Walking after you

This post is actually meant to be an email. But I figured out instead of writing a long email with attached photos, cc copy to everyone jamming up their mailbox, I decided to send them just a hyperlink! Of course, I would like to exchange ideas and experience from fellow readers, on how to walk with them, the VIPs.

I do not know who started it first, but VIP = Vision Impaired Person. But then all the political big shots are VIPs? Anyway, politic later. For now I wish to share some interesting discovery and information with beloved Service Civil International (SCI) members/volunteers after a successful recce with four VIPs from Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), last week.

I will organize all the information here from time to time, but for now lets get started with picture stories. With only 5 of us, we are able to finish the outing close to what I’ve planned:

Tentative Route:
0830 Start trekking on rover track (open car-park next to mosque)
0900 Reach the entrance into small trails, leading up to Canopy Bridge
1000 At entrance hut, Canopy Bridge
1030 At exit hut, start trekking down trails
1130 Back to rover track
1200 Arrive at starting point
1300 Lunch at cafeteria (next to mosque)

Starting point


I would suggest we make full use of this open space, some briefing and warming up session before we start hiking. Yes, the small pick up van can drive VIPs all the way here, but beyond this point, you have to use mountain bike or bus no.11 – your feet! And no, we can’t really park our car here. But this place is just 3 minutes walk from Public Relation Office (where we suppose to park our car) so chill. This will be the same place we gather after the whole trekking thingy is done, and start the head counts :)

Rover Track


The first part of the hike is quite easy, as rover track is almost 10 feet wide with gentle slope (10 – 30 degree) Volunteers would probably spend more time get to know their VIP friends better, since they will be accompany each other throughout the journey. Hopefully both parties will be able to adjust their pace as guiding or being guided is not as easy as it seems.

Trails


The real challenge starts here, at a point where rover track will branch out into smaller and steeper trails leading up to Canopy Bridge. It’s a long 500 meters, with slope going 45 degree at certain stretch. You can’t hike up straight like staircase, especially difficult for VIPs who wonder should they make the next step left, right or forward middle! Both volunteers and VIP should understand that volunteer are merely guiding but not dragging or pulling the VIPs. And the best guide is still their staff. With some explanation and directing (with hand) their staff when necessary, the whole process will be easier.

Canopy Bridge


About 220 meters long and with 3 platforms, Canopy Bridge was initially built for research purposes. Yesterday scientist would study how bees behave at tree top but today the VIPs would feel leaves and branches right next to them. This is where our VIP friends have to walk alone, as we must stay about 3 meters away from each other on the bridge.



We can stop at the second and third platform, good time for the VIPs to feel the tree and take some pictures. You might figure it out now, volunteers can hardly stop talking, as we should keep sharing things about ourselves, the environment, sounds, etc. with VIPs. From shaky canopy bridge to solid wooden platform, but tell them we are still 30 meters above ground!

Going Down


The reason why I wanted the program to start early because, I don’t want everybody rushing down! Imagine if we are running late, hungry, but still have to negotiate downhill trails. Something not easy even for volunteers! Injury is prone to happen as both volunteer and VIP may step onto nothing in panic. Patience is the key.

Since the actually outing will be on 18th November, lets have more discussion and I will update any extra information here from time to time. We plan to invite 15 VIPs and recruit 17 volunteers, including 2 first aid officers. So this post will act as a call for volunteers as well. Anyway, anyone is welcome to comment and share some ideas, experience, so thank you in advance! :)

See you in a bit!