Bali Bird Park

I like being a tourist. It gives me an opportunity to go see silly things that I don't do at home; like going to zoos. Bali has a Bali Bird Park, whose website modestly describes it as "heaven on earth." I think this might be a bit of an overstatement, but they certainly have some lovely birds there.



Peacocks show off for the other birds

Swans just hang out
It's a beautiful place to spend a day.

Bali Reptile Park

After the Bird Park we went to the Bali Reptile Park. I think Meghan's daughter Bella was not as happy with this park as she was with the Bird Park.

But my mother was rather happy there.

I enjoyed holding the lizard, too,

And Meghan is well known for being able to make friends with anyone.

Bali and the Ubud Monkey Forest

Mom and I went to Bali and I spent an awful lot of time at the Monkey Forest. We saw some of the mass cremation ceremony, and I also have some pictures of the procession before the royal cremation a few days earlier.

But first let's go for the monkeys.

I love the monkeys. Not sure why. The monkeys at the Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud are long-tailed macaques. The macaques are not exactly tame, but like urban wild animals, they are accustomed to people. They will expect to be fed:


They will perform tricks for food:


They seem generally used to people being around.

Connecticut Scenery

Kent Falls State Park has a lovely waterfall, of course.





but most of northwest Connecticut is very beautiful.

Clouds spend too much time looking at their own reflections.




Bunnies just run around,










while trees frame beautiful vistas.

Grandma's Birthday Party

We have a few June birthdays in my family, so we threw a party.

Here's my grandmother on her 90th birthday, with Grandpa and David (cousin Rachael's boyfriend).


Here's the birthday cake:

Here's (second cousins, I think) Rachel and Emily:

My mother and her sister Carla.Jenna and her friend MC.









And (almost) the whole gang.

Connecticut Trip Litchfield

We went to the Litchfield Hills area of Connecticut (the northwest corner of the state)


Richard got to meet Betty Boop.



And we saw some old buildings in Litchfield.

Emily's wedding

The Happy Couple:





The ceremony:























A child steals the show:
The daughter of the Holy Man who performed the ceremony wanted to be next to her mother, and looked so sweet that I couldn't help but take a picture.



Emily, Nadir and Carla:


Rachael: