No Social Media

Time to air out the old Blog again....


This time its because I'm taking a break from social media. The issue I have with social media are many as are the benefits I can see from using it.


So during July I'll be coming off Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and deleting Snapchat. The only two I'll be keeping is WhatsApp for news on Elizabeth's football and Messenger. I use messenger for my video chat, although I will be trying outs WhatsApp video calling during the month.


Its the continual snooping that is really getting me down, no sooner do I look at something on eBay and my Facebook stream is full of those same products, Twitter isn't so bad and is my main form of news, so I will miss Twitter the most, but the different factions on my feed are just shouting at each other, they are both right and both wrong but there is no common ground at the moment.


Snapchat is easy to delete, I never go on it, not sure why I joined. Instagram is something else I've never really got the hang of.


The only people who will miss my posts will be my family and a few close friends, if at the end of July I want to go back on the Social Media circus I will have to look at who the are that really interact with me and delete accordingly.


So should any one feel the need to contact me during July, the best way will be through this blog.


See you on the other side..........

How safe are your apps

I have recently read an article on Yahoo about how safe are your apps? This report was specifically about Android Apps, on Andoid your can look at your app permissions. Has far as I can see you can't see the permissions on Apple so I don't know if the same applies, chances are it does.

You will see from the three photos below that I screen grabbed from my Samsung Galaxy note 3 that the app in question can listen to my calls, see who I call and even make calls using my number and at my expense. The same is exactly true and the same for SMS messages. Other bizarre permissions include being able to monitor, access and delete info from my sd card, turn my phone off, turn my wifi off, connect to my home network, look through all my photos and the most worrying of all, the app as full network permissions, one can only think about what that means.

I've deleted the above app from my phone, I've also gone through all my apps and uninstalled any that can make use of my phone at my cost. Unfortunately, this includes most anti virus apps which seems a bit ironic....

I've looked on certain web forums where the app developers have been asked why they need all these permissions? The stock answer seems to be "don't worry, we'll never use them". Which isn't really answering the question.

Oh yes, and just to let you know, the app in question in the pics is Facebook. So now I'm only using the mobile Internet Facebook site..

 

Death and Re-Birth

For a year now I've been struggling with putting posts up on this blog.

I've used excuses like time, not much going on in my life, nothing going on in the world etc etc...

After a long think, I believe the main reason is the new and growing social media craze. Blogging was my first venture in to this world and before the likes of Facebook and Twitter came on the scene blogging was the best way to get your message over to the rest of the world, or any one who was bothered to look at it.

I've posted nearly 800 times and some of the blogs if I say so myself have been good and attracted a lot of attention. However, I reach more people and the people I want to reach with Facebook, the whole experience is easier and you can get your message over in fewer words and the use of photos makes things way brighter.

So I've had a bit of think and my blog in its current form will be coming to and end. This is not the end of my blogging days, this blog started off has a blog about my life in Thailand. Thailand is still close to my heart and thoughts. So, I'm going to concentrate on all things Thailand, be it travelling, Thailand blogs, Expat life seen through my experiences and people who live there and Thai life.

Over the next dew weeks, I'm going to archive the old blog and bring the blog up to date. The name will stay the same and the ,ink through my own website will also remain, I will also notify people on my Facebook and twitter accounts.

Below are links to myself

Facebook
Twitter
Email
Web

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bad Chris, Epic Fail

From the promise I made at New year to concentrate on my blog till now I have really let myself down. I've missed so much that as happened in the world.

News from around the world, things like the Olympics, Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour de France. I've changed my job within the company I work and of course Elizabeth just keeps on evolving into a lovely girl. I will try over the next few days to put some order and volume back to my blog. I will slot them into the correct time zone.

Blogs will include:

The Tour de France 2012
The Olympics
The Tories, What have they ever done for us?
New Job
Thailand, One year with Yingluck
Thailand 2013
Diabetes, two years on

Happy reading...

More Thailand Blogs

Since my introduction to Twitter I have come across several excellent blogs that are Thai based.

I have to confess that I've lost contact with whats happening in the Blogosphere in Thailand and my tastes have changed to more Thailand in General lead, rather than the night scene of Bangkok.

The first blog, or should I say set of blogs is by Richard Barrow. Richard is pretty much a full on blogger and does alot of good work promoting Thailand to visitors. He still takes the time to answer many questions people send o him and his blog helped me last year find attractions that Elizabeth loved.

Thaitravelblogs.com
Thaifestivalblogs.com
Thaiphotoblogs.com

Also please check out his Facebook page, he is currently taking part in a Street Food challenge, the photos are outstanding.

Facebook.com/richard.thailand

Other notable blogs include

Livingthai.org

This is an really good blog site for more off the wall reports from Thailand. Some very close to the knuckle, but very well written.

Villagefarang.com

This is another very well written blog, by someone who is happy to be where he is and doesn't to moan constantly about other bloggers or westerners that the Bangkok based bloggers seem to do.

Another blog I recommend is

Pattayadays.com

This site is based in Pattaya, but does't have the usual baggage attached that Pattatya blogs have, if you appreciate photography then this blog is a must.

Lastly, this blog is just a damn good read, based in Udon Thani district of Thailand. It gives a glimpse in to the Thailand that many visitors don't see, but should make the effort. (Including me).

Thaisabai.org

Gone on give them a read, might just make you want to visit Thailand.

Thailand Air Fares

We are looking to go back to Thailand this year, around the end of May, beginning of June. Notice I don't say "Going back to Thailand for a Holiday". The last two times I've been back, I've ended up being an unpaid Taxi Driver and baby sitter. This year we aren't going to hire a car the whole time we are there and we'll stay in Hotels being as our house is almost sold.

I've been looking around various web sites looking for some good deals on Air Fares, Hotels and Car Hire.

As far as Air Fares go, I tend to use e-bookers.com . They always seem to be in the ball park with regards to the best price and service. Prices for the time of yer seem to come in four brackets. The cheapest way is by using the Airlines that use their hub to get you to Bangkok. These include Etihad, Kingfisher, Gulf Air and Emirates. These type of flights tend to be around the £1300-£1400 for the three of us. The airlines are usually excellent service and have the most up to date planes. Time to Bangkok is about 14 hours with the stop over at the hub.

The next is the direct flight by private company, EVA is the best of these and comes in at £1500-£1600 for the three of us. EVA use new 777 planes and the service is good. Flight times are 12 hour.

Next come the National flag carriers such as BA, KLM, Quantas and Singapore Airways, these big companies use 747 planes and usually offer a direct flight with OK service. The price comes in at £1600-£1800 and again take 12 hours to get to Bangkok.

The last method is to use Thai Airways. For some reason this is one of the most expensive modes to get to Thailand, Anything from £1900 - £2100 for the three of us. They use some of the oldest 747's still in operation and the service is OK. Nuch and all of her friends love to travel by Thai Air, maybe they feel more secure flying with people who speak their language.

My personal choice would be EVA at a good price or if money was the end of it, then probably a middle eastern airline with a stop over in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. A three hour longer flight, but superior planes and service.

I will use Fast Car Hire for my car rental, they use Budget in Thailand. The reason why I use Fast Car rather than going direct is that I buy the deal in British Pounds which makes the deal cheaper.I plan to rent a Toyota Fortuner for four days at a cost of £140, whereas the Budget price is £190, a no brainer.

Hotels are very good in Thailand, even when I've had a bad experience of a Hotel in Thailand. Its still been better than anything of the equivalent price in the UK. My favourite site for booking Hotels is the Asiaroom site. They list most good Hotels in all areas of Thailand and at a competitive prices.

When I've booked, I'll follow this post up and tell you who I booked with.

Ted Williams

Its very rarely that supposed good will stories have any effect on me other than a passing interest. For me to write a post they must have sparked an interest.

The story of Ted Williams as been picked globally this week and shows that the power of the Internet is vast.

For a in depth story click here

In a nut shell, Ted Williams was a down and out in the US. In a previous life he had been a radio voice over personality, he fell in with the wrong crowd and got in to drink, drugs, robbery and forgery. He was spotted by a local reporter doing voice over impressions by the side of the road, he posted the encounter on You Tube and rest is history.

I hope things work out well for Ted and lives the rest of his life in comfort.

New Year Traffic Horror

The run up to New Year in Thailand always involves an incredible number road accidents, usually averaging out at 45 a day over the period. Nothing to unusual in that because due to the lack of safety enforcement across the whole of Thailand and the poor way vehicles are driven then this number is pretty low.

This week a serious accident on the Tollway going towards our house as made front page news across many parts of the world, not because of the tradgedy of 9 people being killed in the crash, but because of the driver who caused the accident.

The driver was 16 year old girl called Orachorn Thephasadin Na Ayudhya was driving a new car given to her by her very rich and powerful family. She had no license, no insurance and by the looks of the crash, not alot of driving sense either. Her Father is a top man in the Police or something and the family is part of the HI-so brigade, A group of super super rich Thai's who are above the law in thailand. They run the country through big business and political clout. A photo taken after the crash shows the young girl using her mobile phone, there are alot of rumours going around that she was updating her facebook page! I hope for the sake of human spirit she was calling or texting for help.

Another major factor in the crash was the minibus that she hit was carrying medical staff from a local Hospital including several doctors who are royal scholars. some of the poor victims were ripped from the van on impact and landed 20m below on a busy road. This loss of brain and experience as shocked Thailand. Within hours a Facebook page had been set up demanding justice (Lynch Mob). All the girls Facebook, Myspace and internet pages have been taken down and her family has asked for public calm.

The girl didn't turn up at an agreed meeting with the police yesterday and as been officially asked to report next wednesday. If she doesn't turn up, a warrant for her arrest will be issued. Probability is that she is already in the US were she is studying. Even if she does face the law, which I doubt! She won't have to face any responsibilty for what she as done. A case from the other year when a Hi-so boy had a disagreement with a bus driver and then drove his car into a que at a bus stop killing one person. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, however bail was posted and he has never seen the inside of a jail. Probably a bit of blood money will be paid out and everything swept under the carpet. Even the press are scared to report any details. In the latest case, The Nation newspaper hasn't even printed the girls name!

I believe the explosion of hatred on social sites (Which can't be controlled in Thailand) is the frustration that Thai's feel at the moment. These social sites are giving Thai's more of a view of the outside world. One they don't normally see!

Interesting!

Thanks to Oneditorial for this little Gem.

The Daily Express published this report online, it claims that due to English womens behaviour on the drinking, dressing and being ugly are the worst specimins of women in the world.
I quote "BRITISH women have been branded the ugliest in the world in an ­international poll.
They were slated for their bad behaviour, dress sense and drinking habits when on holiday.
Many are accused of being “rude”, “drinking pints of beer like men” and “ending up drunk in the gutter”.
They also shamelessly broke wind and belched while lying around hotel pools or on beaches, according to the survey for a respected holiday website."

Not my words!!!

Spam wonderful spam

I seem to be getting alot of spam email at the moment, the one below is a prime example:

Hello My Dear,
I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow from my heart.With due respect trust and humanity, i appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business having gone through your remarkable profile, honestly i am writing this email to you with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, i will really like to have a good relationship with you and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you, i decided to contact you due to the urgency of my situation,My name is Miss. Blessing Kipkalya Kones, 23yrs old female and I held from Kenya in West Africa.

My father was the former Kenyan road Minister. He and Assistant Minister of Home Affairs Lorna Laboso had been on board the Cessna 210, which was headed to Kericho and crashed in a remote area called Kajong'a, in western Kenya. The plane crashed on the Tuesday 10th, June,2008. You can read more about the crash through the below

site:http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/06/10/kenya.crash/index.html

After the burial of my father, my stepmother and uncle conspired and sold my father's property to an italian Expertrate which the shared the money among themselves and live nothing for me. One faithful morning, I opened my father's briefcase and found out the documents which he have deposited huge amount of money in one bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin. I travelled to Burkina Faso to withdraw the money for a better life so that I can take care of myself and start a new life, on my arrival, the Bank Director whom I met in person told me that my father's instuction to the bank is that the money would only be release to me when I am married or present a trustee who will help me and invest the money overseas. I am in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me and stand as my trustee so that I will present him to the Bank for transfer of the money to his bank account overseas. I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my trust.

But rather take me as your own sister. Though you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well I will say that my mind convinc ed me that you may be the true person to help me. Moreso, I will like to disclose much to you if you can help me to relocate to your country because my stepmother have threaten to assinate me. The amount is( $5.8 USD )Million United State Dollars, and I have confirmed from the bank in Burkina Faso on my arrival,

You will also help me to place the money in a more profitable business venture in your Country. However, you will help by recommending a nice University in your country so that I can complete my studies. It is my intention to compensate you with 20% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above, I shall appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely.

Am waiting your urgent and positive response. Please do keep this only to your self for now untill the bank will transfer the fund. I beg you not to disclose it till i come over because I am affraid of my weaked stepmother who has threatened to kill me and have the money alone ,I thank God Today that am out from my country (KENYA) but now In (Burkina Faso) where my father deposited these money with my name as the next of Kin.I have the documents for the claims.

Yours Sincerely,
Miss Blessing Kipkalya Kones.

Do these people think i'm stupid? Don't answer that.......

iPhone 2 months on

I've been using my new iPhone 3Gs for two months now. All I can say is that it's the best phone I've ever used.
It's quick easy interface make it easy to use and the app store makes downloading different applications a doddle.
A down side is the battery life, a normal days use will use a full charge and typing a number whilst on the phone is impossible.
Overall, I'll give the iPhone 9.5/10....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Yes, i'm still here

I know, I know its been a few months since I last posted.

The main reason has been lack of moral, i've been very busy at work and in all fairness this blog as taken a back seat.

Things are slowly getting back in shape and so i'll start trying to post a bit more frequently.

blogging from my iPhone

I'm in the process of begining to post blogs from my iPhone. At the moment I can't post pictures, but it does mean I can post when I'm not in front of my laptop.

This whole process should make for more posts.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Four Years on

I started this blog just over four years ago and 528 posts later its still going. I've ried different formats and different blog sites, but I think i'll stick with this one now.

The first entry was a bit ropey (they still are), I wanted to show pople my life, the best post that year was left till the end, with my review of the year.

2006 was the year my life changed for ever with the birth of Elizabeth, she is without doubt the best thing to happen to me, also that year I lived through a military coup, luckily bloodless.

2007 saw the big move back to the UK, with Nuch following me a few months later. I wuld like to think Nuch was happy over here, but I think her heart is still in Thailand, as you would expect.

A nice stable year was 2008, Elizabeth grew up quickly and fell down just as easy. Thailand was never far out of the news, fresh troubles with politics and civil unrest.

2009 hasn't been the best year so far, hopefully all that will change soon, I have a new job with a new, young company. We have been back to Thailand and stayed at the Dusit Thani in Hua Hin. Possibly the finest hotel I have been to, visit it if you ever get chance. Thailand is again in the news and not for the right reasons. Please sort it out soon, its killing your country.

So here's to next four years, although i've stopped looking ahead tha far now.

Swine Flu Ferver

The outbreak of a type of Swine Flu in Mexico is rightfully a cause of concern. But just look at this Headline on the Yahoo homepage.

" Pandemic 'could kill 750,000'
Over a million people could end up in hospital and 750,000 killed if a flu pandemic sweeps the nation, according to a government paper. » More
UK human-to-human results due ".

This is research fom a paper completed last year and was talking about a supposed virilant flu bug that could reek havoc on the UK or any country. The current swine flu seems to be centred in Mexico and seems to dilute the further away you get from there. It is serious and should have headlines devoted to it, b ut this alarmist type of headlines dont help in any shape.

Have your own Website

In my spare time I have been building websites, and now i've decided to make a living out of it!

Check these webisites out:

www.psaproperties.co.uk

www.dwcderby.co.uk

www.chrisslife.co.uk

www.thailandspice.com

The above are website I have either modified or created.

For something around £55 I can get you a domain name, a home page and three email addresses. Use the comment button below to contact me and i'll see what I can do for you.

My Thailand by Chris Parker

My Thailand by Chris Parker

This is a link to my new website that i've been cracking on with in the evenings. Very much a first time effort and a work in progress.

tell me what you think of it please.

Lets get interactive

Like the BBC and many other media outlets, Interactive is the new buzz word. Not to be out done i've added a poll at the side in yellow. I will change every fortnight or so.

Also i've added a messeage board, you can put a message on the board, if i'm about i'll answer straight away or if there is someone else out there looking at the same time, they'll maybe spark up a conversation with you.

Crazy Aussie swims naked

Here's another story from Pattaya City News "Drama on Pattaya Beach as crazed Australian Man is rescued from the sea" Sounds pretty normal for an aussie!

"In the early hours of Thursday Morning, Police and Sawang Boriboon Rescue Workers were called to Pattaya Beach in front of Soi 10 after reports of a foreign man who had swam out to sea were received by concerned members of the public. A rescue boat was scrambled to the location after the man who was thought to be drunk and mentally disturbed, could not be located. Eventually the man was recovered from the sea, some 500 meters off the shoreline. The naked man, later identified as Mr. John Trevor aged 42 from Australia, sustained a minor head injury and a cut to his right foot and was attended to by rescue workers before he was taken to Pattaya Police Station and incarcerated for his own safety. We understand that he proceeded to harm himself while inside one of the cells, and a foreign police volunteer was called in to assist in calming the man down. Eventually Police determined that Mr. Trevor was involved in an argument with a woman moments before entering the water and we understand the argument was over 30,000 Baht which Mr. Trevor claimed was stolen from him by the woman. The Australian Embassy in Bangkok is aware of the case and will assist Mr. Trevor and the Police over the coming days."

For more Pattaya news go to www,pattayacitynews.net

Pattaya City News

The Pattaya City News Online paper rocks! This internet paper delivers the news you want, all the gory details and photos to boot.

Follow this link to see actual pictures of a suicide attempt. You get to see pictures and a very matter of fact report.

Over the coming posts I shall be shamelessly showing you some of the more interesting offering from Pattaya City News.