This past weekend we drove 5 hours up to Crested Butte, Colorado to celebrate the engagement of Arjan’s Sister Kelly and Milo. As always it was lots of fun. It’s so beautiful up in Colorado, so it’s always nice visiting there. Any of you with kids will know what I mean when I say traveling with kids is always a "Trip". It’s not like when you are single or without kids and can just do things at a whim. When you have kids it’s like preparing the battleship. Everything takes a long time.
I actually forgot to bring my camera with me, but Kelly let me use hers so I was able to take a few pictures..
At the top of the mountain on a trail with the horses.
Continue reading ‘Weekend fun in Crested Butte, Colorado’
I had a great time in B.C. (Vancouver/Surrey/Kelowna)…though it was too quick of a visit. I hope to go again sometime with my whole family. Thanks so much to Randeep Singh and Pardeep Singh for hosting me while I was there. Canada is pretty cool. Every time I go there I am impressed at how friendly people are. If I ever move from Espanola, I’ll definitely consider migrating to Vancouver :)
Here are some pictures that Pardeep Singh took while I was with him. If you are ever in need of a good photographer for your wedding or any other occasion, look him up. He is an up and coming photographer :)
This past weekend we celebrated and remembered the life of SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa (aka: Yogi Bhajan). This birthday event has always been a joyous occasion and serves to bring many people together. It is especially a great event for inviting the local community to learn more about us as Sikhs. There are normally quite a few political figures and local citizens who have a chance to get to know us better.
This year the Langar hall was transformed into a beautiful gallery for the event. There were all kinds of pictures, art work, jewelry, stories, videos, magazines, etc. showing the history of Sikh Dharma in the west and the life of Yogi Bhajan.
The entry way to the gallery with the "introduction"
Continue reading ‘Remembering a Shining Light’
Earlier this summer a photographer friend named Fiona Aboud took some pictures of our family (in New York and in New Mexico). She is planning to create a book about Sikhs in North America and has been taking pictures in different places of Sikhs. You can see some of her photography and a few of the Sikh related pictures online at: http://www.fionaaboud.com ( Portfolios / Projects). During her visit to Espanola, New Mexico she took lots of pictures of the sangat, but there are a few of the pictures that were of my family that she sent me.
"The family"…after Gurdwara
Continue reading ‘Family Pictures by my Friend Fiona’
Well Summer Solstice Sadhana Camp is over and like always it was an awesome experience! Me and my son Narayan, along with over 1500 people were at the camp. Narayan had so much fun and didn’t want to leave. He and his friends would roam wild most of the days having fun and enjoying the freedom. By the end of the day he would crash (sleep) hard and then do it all over again the next day. I had walky-talkies for the first few days to keep track up him, but then the batteries died. Oh well, so much for the high tech gadgets.
One thing which I think is cool about solstice is that everyone from all backgrounds, countries and status all come together to meditate and work on their self spiritually. Everyone takes part in the camp and has a karma seva, so everyone helps with something. Summer Solstice is not an easy "relax" camp at the beach. Everyone camps out in tents and has to deal with the harsh elements of New Mexico. The camp is up in the mountains at around 7,000 feet above sea level and the sun can be quite hot and intense. New Mexico is a dry climate so mixed with the summer heat and being outside in the elements all day for a week can be intense. You have to drink lots of water and electrolytes and stay out of the sun to keep cool. Getting up early in the morning for Sadhana and then many going to sleep late from all the night time fun and activities. By the end of the week one is ready for a vacation. hahaha!
When I was up at camp I remember thinking about how it is such an equalizer being there. Rich, poor, famous, unknown, etc all go through the same thing and have to deal with it all. There is no luxury suite for the unprivileged (unless you bring a maharaja tent with generator, fridge, bed, A/C… Hahaha) . Also because of the environment you have to dress a certain way in order to stay cool and comfortable. Everyone tends to just blend in. The person next to you could be a movie star millionaire and you wouldn’t know it. There are so many people it would be hard to know them all anyway!
In previous years I have taken a lot of pictures and videos, but this year I needed a break from it all so didn’t really capture much. Here are some of the pictures that I did take. The people in the sound booth recorded a bunch of the audio, so when I get the files I’ll post them too.
Continue reading ‘Summer Solstice Sadhana Camp 2007′
I’ve been in New York visiting with my family and having a chance to relax away from work. It’s nice having a break and getting away. Here are a few pictures from today as we played at the park and just took it easy.
Up close and personal with Charanjeet. If you look close you can see the reflection of me in her eyes.
Narayan and his friends the morning after a sleep over at our house. They look pretty wild don’t they :)
Arjan and Narayan riding on the back of the bike, Indian style. Heading to the park for some fun.
Charanjeet loves to climb. Here she is climbing this big slide.
Charanjeet loves animals. Whenever she saw a pigeon should would chase after it trying to get closer to it. She would get very excited watching the birds.
Narayan watching the kids play "red rover".
A rare picture that I am in, with Charanjeet on the swings.
Cutey…
Super Cutey
Charanjeet doing what babies love doing best. Here she is eating spaghetti noodles and then playing with the food.
Triple decker bus heading to the bedroom for sleep time.
Amaji with the kids..
Swinging fun…
Well… I just got back from three tiring days walking through the endless exhibits at the NAB conference in Las Vegas. I got to see the latest technology related to radio, video and TV. It was a bit overwhelming, but I learned quite a bit. Along the way I met a few Sikhs who are also involved in TV/Radio. I think we will continue to produce educational video content at SikhNet and plan to show this on various TV/Cable networks.
Las Vegas in general was not my kind of place though. It seemed to live up to the nick name of "Sin City". So much Maya…and focus on money, sex, fame, etc. Let’s just say….I’m glad to be home.
One of the endless show rooms at NAB.
Gian, me and Prabhujot…right before we left to drive to the airport. We all went together. They
Arjan and Charanjeet saying goodbye.
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A funny story from an email that my mother just sent me from Amritsar. I don’t know if this was an accident or not, because I also recall being on the top of Nanak Nivas and dropping gum or something like that into aloo ticki burgers where a street vendor was cooking. 5 year olds can be mischievous. Hey…that sounds familiar! Sounds like mischievous 5 year old Narayan.
"Satnam ji, I am remembering all the wonderful and funny moments I have had over a 34 year period since I frist came to Golden Temple. There are so many children coming and dipping and toddling and screaming when they get dipped into the nectar tank.
When you were 5 years old we spent a few months in India and one month at Darbar Sahib. One morning we were sitting on the mezzanine overlooking the Guru on the Ragi’s side. You were very adored by all as you dressed in full Nihang Chola and 3 colored Damalla.
This day the Granthi gave you an unusually large hands full serving of Prasaad. I was doing my nitnem as we sat in the alcove just above the ragi’s. All was sublime and beautiful as the kirtan wafted about decorating and embellishing the air. Then suddenly, a small "plop" sound……and then the tabla stopped. It was a jolting surprise as I looked up and saw you leaning over the golden edge of the window. I looked down and saw the tabla player taking his hankey and wiping off prasaad that had fallen directly bulls eye hit onto his banyan. Then without any further fuss, he continued his playing. I was cringing waiting for the head sevadar to come over and scold us or ban us from coming inside the Golden Temple again. This never did happen."
I remember going round and round (inside and out) of the Harimandir Sahib to get more and more parshad during that trip, when I was 5 years old. Those memories of the sweet parshad are fresh!
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Here is a snap of me and two of my friends getting ready for the Vaisakhi procession (Nagar Kirtan) with the Siri Guru Granth Sahib back in 1980 in Los Angeles.
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