Jimmy Carter visits shrines in Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on the first day of his informal visit to Bali on Thursday visited several shrines on the tourist resort island, Antara reported.

In the company of his wife Rosalynn and son Donnel, Carter took the opportunity for a prayer at the Besakih Shrine, some 80 kilometers southeast of the provincial capital of Denpasar.

He also paid a visit to the other famous shrines on the island including Ulun Danu Batur, Kintamani and Kehen Bangli.

According to American Consul Andrew Toth in Denpasar, the ex- president was merely on a holiday trip in Bali before proceeding to Jakarta.

Jimmy Carter and his entourage will be in Bali until Saturday before heading to Jakarta to meet the Indonesian elections monitoring organizations, General Elections Commission and political party leaders from Sunday to Wednesday.

He will also personally monitor the voting on Monday in association with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Carter Center.