The Balinese Galungan Festival

The most significant Hindu religious festival held in Bali is the Galungan Festival, which takes place every 210 days and lasts for a total of 10 days. 

The festival is based on the legendary defeat of the tyrannical King Mayadenawa by Lord Indra and represents the triumph of good over evil.

The festival begins on Galungan Day and concludes on the tenth day, known as Kuningan Day, when the evil spirits return to the heavens.

The festival is celebrated by wearing traditional Balinese clothing, through family reunions, and with family visits to the temple.

During the festival, roads are lined with Penjor — tall bamboo poles adorned with coconut leaves, flowers and fruits. The Penjor are said to resemble the tail of the Barong, a symbol of goodness, as well as the sacred Mount Agung, and they represent prosperity.

The Barong is a mythical creature representing good in the fight against Rangda, the demon queen. The Barong is paraded through villages, going from house to house to ward off negativity and restore balance.

A special feature of the festival is the performance of the Gamelan, a musical ensemble dominated by percussion instruments such as metallophones, gongs and drums. These performances take place throughout the festival.

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Portraits of porters, Khlong Toei Market, Bangkok, Thailand

The Khlong Toei market is the largest wet market in Bangkok. It is open daily for the sale of fish, seafood, meat, fruit, vegetables and other, sometimes exotic, products such as live chickens and frogs. There are hundreds of stalls and vendors, and customers attend daily to buy the freshest produce at the lowest prices. Often, customers are seen with a porter in close proximity, carrying their purchases in a large basket on a trolley. The porters, both male and female, can be found in strategic locations, waiting for business. 

All photos are copyrighted and may not be published elsewhere without express permission.

Car photos for sale on Fine art America - Classic British Sports Cars - 2

Car photos for sale on Fine art America - Classic British Sports Cars -1

Back to the UK, Amsterdam and Portugal

 

Cornmarket, High Wycombe

Today we set off (or rather tomorrow at 10 past midnight) on our way to the UK to see our daughters and meet our prospective son-in-law and also his parents. Our tickets were booked with Emirates back in 2020 and we elected to keep them instead of getting a refund. As it has turned out this was definitely a good idea as equivalent tickets are now 50% more expensive! We are lucky to be travelling Business Class, first on a Boeing 777 and then on an Airbus 380. It is our intention to take full advantage of the delights on offer. We will arrive at 12:30 pm and be taken to Katie's apartment in High Wycombe by the chauffeur service of Emirates to be met by Katie's newly acquired cat Luna!

Of course, we are looking forward to seeing Katie and later in the week Natalie who is arriving for the weekend from Amsterdam. A couple of weeks later, Natalie will return with Tim her fiance, who we will meet in person for the first time. We have spoken on Facetime and we are very much looking forward to seeing him in the flesh. We are also looking forward to a BBQ at Tim's parent's house in Princes Risborough. Currently, Natalie and Tim are in Italy looking at potential wedding venues for next year and we are keeping our fingers crossed that they find something suitable.

We will be going to Amsterdam for a week or so to see Natalie and Tim and they're newly acquired dog Pretzel! Animals seem to be in vogue although I think Ann and I may have enough with each other. We will meet up with them again in Portugal in September before returning back to Phuket in October.

Hua Hin Railway Station

Main station building, Hua Hin railway station

Constructed in 1926 of wood and brick, this beautiful station replaced the original station built when the line was opened in 1911. The red and cream painted station and its grandiose, Thai architectural style Phra Mongkut Klao Pavilion has become symbolic of Hua Hin, The Pavilion was originally located at Sanam Chan Palace in Nakhon Pathom and was moved to Hua Hin in 1974 in order to operate as a Royal waiting room.

Construction of a new dual-track high-speed line is currently underway to replace the current single-track railway and this includes the construction of a new elevated station in Hua Hin. The new station is being built in the same colours as the existing one but, as yet, I have been unable to discover what will happen to the old one although I am sure it will be preserved in some fashion.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PHOTOS ARE COPYRIGHT KEVIN HELLON

Phra Mongkut Klao Pavilion, Hua Hin railway station

Phra Mongkut Klao Pavilion, Hua Hin railway station

Main station building, Hua Hin railway station

Main station building, Hua Hin railway station

Booking office, Hua Hin railway station

Assistant station master sign. Hua Hin railway station

Station Master, Hua Hin railway station

Train Guard, Hua Hin railway station

Train passengers, Hua Hin railway station

Passengers waiting for the train, Hua Hin railway station

Signal box, Hua Hin railway station

Front entrance, Hu Hin railway station

Front entrance, Hu Hin railway station

Rear view of Phra Mongkut Klao Pavilion, Hua Hin railway station