We stopped at a place after travelling 60km for breakfast. Rice was ordered and the plate was full with side curry’s while we enjoyed with a Srilankan style “Reggae” music bringing smiles to the faces. SUPER breakfast after a long time finished with a “buddy” bottle of Ginger Bear ! Guess what….name of the place is, “Raata Aran avith Kaaala yamu” (Bring the bottles at night for drinks and eat and go") – attitude with a difference.

When we arrived at the destination there was a ceremony organized by the regional government authorities, schools & the general public to facilitate the sponsors for the donations by ICTA & Microsoft Sri Lanka. It was wonderful to see recognizing the talent of the youth - who are actually disconnected from the fast paces society in Colombo while very few opportunities to become IT literate to face the challenges of new world.

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The program was launched by Microsoft Sri Lanka to bring IT to rural parts of the country with the governments vision in the calendar year 2009 as the year of IT & English. That included many programs by Microsoft which was successful globally. Multipoint is one of the new generation educational programs which went on to boom the skills of younger generation. (ref: http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential/TransformingEducation/MultiPoint.mspx)

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Opening of the “MULTIPOINT” center in an area where Information Technology is a dream made me think, how many of these kind a schools are there in Sri Lanka, how can we help the rural areas like this program which is a highly successful from the day of inception in “NIVITHIGALA” (another 134km south east of Colombo). It’s sad in one way where all the schools, kids will not have the same opportunity as the other kids in “Pallama”.

As for the kids who was introduced with “MULTIPOINT”, I certainly hope one day they will become the smartest set of people – challenging the world. As for the drive back home which was in the midst of heavy rain pouring down from hell, I had to say my colleague was an excellent racing driver :-)

  http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/one_mobile_app_for_multiple_platforms_a_reality.php

http://www.microsoft.com/oneapp/product/appgallery.aspx 

Wanna try in your mobile ? – it shouldn’t be a high end :-)

Got a mobile dongle for ease of use when in Colombo Sri Lanka. I was actually cheated by the advertisements which went out in the TV.

Mobitel is one of the leading mobile operators in Sri Lanka which is a child company of the national telephone operator Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT). They were the first to introduce the HSDPA 14.4 & 7.2 MBPS to the local market which was a success.

One of the major failures in a management of an Sri Lankan company is that when the money is good they tend to forget the service for the customers. When they figure it out that the service is also important to grow and sustain in the market, they are already failed and exposed their limbs to others. If you don’t believe me check Dialog Telekom & it’s share price fluctuations for the past year or so.

Below are a series of pictures that I took while trying to connect to internet to download mails. If anyone of you ask me for the best internet service provider in Sri Lanka – the answer is NONE. But the below is absolutely pathetic !!!!!

Customer service is absolute necessity in the modern fast paced economy where there are thunder of competitive counterparts. That is why there are so many organizations & individuals grooming to teach – team work, customer satisfaction, interpersonal speaking behaviors etc; But the old generation where they do not adhere to the new trends fails to deliver what is “right” to the time.

Last week we released the newest version of Microsoft Exchange Server system to manufacturing… it was a nice to see how Microsoft R&D teams (which is one of the biggest in the world) rehearse and develop a system which was requested by customers who were using and about to use the last version.

What many people don’t believe is that in a product development cycle, research is an important portion. Take an example, of the Linux distributions – we can always download the “FREE” software without anybody’s intervention and also get a GNU license. But have you thought that even if you have the product free, who is going to develop the new additions which we always need. For an example – a security loop-hole fix or a new Printer driver….

If I got the download from the Red Hat site, I may need to pay to get the support. Then I will be able to download the fix for the security loop-hole (do remember Linux also got security loop-holes). But if the distribution which I download isn’t got any registered trade-mark of a company, then it’s a shame to use your valuable time and bandwidth download. B’coz there isn’t any R&D team backing you-up for the support.

It’s just like you buy a Merc S Series and then you figure out there is no spare-parts available :)

But the “hard-core” extremes got few myths for the general public – one of them is Linux distributions are “free”.

What actually carries is that you get a free Operating System from the web – but you do not have support. If you don’t believe it do a small research of the top enterprises in our country.

NEWZEALAND Health Misnistry Vs. SRI LANKAN Health Ministry

Microsoft Case Studies: The Quit Group (Text2Quit)

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?casestudyid=4000005315 

VS

Sri Lanka doctors go on strike again
Friday, January 11, 2008, 12:40 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Jan 11, Colombo: The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOS) has organized a sudden strike demanding the removal of Health Minister from his post.

The influential white collar trade union has organized the one-day strike without giving any notice to the public. Thousands of patients, many from poorest social segments faced severe difficulties due to the strike.

The main demand of the doctors was to increase the transport and house rental allowances to suit for the present cost of living. However, all government doctors are entitled to duty free car permits and housing loans at very concessionary interest rates.

Tension between the Health Ministry and the doctors’ trade union has been surging since the government is taking steps to reorganize the health service. Yesterday, the trade union officials scoffed at the government order for the doctors to write only the generic names of the medicines on their prescription. The trade union compared the government attempt to “fetch water with a bucket full of holes”. Also, the doctors are in clash with the Ministry on its policy to appoint doctors to North and East.

I really don't know how to control my life. But today was a special "horrible" day as I took some hard discussions which effects my life.

I was thinking....is the life important to me ? Yes I need money to eat/stay and play around. But things isn't the same as the good old days with the pressure that comes from home. I dont know whom to talk or whom to tell..but I am struggling.

From tomorrow I will be @ home for 5 days leave. I want to re-cap the things that I was to do and will try to change for good.

after 6months I am going to write something in my so called blog. what a waste....actually I shouldn't start writing. but I was thinking I should do something while crying because of a toothache in the middle of the night (almost).

(after December my last post) the year started with a fight started over a separate sate demanding by a fanatic Sri Lankan who thought the killing of innocent human's the the correct path to achieve lost goals. well most left him while fighting due to the luxurious life showed by some of the most popular bi-sexual in the island politics.

so the army did it's best with the help from Pakistan, China, Russia & Iran. 2nd of January wasn't a famous day until they announced the liberation of "Kilinochchi" - the capital of terrorist's state and the fighting went on.

we were working our butt-out to get the sales ringing the bell's for RBI & UBI. fortunate or un-fortunately we successful at least 70% of what we wanted to do. guess what then the strike came from the our very own red-indian city big shots. my manager and her manager was gone for a 6!

deal !!! i agree with 50% for the same for 50% was better than the old smart @$$ who were trying to manage me. sad but still needs to move on baby....oh yeah the new comer in BD was also a spoon feeding headache. but I can't let him done as he's also a guy who wanted to write his own words in the field of uncertainty.

figure this out - army showed the terrorist's body while kissing the cement floor by the country head was a pleasure to watch (we don;t see those advertisements regularly). what a good marketer we have !!!

furthermore a special delegation came from UN to see how we F*** our own people and to teach us (from our own 2500+ history) humanity ! and voting 29 out of 42 states in the UN security council votes for this small country. double meaningful countries were trying to tell the "jingle bell story" while the most pathetic countries who wanted to keep a fight just to keep the $$$ role for the war hero's !

as for the our own war hero's - Salute !!!

Quote : a story long time ago to Chandi :)

Chandi in Jail

   Video: Chandi in Jail

It was awesome to see most of the places (you know what I mean), and having Bangla food. Kuchiri is my favorite as well as Phoshta (a snack link “wade” which is hot, little bit of lime & salt).

Courtesy – BD friends of mine !

And I did some shopping too. Bought some cloths (for me – as I forgot to bring down from SL) & some snacks for the folks in SL. In a place call Agora (supermarket chain belongs to Rahimafarooz), some fish and meat for sale.

Don’t want to talk about the meat stuff as I was thinking to be a vegi in the future. But they eat “Cat Fish” too. And the prawns are “HUGE” !!!

Check the price – there is no difference in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

People are so generous, helpful & treated me with a BIG heart. They gave me the most important thing which I like most in every occasion (guess what – FOOD). Well for some Chinese Singaporeans (whom I know) couldn’t stay-up without it, but I am an Asian J

Thanks to – Sofi/Asif/Atiq/Anwar, short old guy from PS & All the GP, WT god guys/gals J

Infrastructure is not at all in a form of a living condition. Some wires were hanging from the post towards the road – have the government thought about electric shocks ? lighting by mother nature ? Guess what they are blind !

Check the brands Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota (saw a new car – Toyoto Probox & Toyoto Succeed)

Environment pollution as in too much big boards !

There was a street full of pest control companies – guess why J

A local bus – they provide the tetanus toxid when you get in to the bus

God old 3 wheeler with a modification – my god they drive extremely fast and turn with the same speed.

Local Taxi

WOW’ed

Quote : After a while I got hold of this video - will be back blogging soon :)

Microsoft Assessment and Planning 3.0 Demo #1 - Server Virtualization

   Video: Microsoft Assessment and Planning 3.0 Demo #1 - Server Virtualization

It was a new experience for me to travel and come back to Sri Lanka. My mission was to meet my customers in Bangladesh - here we go !!!

I've started a journey which lasted 12hour flight with a 4hour transit in Singapore Changi Airport. Amazingly I've took a tube of hair gel which was suppose to remove from the airport officials which wasn't the case this time. Yes they detected in Singapore but never thought a handsome guy will take something like that and let me go - lol - And they say it's one of the most secured airports in Asia.

Flight to Dhaka were smooth but I must say on my way to Dhaka Bangladesh, I've took Singapore airlines as I believe it's more secure & looking at a Singaporean chick is better than a local plane like Sri Lankan Airlines or Biman Airlines with old chicks serving a piece of bread and butter. But the pilots were shaking the passenger A$$'s when landing and it was so awful and scary.

Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) International Airport is very small and very manual. It seems politicians and people with power got ahead of the queue whenever they wanted in immigrations. On the way out of the airport it's was a never seen picture with so much noise and dirt in Bangladesh. My driver from the hotel wasn't there and I had to call the hotel get the number and call him. Unfortunately he couldn't speak in English and he was in-front of the gate. Thanks to a forces man who spoke in Bangali and helped me.

I got a red carpet when I enter the hotel and it was a suite which I never expected. Well, after I entered the room I was thinking how much will this cost me :) Due to my body not excepting the pressure and yeah I am old now so had to crash without a bath.

Day 1 (Sunday - they work on Sundays)

7AM I got knocked by a man who wish to polish my shoes. Well, I thanked him and send him back as I got a shoe polish in my bag. Went to my office in Bangladesh and met the cool dudes who were struggling with the seating as a renovation of the office being carried out at this time. Intermitted disconnection of the internet pissed me off as I am used to grand slam service in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Next were my friendly people in Grameen Phone IT team. Believe me I had 4 meetings with officials from top to bottom.

Day 2

Went directly to another customer and it's a bank. This time in a 3wheeler where the driver is crazy as a mad dog who drives like Formula III driver. Ohh man but yet I am up to the game as I am used to the same skill sets of Sri Lankan drivers. Amazingly Bank IT smokes in-side the premises. From a quality discussion back to the main phone company for an orientation. Guess the ride is 2 hours - pure traffic

Strangely, my ex-fellowman was taking the cream out of the customer ripping from whatever he could. Customer was humble to say they didn't know and my explanation drove them to call me a honourst/cool man.

Day 3

Another telecom company with presence in Pakistan. Good discussion and went very well. I've promised some and yes already delivered. Went back on a trick show for the first time in my life - it was a very good experience. The man charged me double and I was ver brave to fight back with signs and signals to pay me back for a cheap price - lol

Went to another telephone operator for a breife intro which went well with a follow-up and it seems I was good in marketing & selling too. Finally gave an intro to my company staff in Bangladesh and had a full meal before going to Dhaka International Airport with a friend who I wont remember. Anwer man with a good heart.

Finally, I've landed after 8 hours in Colombo - what a trip full of meetings and updates (some friendly fights too)

It's wasn't a well planned trip - but I'am glad we managed to drive safe with a driver who don't know the road to Kandy/Nuwara Eliya nor Colombo as well as to drive smoothly without hurting the passengers. From the little I know he never knew the vehicle also.

We managed to load the crew from busy Katunayake airport on Saturday morning and drive thru Minuwangoda short-cut to Kandy road, where I gave a lousy presentation of what is Sri Lanka which was corrected by my wife resulting myself became stupid (which always happen)

Kandy journey wasn't that bad, though the city was crowded with pilgrims from various parts of the country stormed to see and worship the "Tooth of Load Buddha". When we went out in-search of food my friendly consultant got shit(ted) from a low flying bird and was stinking all the way which I didn't was to describe in detail. Yeah his wife knew about it and was joking silently and apparently it was my fault it seems

After showing the "temple of tooth" and the palace museum to the crew our next destination was Nuwara Eliya. Well this is where the driver's mother was mentioned few times when he drove like a crazy pig. I was about to take my heart out from my mouth as I was seated in the front, when the drive drove towards a speeding car which came from a different direction. I didn't want to express my feelings and kept to myself, just because I was afraid my friends will get pissed and scared. Though when we reached, that has all ready happened.

Gregory Lake was crowded and the place we night-out was in the 4th floor. My friends mom's legs were not in good shape but she didn't wanted to hassle us (I knew it). She is a great women - strong/stubborn/straight and good mother to a good friend. Most of all she knew how to cook excellent food. Her husband (my friends farther) was a nature lover and a good man with a good heart. I wish I will meet him again to talk/discuss something and I feel I have already met him someday in my past life. My wife got a friendly companion (which is my friends and my plan - which was a success) for the journey. Ohh god, she is a nutty character which suites my friend 100%, who is very tidy & neat. No doubt they were also just like me and my wife @ home.

It was beautiful and the food was awesome !!! I wish I can start cooking like them. Thank you very much for refreshing taste that bought to my hunger (my mind). It was me and my wife’s pleasure to meet you all. Uncle and Aunty - you shall live a long life and we all shall build our friendship. Thank you again.

  Vishnu & his mother      The Main Family       Young at Heart       Mom & my wife          The unfortunate photographer