Concerned over the situation in Burma

Haven't posted for a while....

I'm still very concerned about the situation in Burma. Very sad (and frightening) that all media coverage has stopped there (almost completly). No-one is reporting what's going on in the country?

Now the internationall news is about Georgia, and prior to that it was the torture of the tibetians. Everyone forgot the monks in Burma, and the earthquake victems, who have to take LOANS (yes they have to repay them!) to get back to normal life.

That "normalcy" has been restored to the country seems very doubtful. Anyone got any news about the state of the protesters in Burma? Or the state of the people in general, in Burma?

Where are my, Sweet like Jalebi, readers?

Oi! I'm feeling soo lonely here!!!

Ok there are periods where I don't post very frequently, but that doesn't mean you stop commenting!!




Now stop acting like a rotten Jalebi and show me you're present!

Ok, I should really be off! Exams tomorrow! Pray for me!!!

Signature: Brirtains got talent

Quote

"Radiate on soldier! the brave warrior never leaves the battlefield!"

- D

Germany part I

So following the visit of the bhaji from Germany, they were hosting a European Sikh conference in Germany (Cologne), so I thought I'd go.

Of course the older geezers had decided they were going and were the ones representing Sweden, so there was apperantly no place for me (boohoo!) After a lot of ifs and buts, my friends from Denmark who were also going sorted my accommodation and my trip from the airport to the conference. Their flight was to land at Dusseldorf Airport (an hour from Cologne) one hour after mine.

Excited as I was I booked my ticket through ryanair to Dusseldorf, not realising there was a "Weeze" added to the destination name on their website. What do I care? As long as it's Dusseldorf airport! After landing, I ask one of the workers where the Air Berlin flights land (the flight my friends were coming with) and to my great distress he informs me that only ryanair flights landed at that airport, and the other one was 80km away! My Gosh!

My heart beat frequency sped up quite a bit. Ok so I find out there's busses from this airport to Dusseldorf (I thought it must be like the London busses where the buss goes from Standstedh airport to Heathrow.) An hour or so later when the buss stops, I realize I wasn't at an airport - I was at the central railway station!!!!!!!!!!! Bloody Germans! At least they could have been more clear and informed that it doesn't go to the airport!!!

I find a travel mate (a black lady who also flew from Sweden) who was also going to meet someone at the airport. So we share a taxi to the REAL Dusseldorf airport where I was meeting the Danes (who's flight was delayed one hour.) After paying 50% of the fare, (yes yes I'm a cheap Indian bastard! ) and saying greeting the black lady farewell, I go into the airport and ask about the airberlin flights, and am directed to the gate where it's landing.

After walking around for a few minutes (realising they weren't coming before half an hour or so), I take a seat, pick out a magazine from my bag and start chewing on a toast my mum had packed for me. Out of nowhere this young lad suddenly bends down and looks at my face (and scares the sh*t out of me...) and goes: "Denmark?" I jumped up in chock and quickly packed the messy toast into my bag. It was a turban wearing young lad, I realized. Our lift from the airport had arrived. To be continued...

How I (almost) lost my license

Ok, I almost lose my driving license the other day.

I went to the Gurdwara (sikh temple) to meet this gyani jee (religious person) who has come from Germany to teach us Kirtan. Although the classes were to start the following day, we were there early to plan the week.

But I insisted that he teach me something NOW (eager as I was.) Sooooo what happened was he listened to me (he thought I was crap and need to practise more…boohoo!) But then I sang a shabad /hymn) I had practised on a few times. My mind kind of “got stuck” into the shabad, the tune, the words etc.

While driving home I was still stuck in the shabad and kept singing (yes out loud while driving!! ) I just looked forward and kept on driving. After a while I realized there’s a “copcar” behind me. I got a bit distressed and focused on the driving and tried to keep to the speedlimit.

After a while he turns on his front sirens, so I drive the car into the bus stop hoping that he’d pass by. But no, he stopped behind me and came forward.

“Is this your car?”

-Yes,

“Are you in a hurry?”

-Yes I’m pregnant (No I’m joking – I was well frightened so I squealed a barely "hearable" ‘no’ - I was in no position to joke around then.)

“We’ve been following you for a while. Why were you driving 100km/h where there was a speedlimit of 50km/h?”

- (I’m SHOCKED – was I ?? I wasn't thinking about my speed while driving, I was still stuck in the shabad haha) “I was?"

“We want you to blow into this machine” (I blow into the "alcometer." No I wasn’t drunk, they could conclude. (I actually do acknowledge wasn’t driving normally. A bit like druk people drive..)

(He looks at my license)

- “Getting a license isn’t easy, nor cheap”

- No. I’m really sorry, my mind was somewhere else. I’m really sorry. It won’t happen again. Actually I’m going to be honest with you, I came from a music class, and I was just stuck with the song, and I’m REALLY REALLY sorry, it won’t happen again

(He looks at the photo of the handsome man on the license he was holding)

Again, I squeal - “It won’t happen again, I’m really sorry”

- Don’t let it happen again!

I was scared as HELL. If they would fine me, the find would be HEAVY – and they could’ve taken the license as well. But that’s not the worse bit. The worse bit would be the chitter (beating) I’d get from mum! She would LITERALLY KILL me. Literally. Did I tell mum? Yes I did – I told her there was a alcotest, and they checked my license. Nothing about the speed. I don’t want jutiya (beaten) for nothing.

But I’m alive, and happy and still have my license!

Woohoo!

*drives of at 150 km/h at a 30km/h road…*

Lesson to be learnt: If you wanna drive bloody quickly - do LOOK AROUND if there's any cops around! and look properly.

Coming up: my germany trip!

Hilarious!

This guys is hilarious! I must admit he does dance quite well- but what up with the high waist pants!!

Good dancing though.
I'm in the process of writing something that happened just a few weeks ago- but I've got an exam tomorrow, so I should be spending too much time here... haha

Enjoy his dancing skills!

Tribute to a hero

Oh Lord, If I worship you...

While skimming through a muslim site I found something interesting attributed to a prominent muslim leader-


O Lord,
If I worship You
From fear of Hell, burn me in Hell.

O Lord,
If I worship You
From hope of Paradise, bar me from its gates.

But if I worship You for Yourself alone
Then grace me forever the splendour of Your Face.

Unconditional Love

Just had to post it again; and remind all of my readers how important their "mums are."
For God's sake - just go and give her a hug!

Fruits that smell (and taste) like garbage

Oh my!

I do not mind eating fruits. But some fruits (*cough* *cough* - The official Malaysian fruit, the Durian.) literally smell and taste like garbage....Not any garbage ....garbage that's been lying around for weeks.

Worth trying though, because it's said that, it's a thing that some people actually like. Some LOVE it, some HATE it, it's said.



It is UNBELIEVABLE how smelly they are! The odour actually spreads like some kind of bacteria! Leave a piece (or the seed with a small piece of the fruit) open, the odour will be detected in the entire house!

I have, absolutely, no intention of being offensive to any Malaysian reading this blog; as a matter of fact I've enjoyed your hairy leaches (rambotans?? - sounds like some ig mighty animal!), and mango-thingies (those were the best; the ones that you break with your hands!).



No Durians signs...


But Durians are horrible. I cannot believe how people can eat that kind of stuff.
I was, however, intending on giving it another chance, since it's said that it's a thing that you eventually "learn liking", however my sister loved it - so she ate it all up.

It is said that the smell of the durian can also be detected out of the eater's burps and farts.

I can confirm that the latter is true.

Happy new year!

Just thought I'd wish all my readers a (belated)...
Happy New Year!

Sikh Warriors

It was a documented fact that Sikh warriors were the most feared and fearless warriors on the battle field, the Mughals, the Persians & even the British documented this in their dairies, reports to their superiors and etc.

They did not get this reputation by just eating Alu Pratha, () they trained their butts off! Not just physically but spiritually as well each soldier was trained to kill anything that moved in a 30 yard radius, they were so good that it is said that each man was equivalent to fifty of any other army’s of that time. Each Sikh warrior was called Fauj which literally means a battalion.

Didn't get his reputation, merely by eating Alu Paratha

They achieved this reputation by training in armed, unarmed combat & meditating countless numbers of hours. The martial art they trained in was Shastar Vidya, literally meaning Science of weapons but i interpret it as the science of making your body a weapon.

I leave you with this quotation written in the Jang Namah (battle chronicles) by Quzi Nur Mohammed in 1765, He was a staunch enemy of the Sikhs but he goes into a rosary of praise when he goes into defining qualities of Sikh Warriors.

” … If you cherish the desire of learning the art of war, face them on the battle field. When they hold their mighty sword, they gallop from Hind to Sind. Nobody however strong and wealthy dare oppose them. If their sword struck a coat of mail, the coat itself becomes the enemy’s shroud. Each and every one of them look like massive boulders of rock. In a grandeur, each one of them excels fifty men…”

An absolutly amazing article I found on Hargobind Singh Khalsa's Blog.

Everyone (christian or not) should celibrate Christmas because....

"Otherwise they'll remove the christmas holidays!"


- A friend of mine

Jacksson Singh!!!

You HAVE to check this out to believe it!!!
I believe this is Madhu, who also makes the announcements at Sikh Student Camp.
Absolutly lovely person.

Burma has a few things it can learn from India

Lately a lot of news has been focusing on the state of the people living in Burma. I am very sad to hear all of the stories that are coming out; how the regime is treating its own people; treating the monks and other peaceful protesters where curfew was announced; and the leaders of these peaceful protests are suddenly 'disappearing'.



One thing that Burma can learn form the numerous atrocities that have occurred in India are; how to distract international attention.



Not that it's helped a lot (especially since China and other Asean countries have the capability to end it all with one phone call) - what India did during the genocide of SIkhs in 84 was, they banned the state from foreign journalists - they were totally banned into the state, and those who were inside were forced out in busses.

Recently there's been covering about a Japanese journalist being murdered, and a photo is showed of him lying on the street with a Camera.

I think Burma turned into the "news item" the newspapers needed for a few weeks; now it's over. Peace is yet to be restored in the country of turmoil, and hundreds are still suffering. Unfortunatly after the huge amount of covering, the media attention has gone to other places, such as Pakistan (emergency rule), and Bangladesh (floods); and no-one really cares about Burma anymore.

The Burmesen government is free to continue treating its people like sh*t; since no-one cares anymore.

Sad. But true.
My prayers go to the people of Burma.

BANG - and I realised - I was screwed

Today I had (another!) car accident.

This (time it) happened late in the afternoon (it was late – cold and dark, in an alley somewhere in the middle of nowhere…..[the first few details are true] ). I had left my pile of books (and enormous amount of studies) to go to my cousin’s place and help him with the last bits and bobs in his shifting/moving.

As soon as we arrived (mum was with me), I leave of my mum, and drive off to the train station to bring my cousins wife who had just called and said she had arrived at the station, and wanted to be picked up. It was when I was about to pick her up from the train station when it happened. I called her to find out where she was (while reversing the car), and BANG – the entire car shook. The turban almost BLEW off (Yes I was looking totally like a roadaccident after that). The owner of the car was just a few hundred meters away and came running.

Indeed I do have some Indian genes, but No, I did NOT escape . I still had to pick her up remember?

Soooo, turns out this Fat (with a capital F) geezer is Finish and doesn’t speak a word of Swedish. He writes down my car’s number plate number and takes my phone number. He calls his female friend, who (luckily) speaks a bit Swedish. She wants me to give her my DOB and other personal details. I hesitate since it’s not my car (mum’s, and its insured on her name). They suspect I don’t even have a license (those SONS OF B*****!!! – of course I’ve got a driving license!).

Soo they ask me if I want to take it on the insurance or if I want to end the thing there and then. I go how much you want? He goes 5000kr!!!! That’s almost 1000 USD, for a small scratch!!! I’m like – no way!!! I’m not gonna give you penny more than 30 USD (proving that Indians are essentially cheap bastards haha). So they don’t accept my cheap offer. OK what’s next? I get reinforcement – my mum and cousin appear out of nowhere (my cousins wife who as sitting in the car (it was dark and cold, and I was wearing SHORTS and a jacket)) had called them and told them about what happened.

I had followed the fat Finish man to the nearby bar where he wanted to borrow a pen and paper to write my details (it was also now that this random druggie - or was he just drunk? anyway; this random geezer comes out and shakes (grabs) my hand; because I'm a Sikh! I was very flattered (not really! He was smoking with his other hand!!). Anyway the reason why she called to get them to come was because I had followed the Finish geezer to the bar, and she thought I might get beaten up by him there (WHAT?!? Do I LOOK that weak?).

So we decide – that those b***** can take it on the insurance; but since we would still have to pay an excess fee to the insurance, and my mum’s insurance fee would get more expensive (see I’m not actually allowed to drive the car due to certain age restrictions put by the insurance company; so officially I wasn't involved anymore) – so we decide to find a solution. We offer the owner to fix the car the next day (we’d go to the cheapest mechanic in the area – we are Indians after all). But he was too smart for us. He was Finish.

No, he wants it on the insurance or some money NOW. In the end we agree to give him 1500kr (approx 300 USD) – and get him to sign that we’ve solved the problem; and that we’ve paid him that sum of money – just to make sure the geezer doesn’t report it anyway.

There was today’s study-time lost in the cold alley arguing with a Fat Finish guy. And now another hour on blogging about the event that just occured.

Oh yes! by the way - I'm fine - I'm not injured in any way - I'm totally Ok (For those people who were getting concerned about my physical wellbeing. )

White men CAN dance!!!

Ok, I was at this Sukshinder Shinda concert a few months ago; and was amazed to see that there were more non-indians than Indians there enjoying and dancing to the music!

Although I must say, their (attempts to make som) Bhangra-moves; did require some improvements - they did quite a good job heating the dance hall (with their random movements!) haha.

It was that day (night) that I was convinced. White people will never manage to dance Bhangra properly. [No I am not being serious- for those who have a hard time comprehending irony, I am NOT a racist peace of shit!]

I just had to post this video that I saw on Dilpreets blog; which proved me wrong!
This Bhangra group - Izzhat Punjab di (The Pride of Punjab) - make some amazing moves!.

Link

....bunch of red indians yelling

Today I was at the Gurdwara (Sikh place of worship, Sikh temple) and a few interesting things happened.

Well the most interesting thing was that; Snatam Kaur came and sung a bit!

Snatam Kaur is a very talented young artist/vocalist (nominated to the grammy awards) who sings devotional songs in a very light, inspiring and soothing way. She sung really nice today, and me being me, I recorded it!

I must say that the sound quality was awful; too loud – I was too optimistic when setting the volume on my mp3 player, so the recording comes with a few distortions if you listen very closely and carefully with a high volume; so try to keep it low. Also, the first 3 minutes is basically full of disturbances since they were still sorting out the microphones and stuff (no I haven't bothered editing and cutting the track since that takes ages)

Today’s recording.

Recording from last year. (this recording is much better)

Another thing that happened was that, since I brought my mp3 player I started messing around with it, and recorded something that a friend of mine thinks sounds like "a bunch of angry red Indians yelling."

Link (Caution; only listen if you are healthy, don’t have any heart disorders or are pregnant)

This is post as light humour only; and I have no intention on offending anyone.

Hope you enjoy the tracks.

Wish with care

Although there's a lot of stuff I need to blog about, among other things the two camps I've been to lately and a lot of other stuff, I decided to post about something that's very recent. A bike ride with my cousin where we discussed the issue of 'wishing stuff', and how we easily get carried away wishing stuff and, once we get what we wish we really regret it.

Sometimes what we wish comes as a really big challenge and struggle.

A bit background info; I’ve studying Medical Technological engineering (basically maintaining and developing machines in hospitals). My education started last semester (Jan 2007). The first semester we studied medical courses (in order to make a pulse meter; you need to know what a pulse is! In order to make a pacemaker you need to know how/why/when the heart depolarises etc). I found that a lot of fun. I found it really interesting; thought – I might as well study biomed. So I apply for biomed and a few other extra courses I had applied for ….which are realllllly hard to get in…. The fact that I applied late doesn’t help

I was anxious all summer waiting for the response; did I get into everything I wanted to get in to? (this was one of the small things that didn’t allow me to enjoy Sikh student camp to its fullest).

Ok so a lot of prayers and anxiety later I find out that I got into the program I wanted to!!! Wooohooo!

But what about my other seat, in the engineering? Should I just dump that? How can I dump something I haven’t even done!!?

So although I had gotten what I wished, and prayed for; I was now in a big dilemma – what do study and do for the rest of my life!!!

I since not all of them started at the same time, I decided I’ll start all of them (don’t worry; education in Sweden is totally free [which might be the reason why I’m so spoiled] – so I wasn’t spending all my summer savings paying 4 different university fees.)

Studying 3 different fulltime courses, and one part time course just doesn’t work. Believe me; I’ve tried it. (I’m struggling with 2 fulltime ones – it’s working!!!). On a more serious note; I managed to make up my mind; I decided to carry on studying Medical Technology; and worse comes to worse I'll have to change later on if I find it really boring - but I can't just leave something I haven't even tried! I don't regret it - and am really happy that I've got my priorities straight now. And who says it needs to be so dramatic - something I want to do for THE REST OF MY LIFE. Come on! Nothing says I can't change field later on; after I get my basic degree - I think it's a very tabu thing within Indian culture - to change your mind later on. But one thing is for sure; life was living hell when I still hadn't made up my mind !

Point being; wish with care – cause its very likely that you might get what you want; but in the end you might regret asking it to begin with.

Kind of reminds with the quote;

ਵਿਣੁ ਤੁਧੁ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਿ ਮੰਗਣਾ ਸਿਰਿ ਦੁਖਾ ਕੈ ਦੁਖ ॥

ਦੇਹਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੀਆ ਉਤਰੈ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਭੁਖ ॥

To ask for any other than You, Lord, is the most miserable of miseries.
Please bless me with Your Name, and make me content; may the hunger of my mind be satisfied.

Page: 958