The old Tech and the new Tech meet head-on in Arugam Bay East Coast Sri Lanka.
The old Tech and the new Tech meet head-on in Arugam Bay East Coast Sri Lanka.
I have seen the future! One all of us who suffer or have suffered the daily commute to and “grind” of the office. One we might have all hoped for and dreamt about but have not got around to trying or taking the final plunge to follow; changing our daily commute to the office along with how we utilise modern technologies and communications.
Not all will agree with it. I would embrace the way of modern technology that can add to the quality of life of our working existence.
A new paradigm in the life of travel and earning a living.
“Yesterday morning, I was travelling 20kms north of ABay to see a fairly large expanse of beachside land, 200 acres or there abouts, which I hope to put together a proposal of development for investors in UK & Dubai, (Here is one dilemma, development of the undeveloped beauty) in order to get excess the owner needed to contact the watchman to let him know we are coming.
Mobile phones exist but this is an area as yet without one of those towers with the array of listening and sending devices on it so no signal.
No Landlines for Mr Alexander Graham Bell’s invention so no telephone, fax or internet of the modern world!
200 years ago or so the great modern invention was the “Telegraph” where a man (typically) would tap away with Mr Morse’s code sending a message to another man some distance away who could understand the “dot, dot, dot, dash, dash, dash; put it onto paper and have the local postman deliver.
This method was the way the colonies around the world communicated, the romance of a “Telegram” arriving! Good, bad or bland messages, delivered by hand, opened in excitement of: Happy Birthday- Stop. Sorry auntie Bessie cannot make the journey – Stop. She died yesterday- Stop. Funeral Thursday – Stop.
The first words by telegram from Mr Morse in 1844, poignant even today – “WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT- Stop”
And this was how the watchman was informed of us ascending on him. “Man coming to see land – stop. Please show him around – Stop”
Later in the day a friend, (Lee, owns Tsunami Hotel here in ABay) informed me by email and text and mobile call (all advances of and because of the telegram) that a friend and college (A mentor as Lee put it of his new and recent change in career) was visiting ABay and needs internet excess.
Not a problem. Modern technology has supplied me with laptop and mobile phone that when married together in the correct way, will give you access to the “World Wide Web”
No Lee explains he needs a faster connection as he trades on the NYSE! A Trader! Suited and booted, Rolex on wrist, special lining of bright blue to otherwise plain pinstripe suit coming to ABay???!! To Trade on the New York Stock Exchange! Have I miss heard? No. Have I missed the reality that modern technology can allow such things? No.
Have I forgotten that this was thought to be a possibility for working from Sri Lanka? No.
Had I never had the gumption to try? Yes.
Had I never thought that someone would fully mobilise modern technology to really enhance their life style and make money while sitting in paradise, watching the rolling surf, palm trees & white sand beach? Yes
So last night I had a pleasant conversation with Darren, his Father, George and Mother Susan. A travelling family unit, family comforts and values with technology, trading on the NYSE with Messer’s Goldman & Sachs all in a laptop (well 3 laptops), ready to take on the stereotype of traders and live their life anywhere in the world, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Nepal, India.
3 Months they have been travelling in this style with another 3 months to go!
I went to see them “Work” at a local bar with the fastest connection in the Bay 128kps, sufficient speed only for one to operate successfully. Not deterred by this, Darren shows me his screen, one that anyone who has been to or seen ob TV the readouts from any exchange, a mass of company names with numbers next to them, showing either in green (value of stock, therefore company going up) or red (value of stock, therefore company going down) a dynamic montage of colour and numbers.
In the bottom right hand corner was the telling piece of information though; A horizontal bar that progressed left to right, also in green if he was making money and moved right to left as prices moved against him, ultimately I suppose following the “exchange” indicators of turning red if he was losing money.
Thankfully it stayed in the green for the period I saw and next morning after his “Day” had finished; given the time difference between Sri Lanka and New York his “day” is 8.30pm to 4am early hours, quite fitting dealing or trading with the City that never sleeps!
I left at midnight “lunchtime” but lunch is for wimps in this world. However I had consumed a few beverages so a pleasant “lunchtime nap” was needed.
Next day I was informed that although the night had been a “neutral” one at $750 up on the night, given the drawback of restricted speed allowing only one connection, they needed to move on to somewhere else. No problem the West Coast picturesque City (World Heritage Site, no less!) of Galle would prove a stunning new “office” and will have the necessary connection speed for an operative “office”
With all the cables, chargers, batteries and gadgets I now carry, as part of my “backpack” there is a profitable use I could put them to? If only I had the knowledge, disapline, money and motivation, not yet for me but who knows? Old dogs’ new tricks?
One bit of information that illustrated Darren’s expertise and commitment to his career is that he has an industry formula named after him the “Darren Formula” and people who come into professional contact with him on realisation say “Ah, so you are Darren”.
On the other end of the scale, I operate the “Steve screw up formula!” I do get the same greeting “Ah, So, you are Steve!” the intonation of their voice is likely to be a little less impressed!”
Steve Jones
ABay, Ticker, Ticker exchange
9th March 2006
Other famous Telegrams:-
April 15, 1912, the Titanic sent its last wireless message.
SOS SOS CQD CQD TITANIC. WE ARE SINKING FAST. PASSENGERS ARE BEING PUT INTO BOATS. TITANIC.
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In 1933, Western Union introduced the singing telegram and became the source of a famously macabre joke: A woman, finding a Western Union messenger at the door, exclaims: “Great, I’ve always wanted a singing telegram.” No, she’s told, it’s just a regular telegram. The woman pleads. The messenger finally sings.
DUM DE DUM DUM DUM. YOUR SISTER ROSE IS DEAD.
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Robert Benchley, arriving in Venice for the first time sent to his editor of The New Yorker.
STREETS FULL OF WATER. PLEASE ADVISE.
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In 1897 to illustrate Spanish atrocities in Cuba
EVERYTHING IS QUIET. THERE IS NO TROUBLE HERE. THERE WILL BE NO WAR.
reply:
YOU FURNISH THE PICTURES, AND I’LL FURNISH THE WAR.
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Mark Twain heard that his obituary had been published, he telegrammed from London in 1897.
THE REPORTS OF MY DEATH ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED.