Bicycling Through the Rice Paddies – Ubud, Bali

P1120611Some days are just the type of days that fill me up and remind me why we are doing this.  Yesterday was one of those days. Bicycling through the Balinese countryside with new international friends, stopping to visit the homes of smiley locals, learning about rice cultivation and irrigation, taking a break to eat a locally grown banana under a 500 year old banyan tree … I kept thinking THIS IS IT. This is why we did it-  why we sold almost all our material possessions in order to set out and give our children the world.

There have been many days of wonder, learning and adventure on this trip. Many. But, for some reason, this day stood out. This. Being with my family on exactly this type of adventure is what I hoped and planned for us. It was perfect.

P1120622Eating black rice coconut pudding for breakfast on the edge of a crater, looking out over the crater’s lake. This. Stopping to visit a tropical spice farm, seeing the local coffee roasting process, and finally getting to taste Luwak coffee pooped by a Civit Cat.  (I know you are jealous, right?)

Riding downhill past layer of layer of rice paddies with the wind blowing through our hair, smiling and waving to the children who run to the road to shout “Hello!”  This. Stopping to tour a local Balinese home compound to see how the generations all live and work together, with an amazingly friendly guide who answered each and every question we had on Balinese lifestyle (I now know what a teeth grinding ceremony is), religion (Balinese Hinduism is a beautiful combination of Hinduism and Animism), and local customs. The day was so full of excitement, wonder, learning, local history, culture, new friends (our group consisted of several families from Australia and Sweden), and lots of smiles all around.  It sums up travel for me, and more than once I was choked with emotion of it all. This. Is. It.

Let me share just you a few of the highlights.

View at breakfast overlooking Mt. Batur and Batur Lake

View at breakfast overlooking Mt. Batur and Batur Lake

Coffee Grinding

Coffee Grinding

Traditional Balinese coffee roasting

Traditional Balinese coffee roasting

Then, on to Coffee Tasting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brewing the Luwak Coffee - special coffee pre-fermented in the digestive track of a Civit Cat

Brewing the Luwak Coffee – special coffee pre-fermented in the digestive track of a Civit Cat

Coffee Tasting and more!

Coffee Tasting and more!

Tasting the Luwak coffee

Tasting the Luwak coffee

Very proud of this accidental photo.  Luwak Coffee

Very proud of this accidental photo. 🙂 Luwak Coffee

Civit Cat

Civit Cat

The Ride Begins!

The bike ride begins

The bike ride begins

Tandem riding!

Tandem riding!

Visiting a Family Home Compound

Home compound, where many families continue to live together

Home compound, where many families continue to live together

Inside the home compound

Inside the home compound

The family garden

The family garden

Cuties

Cuties

In predominantely Hindu Bali, cows represent an investment.  Our guide explained that in lieu of bank accounts, they often invest in cows to raise and sell for meat.

In predominantely Hindu Bali, cows represent an investment. Our guide explained that in lieu of bank accounts, they often invest in cows to raise and sell for meat.

Each compound has a temple

Each compound has a temple

Restroom / toilet in the compound

Restroom / toilet in the compound

Laundry Day

Laundry Day

The People

Adorable!

Adorable!

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500 + year old Banyan Tree

500 + year old Banyan Tree

Elio pretending to pedal a guide around.

Elio pretending to pedal a guide around.

Soccer field.

Soccer field.

Finishing The Ride:

Ice cold washcloths at the end!

Ice cold washcloths at the end!

Nathan and Lorenzo did an extra 8K uphill ride at the end.  In 90+ degree heat!

Nathan and Lorenzo did an extra 8K uphill ride at the end. In 90+ degree heat!

Our amazing guide Gita

Our amazing guide Gita

 

Amazing Indonesia feast at the end!

Amazing Indonesia feast at the end!

Fantastic group from Australia, Sweden and U.S.

Fantastic group from Australia, Sweden and U.S.

Thanks for sharing my day.  As always, it is fun to share some of these memories with you all.  (And a big Bravo to Bali Eco Cycling Tours for an amazing day all around!)

 

15 thoughts on “Bicycling Through the Rice Paddies – Ubud, Bali

  1. Bali Eco Cycling

    Dear Nathan, Kathrin, Lorenzo and Elio Spaccarelli!

    First of all thank you very much for your nice Blog about our cycling tour. It is always good to hear & read that people enjoyed it and had even consider it one of their highlights of their stay in Bali.

    Hope you & your family will have a wonderful stay in Bali and to see you back at Bali Eco in the near future, who knows to experience one of our other tours.

    Regards,

    Bali Eco Tours

  2. Kris Preslan

    Coffee through the digestive tract of a CAT? nuh-uh!
    Do you think the illy customers would go for that?

    The vegetation however, is incredible. Those colors, textures…..I want to mix every one on my palette. And smiley people…that’s super too.
    Thanks for sharing with us.
    ma

    1. Kathrin Post author

      Maybe it’d be your new favorite coffee? 😉 Thanks again for commenting. You’re the best! 🙂

  3. Mike & happy

    Am playing catch-up with your posts — so fun to read because u do such a good job in ur descriptions. Sounds like all of u r really having a wonderful time and learning so much!

    Love to u all
    Mike & hap

    1. Kathrin Post author

      Thank you so much for following us! And for taking the time to comment. Been thinking good thoughts for you both. Much love!

  4. Larissa

    AHHH- Maze-ing!!
    I am so loving seeing the world through your travels!
    Glad you’re have so much fun and continue to have such very rewarding family experiences!

    1. Kathrin Post author

      Thank you for all of your comments. I love them! Fun to know folks at home are following along. 🙂 (And, I love seeing all of your fun family posts too!)
      \

  5. Jennifer Whyte

    So cool! I agree with Kris…not sure that I would be brave enough to try the civit cat fermented brew…but glad YOU did! 🙂
    The biking reminds me of all the biking we did as kids, in and around your neighborhood. Good times! Travel safe ,and much love from the Whytes!

    1. Kathrin Post author

      Thanks so much for your comment, and especially for following and supporting our adventure. xoxo to you all!

  6. Patricia Ferrier

    Yes as a member of the Team Gita (from Bali Echo Cycling) I can confirm it was a wonderful day indeed – great fun to share it with the Nathan, Kathrin, Lorenzo and Elio – learnt lots from these guys – even about Koala’s digestive systems from Elio – a magic day in Bali – share the love guys – from one of those Aussies that joined in the fun.

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