Awe-struck!
Thanks to Mr.Santhosh George Kulangara for his episode on Kandy Tooth Relic Temple, in SriLanka. I believe it was more than 8 years ago, I saw that episode and which haunted me too long to visit SriLanka. Since last 4 years, I has been trying and tired but the trip was not materialized. This time, it was better planning. The mantra was- “Do not plan”.
Starting of 2011, I wanted to take a break from my office works and go unplugged. Everything in my office was going much fine this time. I had no idea of what-how-when-how much-where etc. of this trip. As a first step, I sought permissions from home department (Mother and Wife). I know my Father will not oppose my idea of touring, he always encourages these things 
. Got a green signal from the home department also!! Thanks Amma and Latha for that!! Next big thing was setting a vacation period without affecting my work- That too went well. Now skies are below my foot.
Started searching for a good ticket deal. All my searches ended up with our own Karuna family’s – Sun Network’s -”SpiceJet”. Ticket prices varied from 4000 INR to 5000 INR. By the time I booked my ticket, it was around 4800 INR. “No looking back”… I booked my round trip tickets for Chennai to Colombo on 26-Feb-2011 and back on 5-Mar-2011. Getting a clean sweep of one whole week.
I had certain defined intentions in this trip. They were:
1. Experience a travel, alone in an alien land, where nobody knows you-you know nobody.
2. Experience a new culture, new kind of people, new kind of food.
3. Visit those places where there is some new kind of history, which I have not seen yet.
4. And Buddhism was a good reason.
5. Get some Visa stamped on my passport. No matter if it is SriLanka or Nepal! Some Visa.
6. An international vacation without much damage to your bank account.
7. To say- “Hey, I also went on a vacation to a foreign country”.
8. To find some good place where I can take my better half to. (Ding!)
Till the date I was about to depart, no one in my office was aware of where I am going and what I am going to do. Most of them asked me to bring banana chips when I return. On the last day, I revealed to some of my friends, that I am going not to Trivandrum but to SriLanka.
The time between my ticket booking and journey, I utilized some time to get a good idea on where to go and what to see. But mostly, I didn’t find out where to stay and left it open for the journey’s fun. My itinerary was as follows:
Negombo → Kandy → Nuwara Eliya → Kandy → Dambulla → Sigiriya → Polonnaruwa → Anuradhapura → Colombo → Galle → Negombo
Too much..huh! But this was my initial itinerary.
As usual, I tried to get out of my office a little ahead of time. As usual, I was not able to do so. As usual, I was rushing to reach home and start to Airport. One good thing was, my brother was at home. Later knew that, he came early to see me off to SriLanka. Sweet bro.. na? We went to the Meenam restaurant opposite to the Officers’ Training Academy and left to Airport. I just made sure I have nothing but my Passport and Ticket. All were good. In a few minutes, my long time dream is coming true. Good reason for an excitement.
…
How To Install Garmin XT on Nokia 5800
Part of this article is found on the net and seemed interesting. May be useful for our fellow trekkers/riders.
Courtesy: http://www.noktahhitam.com/how-to-install-garmin-xt-on-nokia-5800-symbian-s60-v3.html
I recently bought a Nokia 5800 and asked if the shop keeper could install Garmin XT for me. Guess what? He wants to charge RM 80 (USD 20) for that!
It turns out, it is pretty tough considering my lack of expertise when it comes to Symbian OS phones. I spent 3 days experimenting all possibilities to make it work on my phone. Since it took a lot of my time, I’m going to save yours by teaching you.
Before you do anything, Download the file (80 mb ++) and read all the instructions before hand. It’ll help you to visualize the process.
Download file contains
* GarminMobileXTforSymbianS603rdEdition_50040.exe
* GarminMobileXTFreeBasemap_4xxxx.exe
* GarminMobileXTSupportFiles_4xxxx.exe
* gmapsupp.img (Malaysian Map, with DUKE highway)
* garmin_kgen.exe
* 5800_manual.pdf
* GarminMobile20_GarminMobileXTOwnersManual.pdf
Note: You can skip part 1.
1. Setting up Apparatus, The Nokia 5800
1. Back up all data using PC Suite (go to Nokia website).
2. Soft reset by pressing *#7370#. Should take about 2-3 mins and you lose all your data (except on memory card). But don’t worry, you have back up remember?
3. On your Nokia 5800, go to Application > Location > Positioning > Positioning Methods. Enable “Assisted GPS” and “Integrated GPS” ONLY. This will ensure you don’t get charge using WAP or 3G network for Internet.
4. Go to Application > Location > GPS Data > Position > Options > Satellite status. This will show the satellite signals you’re receiving. Be sure you are outdoor in an open area. Balcony doesn’t work well, believe me I’ve tried. Once you’ve got AT LEAST 4 satellite signal, go back indoor, you don’t want people to think you’re crazy, waving your phone around.
5. Now you’re ready for GarminXT.
2. Installing GarminXT on Nokia 5800.
1. Once you’ve downloaded, unzip the files to someplace accessible preferably on your desktop. If you haven’t, please download it.
2. Connect your phone via USB and select ‘Mass storage mode’.
3. From you PC, double click “GarminMobileXTforSymbianS603rdEdition_50040.exe” to install and wait.
4. Double click “GarminMobileXTFreeBasemap_4xxxx.exe” to install. Wait..
5. Double click “GarminMobileXTSupportFiles_4xxxx.exe” to install.
6. Remove USB connection between PC and phone. When prompted ‘Launch GarminXT’ do not click Yes, just Cancel.
7. From your phone, go to Menu > Settings > Application Manager > Installation files. There should be GarminXT.sis file. Install it.
3. Cracking GarminXT on Nokia 5800.
1. Tell yourself and say “Yes, I’m a cheapskate”.
2. Run GarminXT from your phone at Menu > Application > Garmin. It will prompt you with some settings. Choose your preferable.
3. Select “Use other device” when it prompts you to buy or trial. You will get a screen, “Where To?” and “View map”
4. In GarminXT, go to Tools > Settings > About. Jot down “Card ID”, you will need it. Exit GarminXT
5. On your PC, run “garmin_kgen.exe” and enter the “Card ID” from previous steps.
6. Generate it and you will get a string of codes. Copy the codes to Notepad and save it as “sw.unl”. *Be sure you don’t save it as sw.unl.txt”*
7. Connect your phone to PC and select “Mass storage mode”.
8. Copy “sw.unl” to Garmin folder. Usually located at E:/Garmin.
9. Copy “gmapsupp.img” from downloaded file to Garmin folder. “gmapsupp.img” is the Malaysian map.
10. Disconnect your phone from PC.
4. Restore your Nokia 5800
1. Reconnect your phone via PC Suite.
2. Restore your settings through back up.
5. Setting up GarminXT on Nokia 5800
1. You don’t need your PC anymore. Shut down and conserve energy.
2. Run GarminXT on your phone.
3. Go to Tools > Settings > System > Remote GPS. Change to “Use Attached GPS” by disabling the “Bluetooth GPS”.
4. Go to Tools > Manage My Data > Map Sets > MapSource. Make sure all maps are enabled.
6. Toying GarminXT on Nokia 5800.
1. Switch off your fans and lights. Go out.
2. Run GarminXT, (duh!).
3. Select “View Map” and wait for a while. The satellite will find you. It took me 5 mins or so. Just have patience and faith.
4. Now you’ll see where you are.
5. Go back and select “Where To?”. If you’re at home and wants GarminXT to store you current location as home, then select “Home”
6. “Where To?” is rather confusing. I usually use “Where To?” > Point of interest. There’s lots of shopping malls, hospitals, banks, ATM machines etc. from there, you’d know where to go.
7. Pat yourself and say “Well done”. The rest is up to you.
Note: I will NOT be providing support. If it doesn’t work for you, you can leave a comment and hope someone will rescue you. Google it!
~part – 2~
Here is something that I found myself googling and experiments…
How to install Indian map in Garmin Mobile XT
You can download the Indian Map from this torrent: http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5272640/Garmin_MapSource_City_Navigator_India_2009.30_img_version
Steps to follow (This is what I did!):
- Connect mobile to PC in Mass Storage mode. Go to: Computer\Nokia 5800 XpressMusic\Memory card\Garmin
- There will be two .img files GMAPBMAP.IMG-Base map and GMAPSUPP.IMG-Malaysian map (which comes with the installation)
- Download the indian map image from the torrent.
- Rename it to: GMAPSUP2.IMG
- Copy to Computer\Nokia 5800 XpressMusic\Memory card\Garmin
- Safely disconnect mobile from PC.
- Run the Garmin KeyGen.exe in PC. Type your UnitID (already know where is this. See the first post)
- First, click generate for software unlock code.
- Select map product as custom mapset.
- It will show a dialog box. Type the FID as 281
- Generate map unlock code.
- Copy the newly generated code and save it in GMAPSUP2.unl
- Copy to Computer\Nokia 5800 XpressMusic\Memory card\Garmin
- Enter the two codes in Garmin XT when asked (better save these in a text file.)
- Good to go. You are done!!
Image courtesy: http://gpszone.ro/infusions/pro_download_panel/images/55.jpg
Makarajyothi- Controversy? No… pure ignorance
Title should suffice what I am going to tell. No more talks 
I am following the theory- “One picture can talk thousand words”.
Total of 46 participants.
This is how people were able to distinguish between vilakku and jyothi.
Those who think they understand vilakku and jyothi tell this...
These many people realize that they are being cheated.
Cause of the mishap
Straight question- Is it man made? Here, you need to see that "No" and "I don't know" should be considered collectively as "No". People are ignorant!
There is no corrective action. Only preventive action is possible... That is to educate people more about the facts of these rituals. Only TDB and Govt. can do that.
This is how the 46 people think about the moral right of atheist thoughts in this matter. In straight words, majority thinks that Atheist groups have nothing to do with Sabarimala issues.
What more?!
