[koala]

I really want to get into foreign studies and creative writing at college and, upon graduating, travel the world and write novels. but let's face it. some of the greatest places to explore just aren't accessible. i doubt the great wall of china or the giza pyramids have elevators. the taj mahal may not have ramps. i really don't want to lose ANOTHER passion to this injury. but what choice do we have....?

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[ericr]

koala, on Feb 23 2010, 09:37 PM, said:

I really want to get into foreign studies and creative writing at college and, upon graduating, travel the world and write novels. but let's face it. some of the greatest places to explore just aren't accessible. i doubt the great wall of china or the giza pyramids have elevators. the taj mahal may not have ramps. i really don't want to lose ANOTHER passion to this injury. but what choice do we have....?

You know its funny everyone of those places you have mentioned I have seen someone in a wheelchair at. they may not be climbing to the top of the pyramids however you will be surprised where you can go in a chair especially if you have an electric chair that will get you through rough terrain. Actually many people in chairs go to the reat wall since its so close to many of the hospitals offering stem cell therapy.
Anyways dont use you bieng in a chair as an excuse to give up your dreams.

good luck

[LuckyinKentucky]

Gotta agree with ericr on this one. Reminds me of a quote I love-----"Whether you think you can or you think you cant... Your right!

[pistol_pete]

Koala,

I always dreamed of being a writer since I was a teenager (turned 40 yesterday), but doing stuff and life in general just got in the way.
My accident has been the catalyst for me to revisit my dreams again. I'm starting a creative writing degree this year. This is something that I would never have got around to if I hadn't been squashed by a tree.
Our lives twist and turn and you can't see whats round the bend, but the bad things can sometimes turn themselves into good things.
I've now got 40 years of life experience to draw on creatively, but I wish I had started writing earlier.

You are still young, now is the time to start writing every day, doesn't matter what, just anything. Watch people and the crazy stuff they do, observe the world around you closely wherever you are. You don't have to be in front of a pyramid to do this.

If you really want to be a writer then you will be one, there's no avoiding it.
The world is a big place, I reckon you'll get to see all those great sites you want to, but start where you can, in your own town, neighbourhood, street first.

Definitely do not rethink your plans.
Want it
Be it.

Some books that may help inspire you:-

Writing down the bones - Natalie Goldberg

Wid Mind- Living the writers life - Natalie Goldberg

Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott

I've got a list of other good ones to if you're interested.

Good Luck Koala.

[ClaraTaylor]

As tacky as there's a will there as way might sound, go for it. If you want it badly enough you'll find a way of getting around it. We're not saying it'll be easy or a breeze in the park but it will be an amazing experience.

[dangerousdave]

Got to agree with the advise your getting here
Go for it
Dont be sittin in your chair in future times thinkin .. if only

[Rotarymotion]

Hi Koala,

Just because wheelchair access isn't easy at some of these places, that doesn't mean you can't do it. I worked in China 23 years ago, long before it was "touristy" - there were no private cars and although I wasn't in a wheelchair then, I visited the Great Wall of China and sort-of walked on it. Plenty of Chinese disabled people then didn't have wheelchairs, but that didn't prevent some that I saw shuffling up the steps on the Great Wall on their bottoms. I even saw disabled men in the Chinese Army.

Some fantastic places in China, like the Summer Palace, are flat and would be straightforward in a wheelchair.

The hotel in Beijing (Peking) where I stayed for a while was fully wheelchair accessible 23 years ago, and while I was there a party of American Tourists (all in wheelchairs) were staying there - they were on a package holiday. And remember this was 23 years ago, and China was very much a third-world country then.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there isn't wheelchair access to parts of the great wall nowdays. The Chinese culture is to avoid embarrasing a guest.

In my experience, sanitation is usually a bigger problem than access, and I remember that the British Airways flight from London was 13 hours non-stop to Hong Kong, and then another 3 hours to Beijing.

For goodness sake - just go for it !

[Trinity]

koala, on Feb 24 2010, 02:37 AM, said:

I really want to get into foreign studies and creative writing at college and, upon graduating, travel the world and write novels. but let's face it. some of the greatest places to explore just aren't accessible. i doubt the great wall of china or the giza pyramids have elevators. the taj mahal may not have ramps. i really don't want to lose ANOTHER passion to this injury. but what choice do we have....?

No, the Pyramids don't have elevators but you may be surprised about how easy it is to get about, many people don't actually go into the Great Pyramid as it is really claustrophobic at the start and then a helluva lot of steep walking up. The area around the pyramids is all concrete paths = easy, and although you may not get into all the tombs, you do feel a little tomb overloaded anyway and once you have seen 100 you have seen the rest!

I have been to a few out of the way places and have always found people only to happy to help out if needed (and sometimes when not needed!) If you're travelling with an AB then there shouldn't really be many limits, ok trekking through rain forests may not be on, but on an elephant? Certainly possible. Think outside the box a little, be prepared to ask for and decline assistance as necessary and plan a little in advance. Remember that a lot of people who are injured in the developing world die soon after or are nursed at home by their families so seeing people, especially young people in wheelchairs is very unusual for them and another reason why access is not fantastic

[jules]

I agree with everyone else, you shouldn't let it stop you. A few years ago Neil and I made it up to the acropolis and Parthenon in Athens which is unbelievably difficult, but we managed it!

[airart1]

got to do something with your life, enjoy what u got and you''ll get what u enjoy...........which should be life....its short enough, get out and enjoy it.....think positive...preporation, and prevention are 2 good guidelines.....

[Travelling Blackbird]

Don't give up your plans, don't change your dreams. Try and see how far you can get.

I did a lot of travelling over a four-year period, and got to a lot of places that I expected would be difficult, but surprised me by being manageable. Do your research and try it: it's what you always wanted to do.