It appears there's always something going on here.
All of the holidays lead from one into the next and, of course there was the big 50 year Merdeka celebration, and now it's the Myanmar protests. I'm including a picture and hopefully a video so you can see what I see and hear. The video was actually taken today (Oct. 4th) looking out of guest bedroom window. Quality is not as good as I would have liked so you cannot see the protesters, but they are in red and have many placards this time. The sound is good. The Myanmar Embassy is in back of our apartment and about once a week or maybe two there is a protest in the street in front of the embassy. It started outfairly small and they were just in plain clothes. but now that the violence is increasing in Myanmar and Aung San Suu Kyi (their imprisoned democratic leader) is still imprisoned ten years later, they are wearing red and the crowds are thousands, not hundreds as they started out. Last week I was watching from the bedroom window and decided, "this is crazy, just go get a good picture" so I put on my red shirt and walked over. They are very peaceful. They sing their national song, chant stuff, hold placards demanding the release of Suu Kyi, demand democracy, and then they leave. It all takes about 20 minutes.It does clog up our streets. It's a great cause, and with a little help they could certainly be the democracy that the majority of the people want. OK off my soapbox.
Next week is another holiday here. It's Hari Raya and everyone will be off and everything will be closed. We are going with the other two Shell families in the apartment to a little island in the South China Sea. It's called Redang Island and it looks like fairly good clear water. We have a snorkeling trip planned for one of the days. There will be seven kids from 8-11 so it should be fun. Sorry to be so long getting the Bali pictures up. Having to do a little research to finish labeling the temples and palaces that I've forgotten so I've been delayed. Till next time--
