As part of our trip to Indonesia, our first stop was in Bali, a small island home to about 4 million people. We just had four days, but I really wanted the opportunity to photograph the rice terraces, using a system developed In the 9th century. I’ve been wanting to shoot this type of terrace for some time, but the timing simply hasn’t been right. But now I had my chance. I hired a driver to go the terraces near our hotel, arriving well before sunrise and hoping to get the right light. Unfortunately, it was not to be. But I did enjoy being the only one there for some time (they’re quite popular), but this one (Tegallalang) was mostly disappointing. But I did get a few shots, including one with a girl who was posing for her boyfriend. At Linda’s prodding, we went the next day to the larger terrace area (but further away) - the Jatiluwih terraces. As one approaches the hills covered with the terraces, it really is breathtaking. I kept asking the driver to stop for a particular shot, then finally, we parked the car and took off on foot. Wow! At this time, mostly the terrace owner/workers are just making sure the rice has adequate irrigation, but I did find a few workers for some shots. So uniqu
I’m always on the lookout for more authentic scenes, and fishing villages never disappoint. We went to a village called Jimbaran. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, most of the catamarans (called jukungs) had arrived and unloaded, but there were still some arriving, with their “balance beams” and colorful paint. It is always fascinating to be brought back to the way things have been for centuries, with the boats bringing in their morning’s bounty, greeted by their families, and then see the catch immediately put up for sale to locals securing ingredients for their family’s meal. Doesn’t get more fundamental than that!
That is also true of local markets, and I ran across and stopped at a morning market. I know it is a daily chore for folks to get their groceries, but It’s kind of a fantasy to be in a place where you could walk to and get your fresh local food for the day’s meals. Of course, being mostly Hindu, you see a lot of flowers and constructed offerings that bring lots of color into the equation.
Bali also has some beautiful beaches, complete with surfing (though hard-core enthusiasts might dispute that designation). But there were a lot of neophytes giving it a try at least. We just sat down and watched. And as one drives or walks around, the amazing stone sculptures outside many homes/compounds, which to the non-Hindu eye seem like incredibly far-fetched and scary combinations of animals and humans.