Morning dew in the rice fields
The first Westerners that laid eyes upon the island of Bali were amazed by the civilized people living here who had cultivated and terraced the land into beautiful fields. Rice is the dominant crop, but you can also find papaya, banana, coffee and more. The island lies just south of the equator giving it a year round growing season. The tall volcanoes on the island not only are the source of the fertile soil, but also provide fresh water by condensing the moist air in the high elevations.
Volcanoes form the backdrop for these cultivated fields in Ubud
A lone worker checking his fields
Beautiful rice fields are featured on many postcards and calenders here in Bali, and it usually doesn't take much searching to find a rice field. Just off the main roads, tucked behind houses and temples, and covering steep cliffs are all good places to look. I have seen some beautiful fields during my past visits but this time I really wanted to spend some time walking through the serene landscapes with Heidi. Ubud is a great city to start in for this.
While the huge terraced hills are a bit of a drive to go see, there is a walk that will take you north out of Ubud city and immerse you in rice fields. Small villas and tea rooms have popped up along the walk offering visiting wanderers a chance to stop and soak in the serenity. Small rice birds land on the tops of the growing rice, while egrets and geese patrol the flooded fields looking for their next meal. We were mesmerized by the many different butterflies here and we're quite shocked by the sight of our first snake encounter.
The amazing views that these cultivated fields provide hasn't changed much since those first Western adventurers stumbled across this beautiful island. Something this timeless and picturesque is worth slowing down and soaking up.
-Dai Mar
