What if I could travel around the world to see if there's accessibility like here in Canada? ( Part 1)

             I would like to go on a cruise around the world for a year to see if other places are accessible for people with disabilities.  

            Firstly, I would like to go to Thailand because it’s something so different from where I live now. The weather is warm and the views are fantastic! I did some research about what you can see and do if you’re a tourist in Thailand. I discovered that they have a website for people with disabilities who would like to travel. On the website you can find a detailed guide about where to stay, what to do, and there are lots of accessible package holidays.

            Secondly, I would really like to see Paris, so the next destination would be France. Again, if you go online, you’ll find an easy way to plan your trip. On the Paris- Official Website of the Convention and Visitors Bureau; they offer you adapted cars or taxis to go around Paris. You may also use adapted public transport like busses, metros, tramways, etc.

            The next step would definitely be touring Africa. I think it would be great to go on an African Safari for a couple of days. If you want to try this, it’s important to know that Safari accommodations can vary. You can stay in a cabin or a bungalow-style building at the safari lodge, or you can stay in a tent at a proper camp. It's also useful to know that many camps will run a generator at least part of the time, so you’ll be able to charge batteries if you’re using a power chair or other electronic medical equipment. There are many places in Africa that are wheelchair friendly. For example, if you want to visit South African National Parks, or National Botanical Garden's, many camps and visitor destinations provide ramp access into their main facilities. There are also some units in many of the camps that have been adapted for guests with limited mobility.

            Argentina it’s another dream that I hope will come true. It is a beautiful country, but it’s not a good place to go for people with disabilities. Many provinces in the country have not adopted the laws about the accessibility for people with disabilities.

             Another place that I want to go again is Australia. I was there in 2015 on a cruise around the continent, and I had a really good time. There are a lot of places that I want to see, because I didn’t have time to see them on my first cruise. I get around with the help of my friend.

            I am going to the Caribbean Islands next year for a 21 days cruise. I will come back and I will tell you how it was. I’m sure that will be a great experience and I’ll share it with you.
You know what!? I think I will go ahead and take up this quest of seeing the world. After all, nothing is holding me back... not even my disability. 

Sydney

Sydney is a beautiful place, and I wish we had an extra day there, but we didn’t. My roommate went to walk the Sydney Bridge, so I went with her and her brother and sister-in-law. My roommate went onto the Sydney Bridge and then we went over to the opera house; we saw the Sydney Bridge when we were at the opera house. We had to take a bus to get to downtown Sydney, and we couldn’t wait for my roommate to finish so we went back early because it was two hours and a half, and we had to be back on the ship by a certain time. So I hoped she would get back on time. It was a nice day. We looked around for a bit and then went back to the ship.

The Sydney Bridge

The Sydney Opera House

Melbourne

We had two days in Melbourne. The first day, we had an excursion. We went on a train ride and then we went to a park and we fed the birds. After the excursion, we went back to the ship and in the terminal, they had a little store. So I bought another sweater. The next day, we went for a walk around town to see what was near the ship. The weather was getting a little better, but it wasn't warm out. We saw if we could get any Wi-Fi so I FaceTimed my mom and dad. We went to a store where my roommate could get Coca-Colas for the ship. Then we went back and then I bought T-shirts at the store where I bought my sweater.

The train ride

Melbourne is a city that is wheelchair-friendly. When we went on the train ride, my roommate and her brother helped me get into the train car, so that wasn't wheelchair-friendly. When we were on the ride to the next stop, when I looked outside, it looked like Hawaii with the tall trees. We saw a lot of people sitting on the side with their feet out of the train window.

Hobart

In Hobart, Australia, we went to the zoo to feed the kangaroos, it's hard to get around because it was all rock. We went there at nighttime so it was hard to see. But I went around to see everything, but they made us go back-and-forth to see the different animals, and it was a little hard because at the zoo, it's not paved. So I really liked it, but for me, I wouldn't go back-and-forth like that. There was a talking parrot, and I got to pet a koala bear too. At the end, there was a lady who was working there, and we told her that it was hard for me to feed the kangaroo because everyone who was there was trying to feed them and take pictures. So she told us that she would help me to feed one. So at the end of the tour, we went over to the kangaroos and she got one of them and I got to feed him, and it was pretty cool.

Feeding the kangaroos

The talking parrot

And in the daytime, I hung out in the room, but everybody had to get off the ship in the morning because we were in Australia, and everybody needed to get off and go through customs, but my roommate and her brother and sister had to go on an excursion in the morning, so I had to get off with them away inside the terminal, but I had a little problem, and it was my fault. My wheelchair wasn't charging on the ship, but I had the same problem when we got to New Zealand, and I plugged it in in the hotel, and it didn't charge. I ran into a lady who had a scooter and I asked her what kind of charger she had, and could I look at it. And she showed me what it was, and I asked her, "Can I use it for a couple of hours?" And she said, "Oh, of course! But I need it back when I go to bed." And I said, "Well then, I'll borrow it just for a couple of hours and I'll bring it to your room at night." And she said, "Okay, that'll be fine."

So I plugged it in and it charged. So I was waiting in the terminal to get back on the ship. It was 11:30am when we were finally allowed to get back on the ship. And we worked out at 8:30am, so it was a long morning, but I brought a book with me, and I saw my wheelchair going down because it didn’t have a really good charge. So when I got back in the room, I talked to myself, “Let’s try it again, and see what happens.” So I plugged it in and it charged! So I was so happy. So I left it plugged in and I told my roommate what happened, and she was happy too. So now, every stop that we made, we plugged my wheelchair in.

New Zealand!

Well, that time is coming fast: going on another holiday with my best friend! We are leaving on April 1st from Vancouver and then flying from Vancouver over to New Zealand. We are staying in New Zealand for 2 days, and we get on the cruise ship on the 5th. But before we get on the cruise, I am going to jump off the SkyTower in New Zealand. I am going with my roommate/best friend. I hope we both make it out alive!

My family and friends think that I am crazy for bungee-jumping off the SkyTower, but I want to show people that I can do anything that I put my mind to. I think it'll be fun! I hope I can do it. That's why I'm working out a lot and doing the treadmill. So I am doing this in New Zealand with my best friend because I am making her do it with me. I don't know what she'll do to me after, but I don't care.

Anyway, we get on the cruise on the 5th and then on the 6th, we are in Tauranga and we are going kayaking! I am doing other activities too, and then I will blog about what I did, where, and how I get around. It'll be a good time to go and see other cultures.

This is where we're going: Auckland, Tauranga, Napier, Wellington, Picton, Akaroa, Port Chalmers, and the Fiordland National Park in New Zealand; Hobart, Melbourne, and Sydney in Australia; Noumea and Easo in New Caledonia; Port Vila in Vanuatu; Suva in Fiji Islands; Pago Pago in American Samoa; Nawiliwili Kauai and Honolulu in Hawaii; and finally, Vancouver, Canada.

Plans for this year

Hello!

Happy New Year! I hope everybody had a good holiday. I had a good holiday with my family and this is a new year so I am doing a lot of things.
First, I am going to Hawaii for five weeks with my best friend, relaxing and having fun. Then in April, I'm going to New Zealand and going on a cruise back to Vancouver. I will see a lot of new places like Sydney, Australia and Fiji Islands. There are a couple of places where the cruise ship can't go up to the dock, so I can't get off. There will be a little boat that comes out to get the people from the cruise ship, and they'll have to climb over the side to get in. It will be difficult for me to get in the little boat, so I decided to stay on the ship. I will blog about the places I'm going to and how able I am to get around in a wheelchair.
I also thought of a new idea for my next book to write. So I have started writing it and I hope it doesn't take me fifty years to finish it. 
This year, I am working more on my writing and getting better. So stay tuned!