I don’t know how many New Year celebrations there are world wide, but I am up to 3 this year. In January there was the Gregorian calendar New Year, in February the Chinese New Year, and today, March 9, it is Nyepi, the Balinese New Year. Party on!!!  Except in Bali.

Nyepi is also known as a day of silence. No work, no electricity, no technology, no talking, fasting, and no one leaves their house.  Visitors to Bali must remain within their hotel complex.  Here in Jakarta however, it is a day off work.

This year Nyepi is extra special because this morning we were treated to a solar eclipse.  I guess the sun wanted to participate in a new beginning.  In Jakarta the eclipse was about 86% which was awesome.  It also happened around 7:30 am which meant I could view it from my balcony which faces east.  We didn’t get complete darkness but there was a point where you watch the shadow of the balcony ceiling move down the wall as the eclipse was peeking.

This picture was taken about 15 minutes before the peak, with the pin-hole projector I made for viewing.  It was a fun start to the morning.  Now I think I will partake in silence….by the pool.