Tej Kohli Personal Blog

Tej Kohli has recently been to Italy with his family. Italy is not like every second tourist destination. This place has a distinct appeal and swathes a rich heritage of culture.

Dare il benvenuto all’Italia ( Welcome to Italy) - Tej Kohli
When in Rome you should always do as the Romans do. This may be a cliché of sorts but it also applies to any Italy travel that you may undertake n the near future. Italy is not extremely strict on what outsiders coming in do, but they will not thank you for any disruption to their customs or way of life either! This is why it is important to do a little research before you go!
Italy travel can be a whole lot of fun, but not if you flaunt your own beliefs if they are completely different to the Italian way of life. Italians are extremely proud people and will not tolerate any form of outside interference. For example, family is extremely important to them and if you show disrespect they will protect their own interests and call you on it. Always be respectful, no matter what. Italy is a very traditional country and the man is still responsible for the household. This will become apparent in restaurants if you dine as a couple. The waiter will always speak to the man and not the woman!
You will find that Italy has an extremely laid back way of life, which is perfect for a holiday but bear in mind that there is a siesta time. Although you can still be out and about at that time during your Italy travel, do not expect any help from people until it ends. This is more in the south than the north because of the heat. However, no matter where you go, there are little customs that you should be aware of so do your research in advance.

Tej Kohli brings to you some wonderful gadgets of 2008 that will mark a new epoch in technology:

1. FM Hands-free Car Kit for iPhone
Another FM transmitter for today, this is the iPhone FM Hands-free Car Kit. Transmit range will be 88.1MHz to 107.9MHz and comes with an adjustable neck and also charges other devices such as music player, mobile phone, GPS or others with 5V, 1A USB external socket. It is powered by the cigarette lighter outlet in your car. It’s available for $34.78.

2. Wobbling egg-shaped speakers
It would be fun to try out these wobbling egg shaped speakers by Brando. See if they really work just as well as a regular one. They also totter, but don’t fall, if you flick them.
“The speakers come in black or red, twist open for enhanced bass output, and run for several hours off of a USB-rechargeable battery. Available at Brando for $15 a piece.”

3. RCA intros three new Small Wonder budget camcorders

• Small Wonder MyLife, EZ200 (black) - 1.5-inch flip-out display, microSDHC with with 1GB microSD that does up to 30 / 60 minutes in high quality and web quality modes, $89 and due this summer
•  Small Wonder Pocket, EZ205 (white) - 1.5-inch flip-out display, microSDHC slot with 1GB microSD that does up to 30 / 120 minutes in high quality and web quality modes, $100 and due this summer

Tej Kohli is back with latest news about VoIP!

Balancing Act CEO Russell Southwood says although Botswana and Cape Verde recently moved in the direction of legalising voice over IP (VOIP) services in Africa, they are still part of a small group of African countries to have done so.

‘There are only 10 African countries that have legalised VOIP,’ he says. According to an ITWeb report, VOIP is the Internet Protocol (IP) technology that allows voice information to be sent in digital form, rather than using the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network. A major advantage of VOIP and Internet telephony is that it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone services. However, Southwood says the lack of a legal framework for VOIP to operate shows incumbent telecommunications players in Africa, be they fixed or mobile, want to retain their stronghold on the market. As to whether VOIP is automatically illegal if it is not specifically legalised, Southwood says: ‘In Anglophone countries, law relies more on custom and practice, and it has tended to be argued that gateway licences make VOIP illegal for all but those operating under the licence.’

Tej Kohli misses everything about India. On he last visit to India he manged to steal some time from his busy schedule and visit Taj Mahal. Here on Tej Kohli personal blog is an elaborative account of his visit to this ‘Mecca of Love’.

Although, I have traveled to a lot of places, but when it comes to monuments, the allure of Taj Mahal is beyond comparison. An icon of beauty, Taj Mahal is rightly termed as ‘Mecca of Love.’
On my recent visit to India in April this year, I took a trip to Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located. Built by Shah Jahan  as a mausoleum for his beautiful wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years and 22,000 people to complete the Taj Mahal. This huge monument of love, built entirely of white marble, is indeed the most beautiful building ever made. What that adds more to its beauty are the precious stones engraved on it. Perhaps, it is this mesmerizing beauty as well as historic significance that have pushed me to Taj Mahal over and over again.
Taj Mahal is beautiful both inside and outside. Interiors of Taj take you into a world of everlasting splendor. From Architecture viewpoint Taj Mahal is an avant-garde in its own ways. It stands on a raised, square platform with its four corners tapered, forming an unequal octagon. The design is Italian inspired, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. The principles of self-replicating geometry and symmetry of architectural elements has been used in formulating the whole set up. The central domed chamber and four adjoining chambers include many walls and panels of Islamic decoration. The entire mausoleum is decorated with inlaid design of flowers and calligraphy from Qur’an, using precious gems such as agate and jasper.
The whole architecture of Taj Mahal comprises of a main gateway, an elaborate garden, a mosque, a guest house, and several other palatial edifices. The glance of this mesmerizing tribute is further enhanced by the presence of the mighty river Yamuna. The most significant part of the Taj is that when ever you plan a tour to Taj Mahal and at whatever number of times you visit, you will find different aspect of Taj. The Taj at noon, the Taj at sunset, under the full moon, against the setting sun, and against the rising ball of fire, each time the mausoleum acquires a different accent and tells a different story.
No one person conceived the Taj Mahal. It is the collective creation of different people who contributed to the project at various times over the course of two decades. The design is ever evolutionary. However if you want to witness the full glory of this heart touching architecture, the best time to visit is between March to April and October to mid December, as the weather is quite soothing during these months. So rejoice your Taj Mahal trip to the utmost leve, like i did.

Tej Kohli brings the follow up on Cyclone Nargis that swept through Myanmar on May 2 and 3, 2008.

Now when UNICEF has some into action things may improve in the cyclone struck city.

UNICEF has urged the Malaysian corporate sector and individuals to act quickly and donate towards the UNICEF’s Myanmar Children’s Cyclone Appeal 2008 to avoid a second wave of disaster from befalling the country’s impoverished children.

Observing that the children of Myanmar have already suffered enough and that their lives are at stake, UNICEF’s representative in Malaysia, Youssouf Oomar said this is the time to act and to prevent a further tragedy.

“We cannot afford to waste a single second and we cannot afford to politicise the issue as efforts to save lives must happen now if we are to prevent a further tragedy,” Youssouf said in a statement here today.

The agency called on the Malaysian public who wish to support UNICEF’s emergency work in Myanmar to do so through a donation to the ‘Myanmar Children’s Cyclone Appeal 2008″ by bank transfer or cheque.

The agency said donation in US dollars can be made by credit card online through UNICEF’s global website (www.unicef.org).

The United Nations estimates that 2.5 million people have been severely affected by the violent and unexpected storm, 40 percent of whom are children.

On May 2 and 3, Cyclone Nargis swept through Myanmar devastating the lives of around one million children and their families.

The government’s official death toll had soared to 77,738 while 55,917 are missing with damage estimated at US$10 billion.

VoIP users should use land line for 911 calls, emergency workers say. Tej Kohli blog features a report published in yorkregion.com

Using the Internet instead of a traditional phone to call 911 could complicate emergency response to your home, York Region officials are warning.
The warning comes after the death of an Alberta boy that has been linked to a mix-up caused by use of an Internet telephone.
Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP, which allows you to make phone calls through a broadband Internet connection, has been available in the Greater Toronto Area for about four years. VoIP service is available throughout York Region. One of its selling points is it can be less expensive to make long distance telephone calls than using a traditional phone service provider.
The reliability of making emergency calls with the Internet service became the subject of debate earlier this week after an 18-month-old boy died. Paramedics were dispatched to a Mississauga address after a VoIP 911 call instead of being sent to the Calgary address where the child was because enough information was not provided during the call and the Ontario address was on file for the customer.
A complication arises when VoIP providers do not have the technology to allow their subscribers to call 911, according to York Regional Police spokesperson Const. Marina Orlovski.
If you have a VoIP phone and move it to another location, such as across town to a relative’s home and call 911 from there, the information sent to an emergency call taker will appear as your home address — not where you are.
“We have the capability to receive the calls, it’s up to the VoIP provider to make sure their clients, first of all, have the technology and second, that their subscribers know about (911 service) and they have a system for them to sign up,” Const. Orlovski said.
The traditional 911 system, based on land line use, routes an emergency call to the correct 911 centre, according to Markham Fire’s public education officer, Dave Blizzard. Enhanced 911 service provides the emergency call-taker your name, address and phone number.
Markham Fire also warns that access to 911 service for VoIP customers may not be available during a power failure or if the Internet connection is down.
“A phone call from your home or a neighbour’s home is still so important,” Mr. Blizzard said.
A Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruling on Oct. 20, 2005, required all local VoIP providers in Canada to provide notice to current and prospective customers about the availability and limitations of their 911 and enhanced 911 service. The CRTC also ruled local VoIP providers would have to communicate their 911 service limitations to existing customers at least once every year.

For more information visit Tej Kohli site | Tej Kohli Foundation 

Cyclone Nargis hit Burma last Saturday. Tej Kohli Charity News category brings the latest update..

An Edinburgh-based rescue charity is flying out aid to help the victims of the Burmese cyclone.

Mercy Corps is working with fellow aid agencies to bring relief to families affected by the disaster, which has left up to 22,000 people dead.

City-based fund manager, Artemis Investment Managers, have pledged £25,000 to the charity to help with its response.

At least 41,000 people are said to be missing since Cyclone Nargis struck.

Yesterday i came across an interesting article by By Michael J Beck. It is so well written that I can’t hold myself from putting it on Tej Kohli personal blog.

ATTITUDE can change your reality

I’ve observed that negative people often adopt a defeatist mindset, taking on the role of a victim, while positive people often adopt a solution-oriented mindset and set about creating their own opportunities. Consequently, I’ve come to understand that having a positive attitude indeed makes a significant difference not only in a person’s level of success, but also in their enjoyment of their life. It even determines whether they succeed at all.

But here’s the unusual thing… NO ONE VIEWS HIMSELF OR HERSELF AS A NEGATIVE PERSON!

People who are negative view themselves as “realistic”. (Wait a minute… isn’t “reality” a matter of perspective?) So the challenge is to determine whether you’re a “negative” person.

Here are some guidelines:

• If you feel that your course in life and business is determined by others, then you need to adjust your attitude so you can shift your reality.

• If you feel that the cards are often stacked against you, then you need to adjust your attitude so you can change your reality.

• If you feel that your company, manager, agents, and/or clients don’t support you, then you need to adjust your attitude so you can change your reality.

We each have the ability and power to literally change our reality.

How does one turn a negative attitude into a positive one? The same way someone with a positive attitude maintains it. You need to eliminate the negative inputs, influences, and factors in your life and introduce positive ones. We’re bombarded with messages throughout the day and night. Some of them are good and some of them are just plain bad for you. We get “messages” from family, friends, coworkers, radio, newspaper, TV, music, the internet, billboards, books, magazines, and any number of other sources. If YOU don’t decide what goes into your head, then someone else will. You need to take control of what you feed your mind.

Here are some tips on how to adjust and maintain your attitude:

Eliminate the Negatives

• Stop reading the newspaper

• Stop watching TV news

• Stop seeking the negative on the internet

• Stop hanging around negative people

Introduce Positives

• Start hanging around positive people

• Start reading motivational or inspirational books - biographies, personal growth, success

principles, etc.

• Start listening to CD’s - motivational, personal growth, uplifting music, etc.

Does attitude really count? Can attitude really change your reality? I guess it all depends on your perspective…

Do you get a feeling that you have anger-management problems? Tej Kohli blog will help you to gauge the altitude of your anger.

Try this test to find out how severe your anger problem is.

Answer the following questions with a YES or NO.

• I often feel tense
• I have a hard time saying what is on my mind
• When I am upset, I try to forget it by watching TV or reading a book
• I smoke to help calm myself down
• I have trouble sleeping
• I often feel misunderstood or ignored
• People say I curse too much
• I have a tendency to hurt my loved ones and friends when I am angry.

If you answer positively to 0-3 question, you could benefit from relaxation. If there are 3 to 5 yes answers, you are moderate and need to learn more about anger management. If there are more than 6 yes answers, you have an anger problem and need to take steps to manage it properly.

Keep in mind that the only way you can succeed in managing your anger is to learn anger management techniques. If you fail to use these techniques in your everyday life, there will likely be consequences, such as the loss of a loved one or friend or even the loss of your job. Your failure will not be a reflection of the techniques suggested, but rather a reflection of your unwillingness to put them into action. Real change cannot take place without your cooperation. Regardless of how you have reached this stage, don’t abuse a sincere opportunity to change your life for the better.

Slow, deliberate and controlled deep breathing exercises will help you focus on your breathing and not on the problem at hand. Shoulder rolls backward and forward can also help to ease your tension. These relaxation techniques can help you to relax, and will have a positive side effect to stop you from focusing on being angry. They will provide you the time you need to think about the situation that has upset you and help you come up with appropriate solutions to the problems you are facing.

Planning a cruise holiday by Tej Kohli

If you’re planning a lifetime holiday on a cruise, you need to do a bit of homework before embarking on the ship.

The first question - who is going to accompany you? Whether it is a family vacation or a holiday with your soulmate, you need to plan things accordingly. Next you need to decide on your budget. And while there is a lot of competition around you may strike the best bargain for this otherwise expensive alternative.

There is, however, a lot of choice when it comes to choosing a cabin. You can choose from the most expensive ones with balconies or say a lounge to the inner bowels of the ship.

Though, cruises around Mediterranean and northern hemisphere are all the rage, but they are not as fun specifically during the extreme winters. In the spine chilling cold you will barely find any moments to enjoy there. Caribbean and Mexico, on the other hand, are better options that guarantee adequate sunshine during winters.

Cruising is fun always, but if you are disabled then it might not be the right holiday for you. Even getting ashore can be challenging and physically demanding.

Overall, a cruise is like a Disneyland on water, where you find everything that you need whilst on the board.