Last week, I was in Bali, Indonesia to attend a Workshop on Human Trafficking. In picture here, I am with my Canadian colleague, Cindy, who works at the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta. We heard the testimony of a trafficking victim, and best practices of countries in South-East Asia, New Zealand and Australia. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel in Bali. Great pillows. Couches everywhere. Lots of fish and turtle decorations. I also saw a one and a half foot long iguana. The last Bali bombing in 2005 took place at a beachside restaurant not far from the hotel I was staying at, so I wandered over to take a look and found that the area was packed with tourists. It still seems though that Bali is feeling the impact on the tourist industry. For pics, please click here. Sunday, November 12, 2006
Bali Trip
Last week, I was in Bali, Indonesia to attend a Workshop on Human Trafficking. In picture here, I am with my Canadian colleague, Cindy, who works at the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta. We heard the testimony of a trafficking victim, and best practices of countries in South-East Asia, New Zealand and Australia. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel in Bali. Great pillows. Couches everywhere. Lots of fish and turtle decorations. I also saw a one and a half foot long iguana. The last Bali bombing in 2005 took place at a beachside restaurant not far from the hotel I was staying at, so I wandered over to take a look and found that the area was packed with tourists. It still seems though that Bali is feeling the impact on the tourist industry. For pics, please click here. 
Shadow of the Wind
This is a book about a book. The main character, Daniel, describes the book that becomes the centerpiece of Zafon's story: "As it unfolded, the structure of the story began to remind me of one of those Russian dolls that contain innumerable ever-smaller dolls within". There are two love stories, one that is set in the 1920s that is very tragic, and another romance that takes place in the present 1950s and leaves you with a sense of hope. The two stories are linked and similar. Zafon's book is set in Barcelona, during the Franco period. This book has that "Da Vinci Code" draw that keeps you enticed to get to the bottom of the mystery. In a way, the love story between the villain/hero, Carax and Penelope, reminded me of Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights.
Hallowe'en Reindeer
After heavy negotiations, Marc agreed to dress up this Hallowe'en, on the condition that it be simple and no-mess. Simplicity turned into a full day of shopping and craft-making. Reindeer antlers are labour intensive. "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer" and Olive, the other reindeer finally departed for the party on Elm Street at my friend, Kate Bryden's (AKA Freddy Krueger). We mixed in with the pirates, Lego Block (a very impressive costume), Tootsie Roll and "most creative" went to Amy, the Magic 8 Ball. Our antlers stayed intact for the night but we lost our reindeer ears around midnight. For more photos, click here.