CARRY A RADIO

While travelling carry a small shortwave radio .At least you can listen to the news headlines,so that you can get warned about any natural calamity,short notice evacuation alerts,etc.You may think that ,it is unnecessary because you are not going to keep the radio always on in a place where you went for a visit,you don't know whether it is a rumor or fact..there radio comes handy to confirm things in this uncertain world where information is power.I experienced it and the Radio was the sole source of information when everything goes off..no power..no phone...no TV...BUT the RADIO works,it worked for me during the TSUNAMI.I recommend the SONY WORLD BAND SW RADIO(as shown in this picture) a small sized manual tuning radio.

TRAFFIC JAMS,LANDSLIDES

Landslips are common during the monsoon in the hilly regions of India.Traffic jam.. a common sight in the Plains.


1)Traffic jam in Siliguri-Jalpaiguri Road ,...2)long wait at Chitrey Landslide,...3)A land slip at Central Pendam -Sikkim

NOKIA FAULTY BATTERIES-REPLACEMENT

NOKIA FAULTY BATTERIES-REPLACEMENT
Dear Nokia Customer,

This is a product advisory for the Nokia-branded BL-5C battery manufactured by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan between December 2005 and November 2006. This product advisory does not apply to any other Nokia battery.

Nokia has identified that in very rare cases the affected batteries could potentially experience over heating initiated by a short circuit while charging, causing the battery to dislodge. Nokia is working closely with relevant local authorities to investigate this situation.

Nokia has several suppliers for BL-5C batteries that have collectively produced more than 300 million BL-5C batteries. This advisory applies only to the 46 million batteries manufactured by Matsushita between December 2005 and November 2006. There have been approximately 100 incidents of over heating reported globally. No serious injuries or property damage have been reported.

Consumers with a BL-5C battery subject to this advisory should note that all of the approximately 100 incidents have occurred while charging the battery. According to Nokia's knowledge this issue does not affect any other use of the mobile device. Concerned consumers may want to monitor a mobile device while charging that contains a BL-5C battery subject to this product advisory.

While the occurrence in the BL-5C batteries produced by Matsushita in the time-period specified is very rare, for consumers wishing to do so, Nokia and Matsushita offer to replace any BL-5C battery subject to this product advisory.

The BL-5C batteries which are subject to the product advisory were used with the following Nokia models or separately as accessories:

Nokia 1100, Nokia 1100c, Nokia 1101, Nokia 1108, Nokia 1110, Nokia 1112, Nokia 1255, Nokia 1315, Nokia 1600, Nokia 2112, Nokia 2118, Nokia 2255, Nokia 2272, Nokia 2275, Nokia 2300, Nokia 2300c, Nokia 2310, Nokia 2355, Nokia 2600, Nokia 2610, Nokia 2610b, Nokia 2626, Nokia 3100, Nokia 3105, Nokia 3120, Nokia 3125, Nokia 6030, Nokia 6085, Nokia 6086, Nokia 6108, Nokia 6175i, Nokia 6178i, Nokia 6230, Nokia 6230i, Nokia 6270, Nokia 6600, Nokia 6620, Nokia 6630, Nokia 6631, Nokia 6670, Nokia 6680, Nokia 6681, Nokia 6682, Nokia 6820, Nokia 6822, Nokia 7610, Nokia N70, Nokia N71, Nokia N72, Nokia N91, Nokia E50, Nokia E60

“Nokia” and “BL-5C” are printed on the front of the battery. On the back of the battery, the Nokia mark appears at the top, and the battery identification number (consisting of 26 characters) is found at the bottom.

IT IS URGENT
CLICK HERE TO CHECK.AT NOKIA SITE.

SHIP TROUBLE AT KOLKATTA

Stranded passengers showing their tickets-Times of India kolkatta

There was chaos on Circular Garden Reach Road on Tuesday (7th August 2007)evening after Port Blair-bound M V Harshvardhan sailed from the Kidderpore docks without nearly 200 bona fide passengers.The stranded passengers blocked the road before demonstrating outside South Port p0lice station. Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) officers,however, claimed the passengers
were to blame for the imbroglio.Trouble broke out soon after 1.30pm,when the last of the passengers were still arriving.Even before they could complete formalities, they saw the ship depart. The passengers rushed to the lockgate where the ship waits for some time before entering the Hooghly.They were not allowed to enter the premises by Central Industrial Security Force personnel on duty. Passengers were furious when they saw truckloads of soldiers boarding the ship from the lockgate. Rumours began to do the rounds that bona fide passengers
had been leftbehind to accommodate soldiers."This is incorrect. While issuing tickets, we tell passengers to check newspapers (of the day before the voyage)for the exact time of departure.
This has to be done as we don't know the tide timings when tickets are issued.We published the sailing schedule in two English and Bengali dailies on Monday.Passengers were supposed to report by 12 noon on Tuesday as the ship was to leave berth at 2 pm. Though only 280 of the 800 passengers had boarded the ship till 2pm, we had no option but to set out," an SCI officer explained. About 400 bunks in the ship were booked for soldiers. Instead of boarding the vessel at Kidderporedocks,they climbed aboard at the lockgate. "There is no way the CISF can prevent soldiers in uniform to enter the premises.They can enter'and board the ship if they have valid passes. However,due to the ISPS code, civilians cannot be allowed to enter the lockgate without permission.The ship left the lock gate at 5 pm as per schedule and will anchor at Garden
Reachtill 4amon Wednesday," the officeradded. .After stranded passengers lodged complaints with the police, the latter tried to contact SCI. Kolkata Port Trust even offered the services of its launches to ferry the stranded passengers to the ship anchored at Garden Reach. SCI officers were not ready to comply.
This is a news report from Times of India-Kolkatta

Now my comments: 1.If the SCI doesn't know the Tide timings then how it functions?
2.More than this, passengers has to face Union problems often.

MALARIA

Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines.

Key interventions to control malaria include: prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies; use of insecticidal nets by people at risk; and indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes.

Travelers must carry a mosquito net or repellent to prevent malaria.Once it was believed that, it is caused due to mal air(bad air) thus this name! Avoid exposing your body(legs/hands) from 5 P.M to 7 P.M. in the evening,it is the period of time (outdoors),when these mosquitoes roam.

The above map shows regions where Malaria is common,dark to light colours shows more prevalence to less,respectively.

VISIT ANDAMANS(INDIA)

Tourists can only visit the Andaman group of islands and not the Nicobar,as it is a restricted area.
You can reach there by ship or by Airplane.Ships are available every week from Kolkata,once in a month from Vishakapatnam,every week from Chennai.Airplanes available everyday from Kolkatta and Chennai..private operators also provide service.Once you must tarvel to the islands by the Ship.While returning you can take a plane.The ships are the cheapest.MV Nicobar,Swarajdeep, Nancowry are good ships compared to Harshavardhan & Akbar.

You can buy the Ship tickets from the Shipping Corporation Office at Strand Road Kolkatta,but confirm the dates for the issue of tickets before leaving.Another important thing is the Strikes called by the Unions-it is very common .I suffered it for ten days once,better take the Chennai route or by plane while going.Ships are not boring,it is the ultimate travel experience one can get in India.see some links at http://andamansikkim.blogspot.com/

For ship/airfare,ship schedules,addresses,telephone numbers go to:Ship details andaman
Bookmark this blog for more on visiting andamans..see you here .
To see my photos: pukunas photos

BEWARE

A newly-wed couple are heading for Darjeeling for honeymoon by train. A well-dressed co-passenger soon befriends the couple. Later, the gentleman offers tea to them. He himself goes to the one end of the compartment to fetch it from a hawker. A few sips, the couple become unconscious and the gentleman decamps with their luggage.

This can happen to anyone traveling in India .Awareness and alertness from the traveler is the only remedy.

If a stranger shows friendliness beware,don't accept Tea or Biscuits,.

Generally, these anti-socials use AT Vamm tablets or spray to make passengers unconscious. These tablets are dissolved in tea or cold drinks or mixed with cream biscuits.