Bali Recap: Rice Fields

 While on our bike tour we bike through villages and rice terraces. We got to see all stages of rice production. These people work so very hard. And they all work together to produce the rice they eat.

This woman is sifting the rice. She would shake it and toss it removing parts of the stem and such. Bits would just blow away in the wind, leaving only the rice.

Here is a field thats flooded and growing

Row after row of rice plants just placed in the field.

Rice terraces

This is the first stage of rice planting. They place the rice seed in these small beds and wait for a few weeks for the rice to sprout. They then remove it and tie together a little bundle of seedlings. 

Next they are given to people who take the little seedling bundles and plant them in the water and mud. They are bent over the entire time. I can't imagine how they ache at the end of each day. This is what they mean by 'back-breaking' work. Then they flood the fields until they get to a certain height. We wove through field after field of rice each at a different stage in the process.

Once the rice gets growing they don't flood the terraces any more but they do have to put out scarecrows to keep the birds away. There is always people standing watch and they make these loud and kind of scary screaming noises to chase the birds away. If they left the fields, the birds could eat the entire thing in one night.  So they have to keep constant watch. They also string flags across the fields and shake them so the movement keeps the birds from landing. There was even an elderly woman walking through screaming and shaking the line of as she held a toddler. They spend the entire day there for this one purpose.

When the rice is ready to pick it will turn to a lighter color and start to bend over by the weight of the rice in the top of the stalk. Then they cut it all down. Beat it out of the stalk and sift it and send it to be de-hulled by a machine. Everyone that worked gets a cut of the rice and that is what they eat until the next rice harvest. They use a rice thats grown and harvested in 90 days. So every three months its the same process.

Our guide, who grew up harvesting rice, said that this is mostly what they do in the villages. There is not much extra rice to make money off of so there isn't much chance to change your station or opportunities in life. This is what it is. Day in and day out. Now with the tourism market, there are a few more chances to change what you do, but only if you speak English. Which is what he did. He was lucky enough to go to school in another part of Indonesia where he lived with some family. He said that tourism is the best opportunity you can get in Bali. There is more money and chances of learning and experiencing different people. But most people don't leave or travel outside of the country.

This visit really made me so grateful for the country and circumstances into which I was born. We take for granted all that we have, a lot because of the turmoil and craziness that's going on in the U.S. But with all its faults, of which is has many, it still is an amazing place where there is opportunity to make something of your hard work. One of the things I love about seeing other countries is the gratitude and perspective you get. And gratitude is one thing that is severely lacking in many people and cultures. It was refreshing to get a healthy dose of it on our trip. And to see the Balinese people who are so kind and friendly reminds you that no matter your circumstance, you  choose how you act. You can still make the world a place of peace and kindness, no matter what is going on around you. This is what Bali was for me at least. (Um, except for that guy that flipped me off as he drove by on his motorcycle. That wasn't very nice.)