There is always a risk that the cybercafe or a public computer you are using has a keylogger installed. A keylogger is a background program that records every keystroke on a computer and saves it on another computer file. Chances are that even the cybercafe owner has no idea that some malicious user has installed a keylogger. Once these bad guys have a record of all the keystrokes that were entered, they can go through the file and find your password. Most of the time it would be the text that you entered just after you enter you email address.
One trick that I got to know is opening another text file and typing some junk character in them after you type in each character of your actual password.
1) To start lets say I want to enter my gmail password. I will open an empty Notepad or Text file. Type in your username. Next type in some junk character in the text file. Come back to your password and enter just the first character of your password.
2. Type some more junk characters in the text file, move to the browser and enter the second character of your password.
3. Enter some more characters n your text file. come back to the browser and type 1 or 2 character in your password field.
4. Keep repeating this until your password is completely filled.
This process tricks the keylogger software into saving all the junk character interspersed with your real password. The hackers will not find it easy to guess your password.
We had a Japanese presenter come in from Tokyo and talk about lesser known places to visit at the last meetup. It was rather last minute, I was talking to Mousan on Skype just before the meetup and I suggested she stay on and do the first presentation via Skype. A good sport that she is, she readily agreed. She gave us a virtual tour of the places. We should do this more often in future travel meets.
Some notes on the Skype sessions and how to improve Skype ins:
1. Do a test-run a day or couple of hours before so that we are prepared for the actual session. You also know that the bandwidth is enough.
2. Keep your notebook facing the audience, that way the remote speaker can see who all she is addressing.3. Have some of the people in the audience pass around the computer and introduce themselves to the speaker. That way the speakers also get to know some of the audience. 4. For the Q&A have a person seated near the computer to repeat the questions for the speaker.
5. The screen sharing feature works great. Get your remote presenter to show some pictures. She can also use it to run presentations.
April 4th, we gathered at the Woodlands Regional Library in Singapore to talk about travels in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam. Our friends Jack, Cookie, Sue and Yan came over to do presentations and answer questions.Jack talked about the actual name of Bangkok.We had a good turnout as these places in South East Asia are visited often by people in Singapore.The National Library is a great venue as they have resources to compliment our travel topics. Yan spoke about the joys of Yangon. You must try the local tea shops when you get there. Sue explained the Burmese water festival. The Thais, Laotians and the Cambodians also celebrate this festival We had lots of interesting discussions about the history and culture in South East Asia. My own presentation was on a trip I did to Central Vietnam last year. I visited Hoi An, a lovely city. We also had some snacks and desserts from Myanmar and Thailand to try out
Thanks to all those who participated. Your interest is what encourages us organize such events. Check out the Singapore Travel Meetup page at http://www.meetup.com/sgtravelmeet/
It rains today, children put their hand out and try to touch the rain. Don't know why I remember our Russia and "nostalgising" on YouTube. Here is a tune called "Так же как все" (Tak Ze Ka Vse) that keeps playing in head ever since Mousan got me to hear it.
This is by a Kazak band called A-Studio. A stands for Alma Aty.
Below is the 1978 original by Alla Pugacheva, who is probably the most famous Russian singer in the 70s and 80s.
Wikipedia has one bit of trivia. It was Alla Pugacheva who first introduced A-Studio when they were still new. It was on her television show back in the 90s.
A French gentleman has posted so many videos from Pyongyang and other places in the North on Flickr. View the videos at VideoHDBank's Flickr page. Some still images from the video.Talking to students.
4. Mitraa Hostel has received good reviews from travellers is the Mitraa hostel near the Little India/Balestier road area. (Around 25$ for dorms and upwards
Singtel also has a prepaid mobile data and voice SIM, you can buy them at Singtel kiosks.M1 - You can buy M1's pre-paid data sim from M1 shop at Bugis Junction. $18 for 3 days unlimited mobile internet usage.
All three providers have a voice only SIM pre-paid SIM cards too. You need your passport for identification. Most mobile shops and kiosks will sell you these cards.
Singapore also has a free island-wide wireless network - wireless.sg but you will need a mobile phone with Singapore number to receive the passwords once you register for this network. Register at http://www.icellnetwork.com/reg2.php
Public Transport
You can buy a Singapore Tourist Pass for use in Bus and the MRT service. The card is available in 1,2 and 3 days options. It costs 8$ per day. The pass is available at the Changi airport MRT station (terminal 2).
International Transport
Listed below are some budget options for getting to Singapore
From the airport you can get a taxi (around SGD 20$ to city), the subway (or MRT as it is known in SG) or bus. If you are going to be staying in the city and arrive between 6AM and 11PM, the MRT is the best option.
In addition to your accommodation, budget for about 20 to 30 S$ per day.
Food
Local, regional and international food is easy to find in SIngapore. You can eat at hawker centers and food courts from 3$ onwards. Many food places remain open 24 hours.
Halal food in Singapore - The Arab Street near the venue and the above mentioned hostel has lots of halal eateries around.
It is a paid app but seriously it will save you a lot of time and seriously worth it. Get gothere.sg if you are planning on spending couple of days in Singapore. It eases transport planning and you will end up saving so much money on taxis by looking up alternative public transport routes.
I am often traveling in South East Asia so I keep a few SIM cards handy. Here is a list of prepaid Mobile internet services offered by mobile telcos in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malayasia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam
CambodiaCellcard offers a tourist 2.5 G SIM for short stay use. It costs 10$ and comes with 10$ worth of data usage. (The data rate is 1USD for 5 MB)Indonesia (thanks Rezwan)Indosat:A new IM3 brand SIM costs between 10000Rp-20000Rps (Apx 1-2 USDs) including 5000Rp balance. There is a Internet voucher which is sold in many outletsInternet charges – toll based or volume based:* Toll INTERNET = Rp 5000 voucher. Customers duration settings based & internet access for 45 seconds. So will be charged Rp 20, Toll INTERNET balance = Rp 4980.* The volume of customers change settings based & Internet Access 1 Mb. So will be charged Rp 1100 (1100 Kb x Rp 1.1), SHG balance of voucher Toll INTERNET = Rp 3880.http://www.indosat.com/Mentari/Mentari_Update/Voucher_Internet_IndosatTariff of XL:http://www.xl.co.id/XLPascabayar/XLInternet/Tarifdanlayanan/PaketXLInternetIn... MalaysiaCelcom Broadband Prepaid™Pack at just RM25 with preloaded credit of RM20 and be among the 1st to enjoy:The widest and fastest Mobile Internet Service in Malaysia so you can get more done wherever you are.? Hassle free access, with no registration needed.? Affordability from only RM20 per week with no fixed monthly charges.MyanmarPrepaid SIM card is available for 20 USD from mobile shops in bigger cities but there is no data.The PhillipinesThans Mike Aquino for .Ph info The Philippines has two main prepaid line providers – Smart Buddy and Globe Prepaid. Both of them have data services, too. SIM data dongles like Smart Bro and Globe Tattoo are pretty cheap, and getting cheaper.SingaporeStarhub Maxmobile Prepaid Card – Buy at 7/11 stores and mobie phone shopsSingtel has a pre-paid mobile but their Flash laden site, makes it difficult to searchM1 - You can buy M1's pre-paid data sim from M1 shop at Bugis Junction. $18 for 3 days unlimited mobile internet usage.
All three providers have a voice only SIM pre-paid SIM cards too. You need your passport for identification. Most mobile shops and kiosks will sell you these cards.
Singapore also has a free island-wide wireless network - wireless.sg but you will need a mobile phone with singapore number to receive the passwords once you register for this network.
ThailandI usually buy the one-2-call sim card from the 7/11 stores. http://www.12call.ais.co.th/en/Content/Simcard/simNetsim210.htmlVietnamMost of the cafes and budget hotels offer wi-fi.Thanks to Dave A who posted the following in commentsVIET NAM Vinaphone has 100mb for 50000vnd (about $3us)per 30 days you have to enable gprs by texting GPRS ON to 888 after recieving confirmation text M50 ON to 888 and the data plan is activated and will deduct this amount every month. there are other plans with other activation codes, including an unlimited plan for i think 300000vnd but i dont know those codes. i have been completely satisfied with the service, have had coverage everywhere in the mekong delta, even way out in the countryside, and quite often full 3G in cdecent sized towns. hope this helps!
We had a great Japan Travel and Culture meetup last Saturday at Woodlands Regional Library in Singapore.
Fashion, traditions and street style in Japan
Popular fashion blogger Stephie, talked about traditions, Japanese labels & Vintage stores, Street Style Hunting and Shoes.
Japanese food: Preparing Natto
Masahiro showed us how to eat Natto with rice, spring onions and other garnishing. Participants enjoying preparing Natto.
High Tech toilets in Japan
Chishiho introduced us to the world of high-tech Japanese toilets. She talked about the evolution of these gizmos over time, the features they offer, how to use them and what are the future developments.
Inexpensive travel in Japan
My presentation was about inexpensive travel in Japan. Need more ideas here, Please post on the comments if you have questions and ideas and I will add it to this post with attribution.
Accommodation
A traditional guesthouse or RyokanTemple stays tend to be the most inexpensive. Check out Templelodging.com for more on Temple stays in Japan.Ryokans are a good way of experiencing traditional Japanese house. Though they might not be that inexpensive. Mishuku (bed and breakfast type places) are more affordable.Online booking for traditional guesthouses and inns(Ryokans), Bed and Breakfast places in Japan.Onmark Productions has another excellent page that aggregates low cost accommodations in Japan.Wikipedia Page on Ryokans and Minshuju(Cheaper version of Ryokan)
Trains are such a wonderful way of traveling in Japan, one of the idea to save money is to take a train to a smaller town and stay there. If you are going to be in Japan for a week and more and want to see more than Tokyo, get a Japan Rail Pass . You can travel for free on JR group railways, buses, and ferry boats(except Tokyo Metro and high end Bullet trains). See this page for validity conditions of Japan Rail Pass
Food
You can affordable food at the street-side restaurants.
Nice, dane. lets eat it.
If you are really on a budget, buy onigiri (riceball wrapped in seaweed) and tea from a convenience store or vending machine.There are many ticket restaurants that serve affordable snacks.
Book Recommendation: Urawaza, Secret everyday Tricks and Tips from Japan
We also talked about Lisa Katayama's book Urawaza that compiles Japanese household tricks and techniques that are passed around by word of mouth. One of the ideas is to make scratched CD work by scrubbing the surface with toothpaste and rinsing with water.Singapore National Library has this book. Check the database for where you can find it.Here is a video demonstrating one of the Urawaza trick - getting pen marks off your hand.
Also checkout YouTube for more Urawaza videos
Thanks
Thanks to the participants for their active support. Woodlands Regional Library offered the excellent venue and thanks to Peter Chan (from NLB) for helping us put together the event. Thanks to the presenters Chishiho, Masahiro and Stephie. Amy and Mariko, thanks for helping out during the activities.
