Professional Collaboration with similar businesses?

In Facebook you're given targeted adverts at the side.  One was "Accessible Thailand" so I clicked through to investigate.

I decided to contact them with a view of collaborating on articles and information and I was pleasantly surprised by the positive response.  I have therefore put the link to their site, where they offer package deals to Thailand, on my website and here - Accessible Thailand

For the most Thailand, like any non-EU country, the situation for disabled awareness is not always the best.  This has begun to change and improve for the better, driven in part by Westernisation and tourism.

Disabled people are there but not always seen or if they are they are forced to beg on the streets.  Not just in Thailand but for example Moscow.  Often I saw people, generally amputees, on the metro collecting cash from passengers.   I saw a few disabled people out and about but to be fair, the plethora of steps would be the nemesis of wheelchair users (just as the Daleks couldn't traverse them until quite recently) who would face a mobility nightmare in Moscow.

While in Moscow I did meet one lady, a powered wheelchair user, with a respectable well paid job. She, like myself, was looking for a dating partner however at the end of our meeting she told me she would be holding out for the tall, dark rich American so a relationship wasn't on the cards.  However, in conversations I gained an insight into travel for disabled people in Russia, especially those in wheelchairs.  They can access "dial a ride" that is an accessible taxi, unfortunately one  of very few and in high demand - plus not reliable on the time keeping front.

Thailand, the country where family is important.  People are taken care of in the family, not farmed off to care homes or "living independently" in "adapted" accommodation.  Just as with any family member, the citizens live at home and are looked after by family members.

One time I was at a restaurant with the wife and niece, we heard screaming and splashing of water from behind the partition. No one took any notice, not even the customers.  Later a woman, possibly 20-30 years old appeared from behind the partition, dripping wet.  I determined she had CP (having it myself) from the appearance plus additional needs.  A lady came over and shuffled her back behind the partition and encouraged the water play, watching for while.  Whenever the woman started becoming loud, the other lady "shhh"ed her, but eventually departed for other duties.

Another time I visited a water park and swimming pool.  Obvious by the appearance, a family gathered near one of the shallow pools with a young girl in a wheel chair.  All family members assisted the girl into the water and helped her swim a little.   No one took any notice, well no one except me.

At another restaurant, (we did a lot of eating), a car pulled up and a man retrieved a "walker" from the boot for his disabled wife, who I could see clearly was suffering from the aftermath of stroke.  

Health Care is a paid for service in Thailand, no free NHS. All those belittlers of the NHS need to go abroad and access healthcare for a while, they would soon stop moaning.

The pavements are terrible and you'll be better in the road.  I found obstacles in the middle of the pavement, gaping holes and slabs out of line, so pretty much dangerous for me.  They do make an effort with curb side ramps, but they are usually steep.

As in my hotel, a recent build, the front has steps up.  Whoever designed the hotel obviously had no idea regarding disabled visitors and there are no Laws governing accessibility.  At this hotel, there is a "ramp", but it is best used for a "slide", it is very very steep.  The same goes for Moscow.

So, I think the point is, if you're a website of similar aims then I am looking for you to reciprocate the links and to work together for the common good.  Contact me via the website contacts page.

In the meantime give the Accessible Thailand site a whirl, maybe you'll be jetting to The Land of Smiles very soon.

Day 6 written blog

We are off to kumphawapi today, to meet with the people who introduced us and helped with a visa last year. We're going to ask about another one, but I have reservations because of the cost and liklihood that it is  an ideal direction to be going in when we should be looking at living here instead.

The meeting I had at the university with the trainer for TEFL went ok, if not strangely with the guy not even remembering my name and that I said I was coming to see him that day but also the name change on the door to the office, which made finding it harder.

Managed to complete day 3 video now rendering. Will be uploaded later.

The best laid plans

Well, having planned to upload a daily blog I have failed miserably. This has several reasons, mostly due to the internet.

I was up doing the first blog at 5am, having woken with back pain; I had gone to bed at 10pm and slept through with no problems, but woke and had a combination of pain and a need for toilet. I decided that I wasn't going to sleep again so stayed up. After nearly 4 hours the epic first issue wasn't finished and still isnt, and now tonight, I have another day's filming done.

I went to the true move shop and got them to install a sim into my unlocked mifi, which you can discover but does not give you internet. It was a 12gb package  for one month and it connected however only when i got home did i see the problem.

I also finally got the hotel wifi to connect simply because neither understood the password given by staff at check in.

I will talk more about the hotel later but sleep beckons me.

It's Coming! One day and one night left

One whole day and tonight left.  I decided to pack the case today and it all fitted - but with several things left behind. You know, you always take too much and when you get there you tell yourself never again, but do the same.

So, this time I got rid of some stuff.  However I also have a few gifts that I won't have on the way back so it should be lighter.

I also have the camera kit and tripod (the monopod with legs is not working - the legs fold up and don't lock any more). I tested the tripod in Imber and it was okay, but I did have the scooter and I wasn't walking much with it.  The reason I wanted the monopod is because there are only 3 clips to extend the leg, whereas you have 3 clips x 3 legs on the tripod.  Also a little lighter and smaller. It is as non-spontaneous pain.

As far as weight is concerned, there is a dilemma, though.  Thai Air allow 30kg London to Bangkok.  They used to run the Khon Kaen route, and it was 30kg.  But end of last year the Thai Smile (allegedly a different company after splitting from Thai Air) now runs the route, but only give 20kg. I spotted this after buying the ticket, and having made a mistake with the return flight, the cheap ticket became dearer following a revision charge.

Before, it was easier. Same carrier, one web site, one booking.  This one involved finding a slot near to arrival but not too close due to reasons mentioned later.  Thai Smile have already changed the time slots by 10 minutes for my flight, luckily it is in my favour on the way out but not on return.  It will give less time for re-check in but hopefully it should be smoother outbound as there isn't as much customs.

My main suitcase is approximately 21-22kg. I have a rucksack of presents plus my camera case and separate tripod.   Basically, I will put money on them trying to charge me money for over weight baggage.  I know what the system is like.

There is little choice for Bangkok to Khon Kaen unless you change airports. Then, Air Asia are cheap but charge per bag per kilo, so that could be expensive.  I think Smile also run from the second airport too, but there is also Bangkok air which are quite good, Nok air (another budget airline) as alternatives.  The transfer would be best by Taxi and is a fair way, I know because I have driven it or by bus.

However, this time as per every other, I am staying put in Suvarnaphumi.  I have a tight window of 4-5 hours to transfer, which is pushing it.   There's customs, baggage reclaim, check in (domestic) and security again all while being wheel chaired through by customer service assistance (who generally don't speak English).

The video blogging will begin in earnest, Wednesday at 6am.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJP-J-gQyhfZ7BA8xabCvQWLjtJyjbOdR

here's the link, go subscribe, put your feet up and follow along with the daily blog....

SHORTS: thailand upcoming blogs promo (coming soon)

Travel Blog: My Top 5 - worst UK airports

Thailand

Well there's 29 days to go before I go to the country 6,000 miles away where my wife lives. I am planning on vlogging every day, but my experiments with travel blogs has been a technical disaster of equipment failures.. so I have just ordered new kit, an EOS Rebel T5 1080p camera DSLR with a Rode microphone. I will need to take my tripod, extra hassle as I'm going to the airport on the train this time rather than a £120 taxi.  I hope it will be here in time for me to practice!

Second day back to the day job

Yes, as expected, yesterday was knackered after teaching 3 sessions following a long time on holiday.  Second day working today but need to find time to finish the update to the website destinations pages. Want to have a go at video  blogging at some point in preparation for when I am in country so to speak.