Jan.07 diary entry starts in late December. This also gives me the opportunity of wishing everyone, once again, a year of fulfillment. Happiness is a state which can be drug-induced and is temporary. Fulfillment reminds me of the 'epilogue' in the Guru Granth Sahib Ji 'Thaal vich then vastu bheyeyo, sat, santokh vicharo...' . Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Ji reminds us that in this dish (Guru Granth Sahib) are Truth, Contentment and Discourse/contemplation. Contentment leads to happiness. So, may 'you' find contentment in 2007.

29-31st Dec.2006: A new festival in its second year. We had a special invitation from them. Peats Ridge is just past the Hawkesbury River north from Sydney (Australia, of course) towards Newcastle. The festival nestles on a plateau in the mountains - a horse breeding and training farm. One of the most picturesque festival sites I have seen with mountains on all sides and a river flowing thru the property. We had 3 concerts in three days. On board were Keith Preston, Josh Bennett and new tabla player - Jay. New member Jay is from Gujerat and plays left-handed. The girls, Dheeraj, Andrew Clermont and former didgeridoo player Gangagiri were in our favourite Woodford Folk festival doing bhangra and bollywood dance plus representing Dya Singh in two spiritual events - Parvyn leading, singing shabads with Harsel and Jamel. From all accounts they did very well. In Peats Ridge we were the talk, as this was our first time here and the festival has quadrupled in two years (20,000).

January 1. Flew back to Adelaide and we performed kirtan at Gurdwara Sahib, Adelaide. Always a pleasure doing kirtan at my home base. Also present were Raja and Daljit Singh Ji from Malaysia. They are here for the Melbourne Sikh Youth Camp. Raja is a very good inspirational kirtania at youth camps and Daljit Singh is a fitness instructor, a physio-therapist, a staunch Sikh, inspirational speaker and a great role model for our youth. Always wears a khanda on his dastaar.

January2/3. We drove back along the Great Ocean Road staying overnight in a scouting retreat which might become our next site for the Melbourne Youth Camp. A great property (850 acres) thru which runs a river where youngsters can do fishing, swimming, kayaking etc. It is about a five minute drive from one of Australia's landmarks - The Twelve Apostles - huge mounds of earth isolated from the mainland due to time and erosion and standing like sentinels watching the coast - truly a magnificent site. We followed the river to its mouth and spend a couple of hours frolicking in the water. A great two day drive.

Melbourne Sikh Youth Camp (5-9January)

Daily Asa-Di-Var with team Raja and fellow local, Jasvinder Maan with Rameen (Afghan tabla player) and Parvyn in support. This is a great youth camp, second only to Sydney camp (which follows) and well worth spending five days in with children and a Sikhi environment. Langgar was lovingly prepared by a team led by Jathedar Sarjit Singh's better half, Jessie. S. Sukhdev Singh 'Success' from Malaysia was a big hit with his motivational seminars - he is a very dedicated and hard-working motivational speaker. The highlight was afternoon/evening bhangra-aerobics by Daljit Singh and also inspirational kirtan sessions by Raja. The one problem this camp has is that the highlight is a 'bhangra evening' with loud head banging bhangra music and participants moving around pretending to do bhangra. The older participants all seem to be gearing towards this one evening and in the process not really paying attention the rest of the days in what they are really there for - learning about their spirituality and faith.

This camp is in its ninth year. Ably organised and run by a team of dedicated sewadhars - Satwant Calais, Sukhvinder Singh 'Sukh', Gurpreet Singh 'Revesby', Ajmer Singh Gill, Amardeep Singh, Jasvinder Sidhu and many many more. They even organised a 'seniors' jatha so that parents and elders would not be left out. Next year - 10th Camp is being organised in a big way! Another four Asa Di vars for me - the year has started with 8 Asa Di Vars - I consider myself blessed!

It is a blessing and a pleasure to have been involved in these two camps this year.

Drove to Brisbane on 13th. Five day gigs at Brisbane Arts centre. Girls were doing two daily 20 minute slots of bhangra (teach and demonstrate) as part of the holiday season open exhibition aimed at school children. I was mainly babysitting my grandchildren - a pleasant task!

18th. Back to Sydney to celebrate my oldest Jamel's 30th birthday with whole family - great fish restaurant at a bayside restaurant and seeing the grand sights of Sydney. By the way Sydney has been voted best and most affordable city in the world!

Back to Melbourne on 19th. - to plan the next campaign! Joined Giani Sukhdev Singh Gurpuri on a number of programs. Giani Sukhdev is a junior of mine in age born and bred in Malaysia - well educated but spending his life in seva by running a volunteer based orphanage and womens shelter in Malaysia. Giani Sukhdev is always looking for funds to run this orphanage and if I may say so- doing 'true' seva. If I was financially well-off I would send him money. I do not think we need any more gurdwaras!

He and his team of dedicated volunteers will also be present at both the Sydney and Melbourne camps next year - for those interested.

Friday 26th. Australia Day semagham (IPS session) for all participants at the Melbourne Youth Camp. We did kirtan for one hour. It was heartwarming to note a good turnout for this program at the Blackburn gurdwara.

27-31.Friend and president of the Australian Sikh Council, S. Ajmer Singh Gill came for a few days. Our highlight for me was driving around Pt. Phillip Bay. At the northern tip is Melbourne City. We travelled clockwise through the Mornington peninsula, from Melbourne to the south-eastern tip - a small picturesque, very English-looking village called Sorrento but with lovely Italian Coffee shops. We had perothay and cha! A ferry ride across the bay to the other side - Queenscliff which is more arid than Sorrento and also warmer. This side then meanders along the south-western coast towards Geelong before heading back to Melbourne - a round trip of about 250 km. So, anyone visiting melbourne - this is a road trip worth doing - give yourself a full day to enjoy it. I bet majority of Melbournians have not done this lovely trip!

January has been a very fulfilling month what with two youth camps, two great festivals and spending time with good friends and family. What more can a person ask for!

I am now preparing for a five week break in Malaysia in February. A few friends from North America including Bicky from www.sikhpoint.com might join me. So,till end of February - (Waheguru-willing), have a great month. I am available on dyasingh@khalsa.com , if you wish to write.

Our next tour to north America is in July/August. We are concentrating more on (western) festivals but always happy to do programs amongst Sikhs who want us to. Please write, if you want details of our tour.


Dya Singh