Despite my worst fears that termites were destroying the house (having destroyed so many of my books stored in the house), we were relieved to find that only the amakan and plywood were being eaten, 90% of the solid wood was OK. Let the renovation commence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmin5WkOuPw

Someone in our neighbourhood is starting multiple fires during a drought on both sides of our property. Fortunately, because we maintain our garden, the fire hasn't entered, but the smoke has. I think Prodigy (linked above) demonstrates my sentiments about the local firestarter.

Hong Kong's first post-handover annual activity mourning the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Despite heavy rain, a huge crowd bravely held their vigil in Victoria Park Central on Hong Kong Island.

At the centre of the vigil was the two-ton, eight-meter copper “Pillar of Shame” sculpture in honor of the victims of the June 4, 1989, crackdown by the People's Liberation Army.

The event has now been banned amid a citywide crackdown on public dissent and protest under the 2020 national security law.

In December 2001, authorities at the government-run University of Hong Kong removed the “Pillar of Shame” and placed it under guarded storage, saying they had taken "legal advice" regarding potential risks for the university.

W.i.P. (Works in Progress) March 2024.

Samal Island - Davao City Connector Bridge works underway!

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jangchub+Choeling+Monastery/@28.2631122,83.9331021,13.5z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x3995937bbf0376ff:0xf6cf823b25802164!2sPokhara,+Nepal!3b1!8m2!3d28.2095831!4d83.9855674!16zL20vMDQwZHgz!3m5!1s0x39959361be84b2f1:0x4b0a70f52b85e240!8m2!3d28.2613851!4d83.9570206!16s%2Fg%2F11ckqmt78x?authuser=0&entry=ttu

Young Michael developed a habit of fighting food. So Emma decided to defeat him by waiting until he was too tired to fight.

Let the battle commence.

Michael learns to walk

First wobbly steps in Balinese garden

Just a few weeks later in Hong Kong's New Territories near Yuen Long