My eBooks are travel biographies of the observations and experiences of a totally blind and partially deaf man as he travels independently around the world having exciting adventures. The most recent volume, Seeing a Slice of Southern Africa My Way, published 31 December 2020, is a journey of continued self-discovery as I plot my way from multi-cultural South Africa with its complex society, to Malawi, with its picturesque and peaceful nature. This third book takes the reader through parts of Southern Africa, and offers a brief glimpse into a little of Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Tony is with his lovely Armenian tour guide and friend, Hasmik Babalaryan, with a beautiful fountain in Republic Square (Hanrapetut′yan hraparak, known locally as Hraparak, “the square”), centre of Yerevan, capital of Armenia. This video was made on afternoon of 24th October 2022 – Tony’s last day in Armenia after he visited to attend and speak at the Extraordinary Travel Festival that occurred in Yerevan between 14th-16th October 2022.
Tony in North Armenia (21st October 2022)
Hi everyone. Hope this finds people well, busy, keeping warm and not struggling too much. I hear times are tough. Especially in the UK, with Prime Ministers and cabinets constantly coming and going like there’s no tomorrow! What a bloody mess! Anyway: I’m in North Armenia, now in the small city of Dilijan in a nice, small guesthouse with kind staff. Not much English however, and I’m not exactly sure where I am!
I’ve spent the past week in wonderful Yerevan at the Extraordinary Travel Festival; a gathering of extreme travellers! Check out the amazing The Blind World Traveler video by Gustav below.
I did some excursions out of Yerevan to many churches and monasteries with a lovely, young, Armenian tour guide named Has, she’s wonderful. Then, with Has’s help, I took a shared taxi to Gyumri, Armenia’s second city, in the north. Had a nice one-day guided tour around Gyumri’s quiet, charming city, spent one night in a very quiet guesthouse and today, made my way to Dilijan by way of two taxies, one shared and one private! Buses only seem to run at certain times or when there are people to fill them. Anyway, I’m settling in, relaxing and waiting to see what tomorrow will bring. Cheers everyone. Stay safe, be well. Tony the Traveller :).
Blue Mountains video photos (23rd September 2022)
Tony riding the Scenic Cableway with other tourists at Scenic World, a tourist attraction in the picturesque Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. It’s located about a 2-hour drive from Sydney.
Surfing videos, NSW, Australia (15th September 2022)
Tony at his first attempt at surfing: totally blind and severely deaf in both ears. He can’t see or hear anything, as he can’t wear his hearing aids in the sea! What fun!
Tony’s second attempt at surfing in the sea, off a sandy beach near Long Jetty, Central Coast, NSW, Australia on a sunny and windy afternoon. Afternoon of 12th September 2002. Tony’s having a wet time, swallowing half the ocean! The idea of surfing is to lie on a curved shaped surfboard and line yourself up with the waves and follow them into the beach. After feeling the first wave flow over the board, Tony was meant to push up on his arms, get his right knee onto the board and push up on his right leg and move his left leg up onto the board and stand on the board at a sideways angle and surf the waves! Unfortunately, as this video shows, Tony did not quite do this! It was great fun trying though!
This is my last attempt to master surfing! Nearly there, but not quite! A realisation of how hard learning to surf realise is! It took a lot of strength and energy. I went out of my comfort zone, something which is always worth doing!
Blog post / A Day on The Road With Tony (28th August 2022)
Last Friday, 26th August I think. I awoke at 05:30, pack my small backpack and, with help from the quiet, friendly lady at the Danube Delta Hostel in Sulina, the easternmost point of Romania, I set off on another epic journey! First there was a ten-minute walk along the riverbank to a pontoon, to take the motorised canoe taxi-boat across to the other bank, where the main part of the town lies. This involved climbing up three or four concrete steps,
Tony gave this talk in Cluj, Romania on 13th August 2022.
Life Lessons from a Blind Traveler who has visited 100+ countries
Currently in Romania (22nd August 2022)
Fountain in Central Park of Cluj-Napoca in northwest Romania on a hot summer’s day. Check the sound and sight of this lovely little fountain that Tony and Tatiana enjoyed.
Tony and Tatiana touch a semi-nude statue on one of the corners of the fountain in Central Park, Cluj, Romania. A lovely large stone statue of a man, his belly button is very detailed along with his nipples!
Check out another wonderful fountain. I found this one when walked in the centre of Bucharest, Romania’s busy and lively capital. Such a wonderful sound, enjoy.
TEDx Talk (12th August 2022)
I’m doing a TEDx talk tomorrow in Cluj, Romania, Saturday, 13th August. The show starts at 2pm Romanian time, midday UK time. I’m not speaking until 4:20pm Romania time, 2:20pm UK time.
Welcome to the exciting website of Tony Giles – blind world traveller and writer.
