Bali - RICE TERRACES - Day 2 (1 of 5)

Somedays it's just Wonderful to get up Early!
It Rejuvenates the Body & Soul with the Spark of Life (3 videos)

Bali is not just an Island. It is so clearly a “living temple” with a tapestry of daily rituals/traditions that weave humanity and nature together. In Day 2 of our visit here, we had our driver take us to places that we had researched off-the beaten path that were mostly not occupied by the many tourists that visit this island annually (and keep the economy alive).

Bali is the only Hindu-majority island in the world's largest Muslim nation where Religion is not something Balinese people DO, it is something they ARE. Every meal, every building, every harvest involves the gods
and there are 20,000+ temples on this one island (the average Balinese village has three).

We were off the ship by 5am today, met our driver and immediately went out to the countryside to see sunrise over the rice paddies. As we drove through different small towns and large shopping areas that were just waking up, we watched the interesting shops being opened and the fruit, vegetable and flower markets that are open 24/7 receiving and setting up for the day. By 6:15am when we arrived at the rice terraces that Karen had selected, the locals were all setup and ready for the day. The rice terraces are a 1,000-year-old cooperative water management system (called Subak) still functioning today.

The rice terraces in Bali are among the most extensive and known in the World for their intricate and effective irrigation system. Subak (developed in the 9th Century) is not just an irrigation system it is a governance philosophy. It is based on Hindu way of life, which seeks to maintain a harmonious balance between humans, nature, and the spiritual realm. The water is distributed cooperatively from the water temple at the top, through a network of channels to every farm below regardless of who owns it. The governing organization meets regularly to discuss changes. 
Religious ceremony governs the planting cycle with planting dates are set by the priest. This system eliminates the pest explosions that devastated other rice-farming regions in Asia.

We experience daybreak along the way and the perfect sunrise to start our day!Read more