Rice Sawah!

Chopping the rice husks from the soil

Beating the rice out of the husk

It was hot, it was itchy, and the woman next to me beating the rice was 70 years old plus.  Retirement doesn't really exist in Bali because of the importance of staying involved in the community for as long as possible.  It is not uncommon to see plenty of elderly Balinese people out in the early mornings stomping mud pits with their bare feet and traditional sarongs.  We walked about 1 km past the cows and open field until we reached Putu's rice sawah (field).  The first step was to chop the rice stalks a couple of inches from the ground.  I was far from establishing an efficient method and continuously retrieved one grouping at a time.  We would pile the stalks next to the little handmade sun-cover where step two occurs.  The goal was to beat all of the rice out of the husk by slamming it against the wooden board that was set up on top of a tarp to catch the flying pieces.  Finally, I left with a new-found appreciation for rice!