I got scammed – Twice !
Thought for the day…”If you count all your assets you always show a profit.”
“We may pass violets looking for roses. We may pass contentment looking for victory.”
Now I am old enough to know better, but sometimes I get caught. What makes it even worse is that I got caught twice because of a lack of research on the internet. The warning signs were there IF I had looked before I bought….
I often used websites that compare prices to find the cheapest price. I am learning more and more that cheapest is not always best. I used a couple of websites (kayak.de and also skyscanner.com to find some good deals on air tickets. These websites present you with a list of online travel agents (OTAs) who deal with the actual selling of the air tickets (kayak and Skyscanner just list the agents and do not sell tickets themselves). If you look online at sites such as Tripadvisor you will find pages and pages of reports of people who have had problems with the online travel agents. I also fell into the trap, and got caught twice, which makes me feel even more foolish. Lost a lot of money through these OTAs and now that I have had my fingers burned twice, and avoiding them like the plague. If you have time, then have a look at Tripadvisor and see what people are writing about the OTAs.
The message is very clear…..book direct, whether it is for hotels or for flights. Although the prices may look cheaper at first, the OTAs will find a way to make their money from you. And as a lot of people have found, it is very easy to get scammed by the online travel agents, with the final price often being different to the first advertised price. So now that I have lost money twice by trying to book via an OTA, now I am just booking direct for both flights and hotels. Save yourself the problems !!
Clear skies and clean air for this photo from the Swiss town of Grindewald.
and another photo from the archives.
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RESPECT, CONSIDERATION & FAIRNESS
Think before you install……that app may not be so innocent
Thought for the day…”What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.”
“If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.”
It is amazing that so many people install apps on their mobile phones without any regard for just how much information those apps may collect. I recently wanted to install an app to control the flashlight on my mobile phone, but refused to install it when I discovered that it wanted access to my camera, email contacts and microphone. Absolutely no need for a glorified light switch to need access to my emails or the microphone on my telephone. And a second flashlight program proved just as bad.
Now there is the news on the internet about Amazon, and their plans to open physical stores in the USA. Apparently, they are going to monitor shoppers mobile phones, and will block their internet access if they attempt to check prices at other stores or online. So not only will Amazon be able to see what you are interested in, they will also be able to stop you comparing prices, and presumably, will also be able to see other sites on the internet that you are interested in. No doubt many people will quickly install a new Amazon app, without thinking about the loss of privacy. 50 years ago, people would have demonstrated against the idea of carrying something that gave authorities the power to see where they were within a few metres, and also what they were reading/eating/shopping/listening to. Even installing a flashlight app may now mean that somebody is listening to your conversations. Privacy is important, yet many people are now readily giving it up.
A photo from Spitsbergen of the Artic poppy flower, braving the cold weather…
and another photo….early morning in Riverton, in the far south of New Zealand. At one time, this port received freight boats from Australia before the estuary silted up. Now the railway and the larger boats have long since gone, leaving just the small fishing boats and a few tourists who pass through Riverton whilst driving the Southern Scenic Route.
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RESPECT,CONSIDERATION & FAIRNESS
Street corner colour – Riga, Latvia
Thought for the day…”About the time that we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends”.
A bit of street life in the Latvian capital city of Riga for the photo today….and not much action judging by the photo. About 640 000 people live in the this city, or about 1/3 of the entire population of Lativa. Temperatures in the city in winter can fall to -20 or -25 degrees. It became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, and interestingly, after independence around 290 000 people (about 14% today) were left with no citizenship of any country. Latvia is also home to Europe’s widest waterfall, the 110m wide Ventas Rumba Falls. Apparently, the studs on jeans were invented in Latvia, when the Latvian Jacob Davis joined with Levi Strauss.
and another photo from the archives..the waterfalls at Iguazu, Brail…..
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Busy Bee, and colourful too.
Thought for the day…” Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon, and wise too late”.
” An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”.
For years and years, I have used toothpaste without problems. But now, when I go through an airport security check,, apparently, toothpaste is dangerous. And talking of airport security checks, why do they also make pilots go through the security checks?? Are they afraid that the pilots might gain control of an aircraft (!!!!). Crazy. And in one of the current photography magazines, I read that Manchester United football club in the UK is banning people from bringing in electronic devices larger than 150 mm X 100 mm. So things like Ipads are no longer allowed into a football stadium. The club said that it was following airports and also following security intelligence. I would like to ask what sort of ‘intelligence’ says that Ipads are a security risk?? And also, what sort of ‘intelligence’ says that toothpaste is also a security risk. Bring back common sense, and also get rid of this sort of paranoia that appears to be spreading now from airports to even football stadiums.
And today’s photo is a close up of a bee collecting pollen.
and one out of the archives….a rag and bone collector in Albania…….
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Splash of colour – Not the Quality Spa Resort Hotel, Norefjell.
Thought for the day…” Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity”.
“Be nice to nerds. Chances are that you will end up working for one”. (Bill Gates).
Sometimes a simple photo works very well. Today’s photo is a simple flower shot, but the plain background and good lighting make this photo work. If you have not already discovered it, then the website http://www.dpreview.com is a great site to keep up to date with the latest developments in photography, as well as a being a good source of reviews and user reports on cameras and equipment. The photo below was taken with a Panasonic FZ-150, although this camera will shortly be replaced. After purchasing 4 Panasonic cameras in a row, I think that they are now slipping behind the competition (especially in regard to sensor size and resolution), so perhaps it is time to try another brand.
And a photo from the archives…..the Turning Torso tower in Malmo, Southern Sweden.
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Finals to land, colourful – Not the Quality Spa Resort Hotel, Norefjell.
Thought for the day…” Those who forget where they came from, tend to get lost where they are going to”.
” Beauty might bring happiness, but happiness always brings beauty”.
Now it is part of everyday life, but only 111 years ago, flying was new. The Wright Brothers’ first flight could have been performed within the length of the cabin of a 747 jumbo jet. And before 1926, a person could fly an aircraft without a license. Soon after the first flying licenses started, Ellen Church became the first stewardess in 1930. Although an Airbus A320 is pictured below (from the Swiss company Edelweiss Air), the largest Airbus, the A380 is over 72 metres long and weighs around 590 tons. When flying, the 4 engines on an A380 have a working temperature of 3100 degrees, whilst the actual aircraft is made up of about 4 million parts. It also takes around 3600 litres of paint to paint one!
If you are wondering about the flower painted on the aircraft, the Edelweiss, it is normally found between 1700 and 3000 m altitude in the Alps, although some forms of Edelweiss are found much lower down in the Artic regions. It can be used to make an oxidant-rich tea, and also can be used as sunblock or moisturizer. And the flower was used in the Rogers & Hammerstein musical, Sound of Music.
And a photo from the archives…. a girl from Swaziland, Africa. Great neutral light for this photo, and a subject who was a natural.
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Second smallest country in the world – Not the Quality Spa Resort Hotel, Norefjell.
Thought for the day…” Your mind will push your thoughts, your thoughts will push your actions, and your actions will push your life”.
” One rotten apple will spoil the whole bunch, even if it does not know that it is rotten. Treat your thoughts the same way”.
A photo of the second smallest country in the world today, Monaco. Vatican state is regarded as the smallest country in the world. At only 1.95 square kilometres in size (about the same size as Central Park in New York), it has one of the largest population densities in the world (16 477 people per square km). An odd trivial fact is that the flag is almost identical to the flag of Indonesia. The name Monaco comes from Greek, and means ‘solo house’. An average person can walk across the country in under an hour, and will enjoy a country free of income tax. Strangely enough, despite being famous for the casino in Monte Carlo, citizens of Monaco are not allowed to gamble, and are also not allowed to enter the famous casino. And you will be unable to land your private jet there, as it does not have an airport (but it does have a heliport).
And here is a photo from the archives, already on the wordpress site a long time ago…..
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Swiss Bells – Not the Quality Spa Resort Hotel, Norefjell.
Thought for the day….” A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can see from the top of a mountain”.
” A ship in a harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are for”.
I had forgotten just how good travel by train could be. I recently travelled down through Europe on long-distance night train, and it was very interesting to compare this trip with the return trip, which was by air. No early check in at an airport, no expensive airport ‘box’ hotel, and no long queues to endure. No silly security checks, and nobody on the train was worried that I was carrying toothpaste or liquids which at an airport would be taboo. No need to check in at all, just board the train and find the sleeping compartment. Pleasant evening on the way down through Europe, good snacks in the cafe, and coffee that was far better than airline coffee. And add to that a good nights sleep and it makes a very pleasant journey. Then next morning breakfast in the train cafe and voila, it was time to arrive (and on time too). Compare that to the hassle and frustration at airports and being squashed in economy class for the flight back. Flight back was late, on an old aircraft and delayed even further due to passengers travelling with far too many carry on bags. Perhaps one day the train will be THE way to travel again…….The recent trip was a very interesting comparison.
Today’s photo is from the central part of Switzerland, with a photo of Swiss cow bells on a woodland hotel. Very Swiss !
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Butterfly close up – Not the Quality Spa Resort Hotel, Norefjell.
Thought for the day…” Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ”
“Not all those who wander are lost “.
Close up of a butterfly today, taken with close up function of the Panasonic camera. I did not know previously, but the wings of a butterfly are made up of a protein called chitin, which are covered by thousands of tiny scales. Also unusual is the fact that they taste with their feet, and that they have their skeleton on the outside of their bodies. They can also only eat liquids, usually plant nectar. As they are unable to chew they rely on the long tube-like proboscis to suck up liquids for feeding. They only live for a short time, up to 4 weeks normally, and must concentrate on feeding and mating during that time. A few butterflies can live up to 9 months, such as the monarch butterfly. They are also able to see ultra-violet light, invisible to humans. The Monarch butterflies travel from the Great Lakes area down to Mexico (around 3200km) and return north in the Spring. There are around 24 000 species of butterflies, here is one of them.
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Artic Poppy – Not the Quality Spa Resort Hotel, Norefjell
Thought for the day….” Patience is the companion of wisdom ” ” Freedom is the oxygen of the soul”r
” A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top ”
A photo of an Artic Poppy today, and a nice close up. Again, this shows what you can do with a normal, cheap consumer camera. The most famous product from poppies is opium, but poppies are also used in the production of other drugs and also in food. Poppies are rich in oil, carbohydrates, calcium and protein. Poppy oil can be used in cooking, as a salad dressing oil, or for making margarine. Poppies are also used in paints, varnishes, and cosmetics. Due to their connection with strong drugs, the red poppy has become known as a symbol of sleep, and due to the colour (red) of the most common poppy, they have become connected with blood and death. The poppy also forms part of the flag of the Republic of Macedonia. Very interesting that the Artic Poppy uses its petals to warm the air inside its centre, rather like a solar reflector, and also turns to follow the sun around the sky, in the same manner as sunflowers do. The plant is classified as vulnerable due to its sensitivity to rises in temperature caused by global warming.
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Photo of the Day Thursday 7th March 2013 – Not the Quality Spa Resort Hotel, Norefjell.
Thought for the day…” Dreams do not work unless you do”
“Definition of stupid = Knowing the truth, seeing the truth, but still believing the lies”.
A nice simple and colourful photo today, which really shows the quality that you can get from an ordinary, cheap consumer camera. No need to spend thousands on lots of equipment and no need to carry tons of things around. Proof of how good cheap cameras can be is below. The largest flowers in the world are called Rafflesia arnoldii, and are over 1m in size. The flowers smell like decaying flesh, and are also known as corpse flowers, and live in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo. But here is a photo of an ordinary garden flower.
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