In God's Name

Religion. Power. Innocence. These are 3 words that have been recently seen together. People using religion as power to kill innocent people. Many religious groups around the world believe that if they are using the name of relgion, then killing the innocent people is justified. However, there is not one religion in the world that justifies or even encourages killing innocent people. Religion is a powerful thing. It can change a person, for the better or in some cases for the worse. Religion can bring a new meaning into someones life and can also sometimes shatter the hopes and dreams of another person's life. For me, religion is a very important part of my life. As I get older, experience the world some more and grow as a person, I hope that religion will remain apart of me and continue to grow and help me to grow as well.

In my opinion, religion is based on faith. According to the dictionary, faith is not based on proof and can be the belief in God and in the doctrines and teaching of a religion. To me this seems to be the most logical definition of what faith is. Most of the time when speaking of faith one is referring to faith in God in some respect, but can also be referred to as having faith in oneself or in another person. Almost any aspect in life can be somehow related to faith or God. For example a little kid wanting something for christmas will have faith that his/her parents or family will know what they want and get it for them for christmas. Yes, it does not always happen this way, however the fact that the child is able to be so determined and headstrung by having faith in this idea simply goes to show how strong faith can be. In another example, someone who is sitting at a hospital waiting room, having faith in God or some higher power that their loved one will make it through their surgery safely. Faith and religion are the basis for getting through each day. Without faith, we can find it difficiult to get through each day. When we are in times of saddness or dissaspointment, we have faith that we will be strong enough to get through it. Faith is the essence of life.

The other day my mom, dad and I watched a special that was on CBS and it was called "In God's name". These 2 brothers who were doing a documentary on firefighters were in NYC on 9/11 when the two towers went down. So after that they wondered why such terrorist things like these happen. Then they went around the world making this documentary of a day in the life of 12 different religious leaders. The documentary goes through each aspect of what the leaders do in each day. It was really interesting and really showed faith through different religions, or belief systems. Below is a short video from youtube preview the documentary. Hope you enjoy, feel free to leave comments on here about what you think. I am also sorry if I have offended anyone in what I have said.

Ishmeet wins Star Voice of India!!!!

The finale of Star Voice of India was this past Saturday and the awesome Ishmeet won it! :D yay!!! Here are a few clips from the episode.

Kenya Trip- Part 3

Okay...so here are the last pictures from our Kenya trip in the summer.....

I left off when we were just leaving Kericho, headed for Masia Mara Game Park Lodge (if you need refreshing, scroll down)

I really like this pic that I took on our way to Masai Mara. The roads are all so dusty, and especially when there were our 5 SUV's driving by the dust was going everywhere, and yet the side of the road was clear of dust, I just thought it was really neat

So on our way to the game park lodge, we decided to stop and have a little picnic...and might I add, that the picnic was literally in the middle of nowhere, I kid you not.

Within probably about 5 minutes of us being in the area, the local family that was living nearby came to investiage as to what was going on. They stood there and watched us as we ate and did our things. I found this one of the most unforgettable moments on my trip simply because it brought back down to remind me that there is so much poverty in the world, and that there are so many people out there that don't have very much, and that we should be lucky for what we get.

everyone helping out

the path that led to our tent at Masia Mara....yes you hear me people, TENT...but these tents were like 5 star tetns, not the kind you go caming in
the outside of our tent
the front of our tent
the view from our tent...yes we could straight into the jungle lol.... we could also hear noises in the middle of the night

some of our group got to go on a balloon ride one day, which was really neat, I didn't get to go, but the pictures we saw were pretty sweet....and well that's only another reason that I will have to go back

Some pictures from the balloon....

After the balloon ride, they got a breakfast in the jungle, which they all said was really cool
some pictures from our safari later on in the day....
an elephant
some cheetahs hangin out

this hippo was awesome....after getting out of the water it waddled over to shore and completley plopped down hehe....
some giraffe's
more cheetahs...these one's we got so close to them, i was holding my breathe lol...
the other truck next to the water looking at the aligator in the distance
zebras

we saw a lion feasting away at it's kill....one of the coolest things that I have seen ever
we had 5 SUV's in total, and so ours was the last one.....here are the other 4
the sun going down
back at the lodge, these were some warthogs that were our friends hehe, they would walk all around the lodge, but never really bother anybody
Kichwa Tembo....the name of the lodge

my dad
Jaskirath and me
the crazy road we somehow managed to drive on, a little piece of advice for those of you who may be going to Nairobi in the near future, take a cusion for your butt because driving on those roads sure give your behind a workout
on our way back to kisumu from the lodge we came across some school kids, another moment that I not forget

the trip to Masi Mara was so unforgettable, there were only about 18 people that went including my mom, dad and me. the fact that we were able to go with Bhabaji was the best part, it was something that was so priceless and totally awesome too :D

...and we're off to Kimumu

everyone heading back onto the planes to go back to Nairobi
Jaskirath and I on the plane
Family
Chinda uncle, my dad and Bila uncle having some deep dicussion with my mom and Gugo Aunty
Mom and Dad at an Uncles house, they had the the most beautiful garden I had seen

group pic
Jaskirath, Dad, Mom and Chinda Uncle just before we left for BBQ at Rani Masi's
everyone at the BBQ
and again...
Raj...well...being Raj :P

the fire
Dharminder, me, Jyot, Tipi and Raj
Dharminder and Bhupinder
Dad and Bila uncle at the resturaunt Raj, just before we left to head to Makindo
everyone chillin out....my mom's smiling..I think lol

in the car on our way to Makindo
arriving at Makindo
Makindo gates

the next morning we did kirtan at Makindo Gurdwara, such a peaceful place

Bala Uncle, me and Raj on the swing...haha good times

Dad and Mom
Us looking marvelous :P
Jas and me once again
Raj amd me
later on in the day, we decided to go for a stroll through the market that was near the Gurdwara

after the market we continued walking.....
and walking.....
and walking.....
to the train station, here my dad and Chinda uncle are sitting and chilling (note the sign at the top of the building hehe)....
waiting for the train

Bala uncle and me
not sure what was going on with that stick....lol
everyone chillin out in the shade, was a very, very hot day that day

is that a train I see in the distance.....

why yes it is.
now everyone is awaiting in the langar hall for curry chawl (which by the way was the best ever)
group photo before leaving Makindo

The last night we were in Nairobi, us kids all went out, and boy did we have a blast, another night that I will not forget

group family pic and back to Dubai airport on our back to England
back in England at my mom's Pooaji's
my mom's Pooaji and mom

at my Rani's Masi's...my dad in the back...Rani Masi, mom, Joti Bhenji, Rav and me

This trip was on trip that I will never forget. I met so much family that I had never met before, and that I have made bonds with that I hope will last a lifetime. I met so many new people as well that were so interesting and full of wisdom and insight. I hope that I can go back very soon and have many more adventures.

Many of you will be getting ready to head off the Nairobi in a couple of weeks for the smagam at the Simba club from December 3-9th. I really wish I could be there, but as usualy, there is school, so I can't go. But hopefully one day soon I will be able to go back. It was such an experience to see where my mom and dad spent so much, and especially where my mom grew up, and it was awesome hearing all the stories from back in the day.

I really hope everyone enjoyed the pictures, again I am sorry I have taken so long to put them up, but I think I had over 900 pictures, so it took awhile to sort through all of them. Alright, that is all for now, have an awesome week!! :D