Explore the area on the walks around Ubud....

Besides strolling along Monkey Forest road, ther are other walks around Ubud that lead you along beautiful scenic rice fields and river paths. Make sure you have enough memory on your camera because you’ll see amazing panoramic views.

Most walks around Ubud are around the Campuan ridge. Campuan is a sacred area and means ‘where two rivers meet’.

The two rivers are Sungai Wos and Sungai Agung. This river valley has created a stunning area to walk around and do some exploring on the narrow paths.

 

When you visit Bali make sure you take a strill through the ricefields...

 

The first walk that my girlfriend and I did was along the rice fields just north of Campuan.

However, I think we immediately started to explore the wrong path but we only realized it after we crossed a wobbly bamboo bridge.

Even though we might have taken the wrong path, I am sure that the path we took is just as fantastic as the one mentioned in the books.

In the books it says that the path starts at the end of Jalan Kajeng, crossing the rice fields and ending up down at Campuan.

 

 

So during the second attempt we did what the books said, we started at Jl. Kajeng, walked all the way up towards the north and ended up in the rice fields. Again, this route takes you along small paths that cross many rice fields.

At some moments you might wonder whether you are still on the right path or not, especially when walking on a narrow cement path that serves as a barrier between the river and land where cows look at you as if they've been smoking something.

But just keep on walking until you find a bridge that crosses the river to the left.

 

 

You will immediately see a sign showing you the way to the organic restaurant ‘Sari Organik’. Follow that sign and you’ll be heading back to the busy streets of Ubud.

I enjoy doing these walks around Ubud late in the afternoon, when the sun is almost touching the horizon and its rays create a beautiful color over the fields. This is also the time to see many locals working in groups in the fields since it isn't so hot anymore.

 

 

The Balinese rice-farmers help each other in the fields as they are all included in a farmers-community, called 'subak'. Here, all farmers who have their fields in a specific irrigation system are represented and together they make decisions concerning the production of rice.

This also includes problems and maintenance on the irrigation system, use of pesticides, when to sow, to harvest, when to organise traditional ceremonies etc.

 

Working together in the fields

 

Each subak also has their own temple where they worship Dewi Sri, the goddess of the rice. In the fields you can also find little shrines where offerings are placed in order to ensure a good outcome of rice yields.

Just as many objects, rice plays an important part in the Balinese religion and is considered sacred. That is why you will often see rice in daily offerings or on the foreheads and necks of the Balinese people.

 

Placing offerings...

Towards the end of the day you will also run into people walking back home after a days work, carrying loads of wood and other plants on their head. At this time of day children also head towards the rice-fields to fly their kites.

Ducks are also very prominent in the rice fields and are of importance for a successful rice yield. Every day farmers lead their ducks into their rice fields so they can eat the pests. The ducks also provide a natural fertilizer with their droppings...

 

Doing their business...

 

It’s a spectacular sight to see those ducks wobbling along the narrow rice field paths. Especially when their caretaker is with them and is leading the way...

You can hear him yelling ‘mari, mari, mari…’ (go, go, go…) while the ducks follow his orders.

The walks around Ubud can take up to 1.5 hour. Make sure you don't leave too late because it can get dark pretty fast.

If you are a bit unsure about going off by yourself there are tours like Bird Watching or Herb walks that include great walks around Ubud's ricefields.