Touch Browser for Windows 8 with Chrome and Firefox tablet mode

Is Internet Explorer losing the advantage of its Windows 8 head-start? These days, Firefox and Chrome can also be used in a Modern UI-mode. However, unlike on the desktop, they're still significantly behind IE.
Chrome in Windows 8 Mode

With Google Chrome version 32, the touch version of Internet Explorer gets its first official competitor. Instead of selecting a tile, you start tablet mode by selecting an option in the browser menu.



When you click the option, a selection window for your installed web browsers opens. After clicking again, Google Chrome opens in Windows 8 mode.



By doing this, you also make Chrome your default browser. A downside of doing this is that the tablet version of Internet Explorer disappears from the Start menu and can no longer be opened. Unfortunately Microsoft doesn't allow an alternative - this means that if you want to use Internet Explorer again, you'll need to set it as the default browser. Fortunately, Internet Explorer automatically queries this next time you start your program.

Chrome's Windows 8 mode isn't very different from the desktop version. There are no finger-friendly buttons, no multi-touch gestures for zoom and navigation and Chrome for Windows 8 can't cope with the practical snap mode either. The browser is really only suitable for computers with a keyboard and mouse. You can still use the more versatile desktop version though.
Firefox in Windows 8 Mode

Firefox version 29 introduced a touch mode. To start Firefox in touch mode, you use the same principle as Google Chrome. A menu item allows you to set Firefox as the default browser. Then, when you start Firefox in future, it automatically loads the tablet-friendly interface.

However, unlike Google Chrome, Mozilla offers a browser that is genuinely optimized for tablets. Since our detailed analysis of the first test version, very little has been done to the interface. The design has been partially copied from Microsoft. As with IE11, you'll now find the address bar below and there are two large arrows to flip ahead and back, as well as new tabs.



Unlike Chrome, the controls are sufficiently large, there's a tab bar with thumbnails like in Internet Explorer, and Snap mode and touch gestures for the zoom work perfectly.
Further strengths of Internet Explorer vs. Chrome and Firefox for Windows 8

Firefox and Chrome on tablets are still no real alternative to Internet Explorer. In addition to the weaknesses already described, two practical functions of the Microsoft browser are missing.

In Touch mode, only Internet Explorer is able to offer simultaneous viewing of two pages with Windows Snap.



The handy Reading List App as a bookmark manager only works with Internet Explorer and a similar function is still missing from Chrome and Firefox Apps.



Anyone wishing to select and copy text will also be disappointed. There's no touch-friendly selection tool. Clearly, Google and Mozilla have more work to do if they want to give Microsoft on Windows Tablets a run for its money.

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Srilanka - Nuwara Eliya

Srilanka - Nuwara Eliya 

Nuwara Eliya town has beautifully landscaped and well organized. You can arrive there by bus or private vehicle. access roads are almost in well condition. If you plan to visit there by train, you will have to get off at Nanuoya station and arrange suitable transport to Nuwara Eliya town. Accommodation will not be a problem at all since there are large number of Hotels, restaurants, guest houses located around the area. Rates are varies with the facilities of the accommodation. Anyway be aware to arrange accommodation before you arrive there if you are planning to visit Nuwara Eliya on the season of April. All accommodations will be filled and rates may be little higher than other months on April due to high demand of tourists. 

It's just a 2 hour journey if you are starting from Kandy. Victoria Park is one of the most attractive places ofNuwara Eliya town located at the center of the town and will not be hard to find. Gregory Lake is anotherattractive place to spent the time locate at one end of the city. There are many activities around the area such as Bicycle riding, boat riding, Horse riding, walking paths. Hakgala Garden is another famous location if you visitNuwara Eliya. Hakgala is situated about 14Km away from Nuwara Eliya town along Welimada road. You can also visit Pedro Estate where is not much far from Nuwara Eliya town. It's just a 20 minutes drive to the Pedro Tea estate. You can have unforgettable experience at one of the most cleanest and well organized Tea factory inSri Lanka. They guide you around the Tea factory and you will be allowed to see inside of the Tea Factory and how worlds finest Tea is manufacturing. 

If you are not hurry to be back at home Ambewela is the next best location closed t Nuwara Eliya. It's not far fromHakgala Gardens to Ambewela. In Ambewela you can visit New Zealand farms. Unfortunately the FamousMilco factory is currently closed for visitors. Ambewela animal farm is also not allowed for visitors. But at New Zealand farms you can see everything as same as Ambewela farm. both farms are managed by the same company. 

Actually you will be wonder there is no such town called Ambewela. Ambewela is just a junction with two or three of very small tea shops. After that you can visit to the Strawberry and Vegetable farm managed by a private company located near Kande Ela. It's an Amazing experience to see how Strawberry is growing in green houses. Then you can have a visit to Kande ela Forest Garden and Meepilimana reservoir. There are separate posts about those locations and you can view them if you are interested to see more details. So have a nice journey. I visited all those places with using public transport in two days. 

DAY 1

4.00 AM - 10.00 AM (from Pereadeniya to Ambewela by train)

From Ambewela - New Zealand farm and abck to Ambewela by three wheel

From Ambewela to Strawberry farm by three wheel

Not so far from Strawberry farm to Kande Ela Forest Garden

Meepilimana Reservoi also closed by Kande Ela.

From Meepilimana to Nuwara Eliya by bus (Arrived at 5.00 PM)

DAY 2

Gregory Lake Horse ride and Breakfast (Morning)

Victoria park

From Nuwra Eliya to Pedro Estate and back to Nuwara Eliya by bus

From Nuwara Eliya to Peradeniya by bus

Think this is more than enough for 2days with minimum cost.

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Sri Lanka--Hill Country Temples

Sri Lanka-Hill Country Temples

I'm just going to throw it out there: Kandy, Sri Lanka > Kandi, the bad singer

While everyone loves an early 00's pop-hop jam, Kandy has a little more substance to offer than Kandi. Exhibit A through C: the three incredible temples we visited in the countryside surrounding Kandy.

Lankatilaka Temple

This Hindu-Buddhist temple was originally built in the 14th century and features some impressive inscriptions and paintings. During our time wandering the grounds, groups of smiling Sri Lankan kids were running all around and coaxing us to play. 

Embekke Devale

 

Another 14th century temple, this one features incredible wooden carvings and ornate wooden pillars as well.

Arriving at Embekke is magical: you drive down from a hill into a valley of rice patties, only to emerge finally at the temple.

Gadaladeniya Temple

Luckily, after Mihintale and Sigiriya, I was used to standing on rocky outcroppings. Gadaladeniya, precariously perching high above the surrounding rice patties and countryside, was also built in the 14th century and includes some impressive Buddhist and Hindu imagery.

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Sri Lanka--Dambulla

Sri Lanka--Dambulla

Caves carved into a rock towering hundreds of feet above the ground featuring over 150 ancient Buddhist statues are, um, even awesomer.

We arrived at Dambulla caves as the sun lowered in the sky. The surrounding countryside, like everything else thus far in Sri Lanka, was exquisite. 

The caves, one of Sri Lanka's eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites (we visited half -- Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy) sit high above the ground, carved out of the sheer rock face. Below, the beautiful area just outside of the caves.

Their construction, quite simply, is unbelievable. Built some two thousand years ago, the area contains over eighty caves, five of which are highlighted as the main caves of the Royal Rock Temple, pictured below.

Inside, intricate cave paintings and Buddhist statues abound, including this 15-meter long reclining Buddha.

Good luck finding shoes your size, man.

It was just outside here that I saw a monkey chase a woman who was bringing a flower for offering. I wanted to help her out but I learned my lesson from my mango incident earlier in the day. I'm pretty sure that 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' is happening in Sri Lanka and we just don't know it yet. 

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Sigiriya Kindom In Srilanaka

Sigiriya Kindom In Srilanaka

Sigiriya was no mere fortress, gloomy and forbidding. At the brief height of its glory-it was a royal citadel for more than 18 years, from 477 to 495 A.D. and one of the loveliest that have graced this land.

There are many interpretations of the Sigiriya period, history replete with legend, love and betrayal. But one story remains, the story of Kaspaya (477-495 A.D.) its creator, King with an artist's soul. Bards have written about him and plays and film have tired to capture his personality.

Kasyapa left Anuradhapura and built for himself at Sigiriya, a palace and city modelled on the mythical abode of "Kuvera" God of Wealth. He gave form to his dreams of grandeur. Eighteen years later, his half-brother Moggallan challenged him with an army. By one of those momentary mistake of judgement that changes the course of history. Kasyapa thought he was alone in battle, raised his dagger and slew himself.

In a sheltered pocket on the western face of the Sigiriya rock, approached by a spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes. Epigraphical evidenced refers to the existence of 500 such portraits, but only 19 remain today.

On the western and northern sides of the steep rock face runs a gallery or pathway which provides access to the seemingly inaccessible summit. Shielding this pathway is a 9 1/2 ft. plaster wall, so highly polished, that even today, after fifteen centuries of exposure to sun, wind and rain, one can see one's reflection in it. Hence the name "Mirror Wall".

On the polished surface are the Sigiri Graffit recorded by processions of visitors to the rock in the past.

The summit of the rock is nearly three acres in extent. The outer wall of the palace which is the main building was constructed on the very brink of the precipice. There were gardens, cisterns and ponds laid out attractively.

The pleasure garden of the western side of the rock is studded with ponds, islets, promenades and pavilions. Some underground and surface drainage systems have been discovered during excavations. The wall abutting the moat encircling the fortress is one of the most arresting features.

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