[Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally

cheryl echevarria cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Fri Aug 3 10:05:21 UTC 2012 

Welcome to the list Trevor, we met at the convention, and he is a new member of the division.
I would also like to ask, how did you find the Vietnamese find your  blindness?
As a third world country, they didn't have braille or other assistance, is the correct?
Also, Vietnam since the war has become also a great place to visit.  They have the better hotels there, and well as river cruises, etc.  But some like to experience places like Trevor did, or like Julie did, just go and experience it.
I would also do my homework if you decide to explore on your own.
Again, as at our division meeting in Dallas, we had a panel discussion, with Karl Smith and Robert Newman and myself, and mention that definitely talk to a travel planner, you don't have to use them for all your trip, maybe just the hotel stays etc.  You can find out what areas not to go to, and when the rainy season is, and when you can get the best rates.
Trevor, if any what kind of planning did you do prior to going to Vietnam?
Why did you go there?
I am interested in going one day myself, it is a mysterious area to me, my dad was a Vietnam Veteran, and also interested in everything Asian.
Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNFB Travel and Tourism631-236-5138 



Leading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.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: tattenberg at gmail.com
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2012 00:20:28 -0400
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Traveling Internationally
> 
> 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
> > >>> _______________________________________________
> > >>> Travelandtourism mailing list
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> > >> 
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> > > 
> > > 
> > > 		 	   		  
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