Dialogue in the Dark

Visited Dialogue in the Dark yesterday. It was really really cool. When I heard that it was going to be pitch dark in there, I didn't believe it because I thought my eyes were pro and could handle the dark, surely I'd still be able to see something. I could not have been more mistaken. But I wasn't that afraid though, I trusted my professional visually impaired guide with all my heart. But it was quite scary that it could be this dark and I wouldn't know if someone was next to me, as it was when the guide's voice came out suddenly. I've learnt to be grateful of my eyes, though I think it is great to have the ability to navigate without vision. It was really fun feeling like a blind although I staggered quite a little, being so unsure of my surroundings.

We were led through stones, sand and grass for the first part, hugging the left wall to feel plants and a tree's bark. Then we had to cross a wooden bridge, to a waterfall. After the waterfall was a sign that read "Sir Stanford Raffles", which we had to feel for. There was also a statue of Raffles on top, although we couldn't be sure if it was a real statue of him. After Raffles, we had to feel for a Car and a Bicycle. Following that, a walk to a jetty, still hugging the left wall. We boarded a River Taxi in the dark, supposedly headed for town. Crossed a traffic light like a blind person, then through a market, identifying certain food items. Felt for doors, a telephone and an ATM. Then we were led to a coffeeshop, where I ate a Cookie and drank Sugar Cane in the dark. We were also told how the Blind knew if they were receiving the correct change to avoid getting cheated. My guide was a 24-year old, diagnosed with night blindness at the age of 4, when her aunt spotted her having to bend down first and feel for an object that she dropped instead of just picking it up straight away. Partial blindness meant that she could still see a little, though it must be in very bright light. We were told that the Blind preferred to use iPhones for its Blind-friendly system. They had special watches which could voice out the current time, or have braille dots on them. The Blind had to rely on their stick to watch for staircases. As to how Blind people ate meals in restaurants, they could be told the location of the food items such as "The chicken is at your 12 O'Clock, and rice at 3 O'Clock", which was pretty interesting. As to how they boarded MRTs and Buses, they had to rely on public assistance for that.

Overall, it was a very cool experience and I would certainly like to be there again. Pity the blind, be grateful for our eyes. I still think that being able to guide oneself without eyes is very cool though.