Rice, Chocolate, Butterflys, and Stick Insects

Jatiluwih Rice terraces

It's like a dream: a volcanic island of terraced, emerald rice fields, tropical forests of  fragrant cinnamon and clove trees, and beautiful flowers everywhere. Daily rituals and exotic temples all surrounded by blue azure sea. The islands greatest treasure is it's people-charming, gracious, and able to balance the modern world of internet cafe's, motorcycles, ancient traditions and a unique spirituality. Kind gentle souls.

 I traveled north toward the mountains up narrow winding roads leading to the rice fields that have been cultivated on terraces for hundreds of years. On the way my driver stopped at a beautiful natural hot springs, where the water has been harnessed into relaxing pools and a small resort offers modest accommodations. It was nice to break up the day and relax in the waters. It was also good exercise to have a long swim afterwards in the large pool overlooking the mineral spa.  I felt a bit odd in my bathing suit as most of the people there were local's wearing tee shirts and shorts in the water and there were some Muslim women who wore their full Berka into the pools. Everyone was very friendly and wanted to make conversation. We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant overlooking the rice fields, where the food was marginal but the view stunning.

Rice growing in the water ways.

Lovely little flowers keeping the rice company!

Below is the finished product. A red rice completely dry and ready to take out of the husks. The mountainous region of Jatiluwih, is also where Bali coffee is grown and you can find many Coco trees growing there as well. Also grown in the upland region are small sweet pineapples, which were served after lunch with fresh coconut. After our meal, we hiked up the hill for a sampling of coffee and tea. I bought bags of the hot chocolate, lemon grass tea, ginger tea, and ginseng coffee to bring back to the boat.

Butterfly Heaven

Rice field

Hot Springs

The water was hot and therapeutic

There were two hot pools and this was the larger pool. There was also a large swimming pool of fresh water overlooking the hot pools and it was great to take a swim after soaking in the mineral waters.

Chocolate in it's raw form before being transformed into that dark delicious substance we all know and love!

These ladies were roasting the coffee over a charcoal fire.

Road up the mountain.

We stopped at an enchanting park called Butterfly Heaven, where the most incredible butterfly's inhabit the gardens. There was an enclosed area where they displayed ugly caterpillars making their way to chrysalis pupa, hanging in rows clipped with clothes pins. Some of the butterfly's were already coming out of their cocoon. Their wings are white and as they flap them they turn into amazing colors. These butterfly's were HUGE and the attendant loved to place them on your hair, fingers, and clothes. While walking around the gardens we came upon another attendant who introduced us to leaf bugs, stick bugs, and giant beetles. The stick bugs were the ones used in the Indiana Jones movie Temple of Doom. I thought those big ugly things were computer generated-now I know they are for real. 

Butterfly coming out

They were large and beautiful

Isi loved the butterfly's but NOT the bugs

BUGS!

This was crawling on me. looks just like a stick.

This guy was crawling on me as well. He looks exactly like the leaves.

I said NO to this one.

We headed further north of Marga into the hills for 10 miles along little used roads to Pura Luhur Batukau, the chief temple of the rajadom of Tabanan, beautifully set amid lush forest. The appearance of the temple is ancient and covers acres of land. There was a lake in the midst of the grounds where a small temple was built on a little island. We arrived just as a group of worshipers were leaving. There were colorful lady's carrying baskets on their heads that had been filled with offerings, now left on the temple steps. We had some good conversation with these lovely people.

Thats me with a group of worshipers leaving the temple.