As a result of actually being involved into a european consolidation project I had to travel to Turkey last week.

Last time I was there was back in 1992 and for a duration of 3 weeks. Doing a roundtrip there I had the chance to get quit a good impression about the country itself and the people living there.  What I’ve found there back in 1992 was a very interesting country and a lot of rather friendly people living there. Nontheless many things were different and a lot of them remained strange to me though.

Now this time I’ve headed to Istanbul only and therefore I’m for sure not able to give you an overall feedback of todays situation there. But once again I met very very friendly people there and enjoy my short and sweet diving in there very much.

The general appearance is still the same, but people appeared much more "western" alike today to me. Since years the Turkey is keen and willing to join the EU and the majority of people there really seems to be willing and happy to do.

I had quit a few really enjoyable conversations besides work, even scratching this and a few others similar topics and really enjoyed the ideas and argument I got to hear. Sure, I’ve mostly dealed with people my age and also mainly with folks working in my area of expertise or generally within the IT business. But for my feeling really the general background has changed there.

And therefore thinking about their wish to join the EU I have to say .. why not?

Sure there might be still things not fitting in very well or other things (in our eyes) which still needs to get improved! But I rather like to deal and talk with friendly people again and again, trying to improve or adjust things, than to bounce and maybe turn them grumpy instead.

After recently slowing down here with blogging, today I would not like missing the chance to wish all my friends, their families, my followers and also any other reader here a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010.

May this New Year bless you All with peace, happiness, success and good health.

Merry Christmas,

Michael

I’m aware about I haven’t posted here for a while …. feeling guilty of course. But it was mainly caused by preparing for a longer trip and a few weeks being away. Now this trip has already taken place and I’m right on my way back, sitting at Changi Airport, Singapore actually.

At the end that is why I call todays posting "waiting"! Waiting, is plainly what I do actually.

But friendly people over here at Singapore have turned nearly all the town and the Airport in some huge Wifi – Zone where you have internet access nearly everywhere (ok, it needs a carrier contract though).

But back to the trip. It was for sure a fabulous trip to do and I very much enjoyed my time off. Most of the time I had company by oversea friends travelling with us. And to be honest that was what I’ve enjoyed most.

It is a great thing to do such a long and exciting trip. Seeing things other people might never get to see in their life. But the companie of friends and sharing this experience with them is some real priceless experience for sure.

It is really not like I could see or speak them all day long. Virtual perhaps, but personally nearly never. Now seeing, touching and interacting with them day by day was like a dream for me. Sadly even the most beautiful time in life is meant to end some day.

Nontheless, thanks to all my friends making it possible to travel with me. You taking time was a priceless pleasure and gift of life for me.

Thank you!

Michael

A few days ago I strolled through AppStore checking out new stuff there. By coincidense I did run over an app called Easy Wi-Fi by Devicescape offered there in a few "different" flavours regarding to the underlaying carrier used.

Now I should say that since a while I missed a handy app enabling me to use my hotspot connection details easily to login into secured hotspots like you often see at Starbucks or McDonald’s.  Not that I really would relay very often on the services of the 2nd service, but with the hotspots as an option they look farway more attractive now and the other service I visit anyway frequently.

Now seeing it and giving it a test was nearly one thing … especially it is offered for free … and I was very amazed seeing it working very well.

It working very well seemed rather strange to me, by knowing about such hugh company like T-Mobile does fail since ages to hand over you a working App doing the same. Now my hotspot flatrate seemd to make sense for the first time really!

Available as a PC client software only, the Mac OSX equivalent of a login tools is plainly missing and the browser https://jfvbvbvd bookmark might work as they suggest, but in my eyes is far away from being a really useful solution.

So therefore encouraged I’ve downloaded there Mac proggy and sadly found out about thereis a compatibility issue with Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.(1) preventing this gorgeous solution to work.

Feeling a bit disappointed I’ve searched thereforums and FAQ and found some article answered by a tech guy called John, promising a new port soon and thereby asking for people willing to test for them. I didn’t mind and offered my help and nearly instantly got contacted by John. Now only a few days later I got a test suit from him and right the first test of it was a success!

If you ever  nagging have looked for a similar solution like me…. Give it a test! This company does rock for sure.

John! You have a new friend here. Feel free to contact me for another test whenever needed.

From principle I like to travel with Qantas and I did quit a few times already. So earlier this year I called them asking for some connections and later on did book them then finally. So far so good ….

The day after booking there were some questions and at first they insisted on placing my wife and me into two different aircrafts, but after talking with them again all was solved soon and I got the obvious email confirmations send by them.

Now this was in early february … 

Since then they called me at least up to ten times re-scheduling flights and time lines again and again. One time they told me that now daylight saving was adjusted in their systems and therefore the departure time would change one hour.

Since when do we have this confessed "senseless" daylight saving time change?!

Anyway, they are friendly, helpfully and do care …. Just I wonder why the hell it is that difficult to arrange some flights – especially when i give them so much time in advance.  And what I really do not understand is why they call me and make me confirming and repeating the info that a flight departure time has changed 5 minutes. Hey, I could and would read it within their emails of course, no need to treat me like a 5 years old.

Guess it is just to ensure I can’t sue them in case I would miss the flight though.