to go longer distances of about two hours or more. 
> Taxis are not maintained to a standard we would expect in North America or
Europe. If you take a taxi don't be surprised to hear squeeks and rattles
that you would not hear otherwise. 
> 
> I hope this helps someone. Please contact me with any questions you may
have.  
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Doug
> 
> On 2012-07-26, at 8:44 PM, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
wrote:
> 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Appreciate you helping out Doug, if you have photos and/or videos that
can be added to our website, which our Board Member/Webmaster Daniel Carr
can use, we welcome them.
> > Might we also use the information provided Doug that would be awesome.
> > Thank you.
> > Sincerely,
> > 
> > Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNFB Travel and
TourismPresident at nfb-travel.org631-236-5138
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
> > Cheryl Echevarria,
Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatrave
l.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
> > Help fuel the "Dream Machine" of the Imagination Fund by visiting
www.nfb.org/imaginationfund to make a donation using your credit card ortext
the word "blind" to 85944 and you will automatically donate $10 worth of
fuel via your cell phone bill.
> > 
> > 
> >> CC: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> >> From: doug.lawlor at gmail.com
> >> Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:23:57 -0230
> >> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> >> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally
> >> 
> >> Hello:
> >> Although I have not traveled in Europe, I have traveled to Ghana, West
Africa. 
> >> I found that both Air Canada and Lufthanza were very good with
providing assistance. 
> >> The first time a arrived in Ghana the assistent insisted that I get
into a wheel chair when I got on the bus to go from the plane to the airport
terminal. No airplane bridges their. Everyone departs all aircraft and
boards a bus to be transported to the airport. The wheel chair insident only
happened once though. The second time I went back I had no problem. The
assistent just let me take his arm and he guided me through the airport. 
> >> When in Ghana everyone who doesn't know you personally and provides you
a service of any kind is expected to get paid a small amount. I gave them 10
GHS, about $5.20 canadian. Strangely, this only happened on arrival, not
when I departed the country. 
> >> 
> >> If anyone would like to know more about my travels to Ghana just ask. 
> >> 
> >> Doug
> >> 
> >> Sent from my iPad
> >> 
> >> On 2012-07-26, at 3:29 PM, Keitei Colton <kekiangeles111 at gmail.com>
wrote:
> >> 
> >>> Hello,
> >>> 
> >>> Is there anyone that has traveled internationally through Europe? If
so, is there any tips for doing it?
> >>> 
> >>> Thanks,
> >>> 
> >>> Keitei Colton
> >>> 555 South 200 East
> >>> Salt Lake City, UT 84111
> >>> kekiangeles111 at gmail.com
> >>> (435)-901-4265
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> > 
> > 		 	   		  
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