The wonder of rice fields

25.05.2020.

Rice terraces are some of majestic pieces of art that nature can capture. As I saw one in Bali, my wondering soul asks for more. That’s why I made this collection and collaborated with my fellow bloggers to give you the reason to explore the landscape. Iconic, fantastic and so authentique the rice open up the horizons to learn more about this so common cereal.

Tegallalang rice terraces near Ubud

by Gabrijela Zec from Under Flowery Sky

One of the most famous rice fields at Bali are Tegallalang rice terraces in the close proximity of picturesque place Ubud, only 20 minutes away. There is no fee to enter, however a donation is being asked upon arrival but also on numeral attractions and even just for crossing the bridge or posing with locals. Here we can find the lovely nests, Bali sign and various adrenaline swings, even the sky bike. The path itself is very tiny and slippery but views are amazing.  Where did the rice terraces evolved from? From the traditional irrigation system named subak. The easiest way to come here is through the tour, renting a driver or by motorbyke. When I was there in February, Tagallalang was not so green and to visit them in the whole beauty you should come in March/April or September/October. The nearby village Pakudui will amaze with wooden engravements.

Ubud itself is surrounded by many rice fields, this artistic town known by the vegan cuisine and yoga lifestyle.

RICE FIELDS NEAR YOGYAKARTA

by Inma Gregorio from https://www.aworldtotravel.com/

The best way to explore the surroundings of the historical city of Yogyakarta and admire, in this way, some natural wonders such as the rice fields in the photo, is to rent a car with a local driver who knows the area.Unlike other famous rice paddies in the country, the peculiarity of these fields is the enormous plain – with a stunning mountain background – in which they are, a kind of inland sea.
In any case, we recommend avoiding the central hours of the day and approaching sunrise or sunset to avoid the intense heat that takes place during the day. Also, if possible, it is better to avoid the burning season of the fields to be able to breathe without problems and without so much air pollution.
If you want to take a look at everything Indonesia has taught me, go ahead. Enjoy it!

Spider Web Rice Fields, Flores, Indonesia

by  Wendy Werneth of The Nomadic Vegan

With rice being such a staple food in Southeast Asia, it’s no surprise that there are so many rice fields in the region. And as beautiful as they are, they may start to all look the same if you’ve been traveling in Asia for a while. That is, until you reach the island of Flores in Indonesia! The fields here are known as the “spider web rice fields”, for reasons that become obvious as soon as you see them. They really do look like spider webs, with the small plots of land starting in a central point and fanning outwards from there.

The Manggarai people who live on the island have been dividing their communally owned land this way for as long as anyone can remember. Traditionally, a wooden pole is placed at the central point from which all the fields radiate. This point is called the lodok, and the Manggarai perform ceremonial rituals here during the rice harvest. From the town of Ruteng, hire a taxi or motorcycle driver to take you to some of the best lookout points from where you can view the fields from above.

Rice Fileds in Bhutan

by Anwesha Guha from Going places with Anwesha

Rice is one of the main agricultural products in Bhutan and almost 80% of the population engage in it. As you drive on the Paro-Thimphu highway, many rice terraces will come into view. The staple rice of the Bhutanese people is the red japonica rice which is semi-milled. When cooked, the rice turns pale pink, soft, and slightly sticky. It has a bit of nutty flavor in comparison to white rice. Bhutanese people still use traditional methods in the collection process. Both men and women work on the fields—they crop plants, fold them in sheaves, and let them dry in the sun. The dry sheaves are beaten, and chaffs are separated from the rice grains. It is a great journey and a lesson for many people, who only see rice already packed in stores.

One great spot to stop by is the Neyphug Heritage’s Your Café which is located next to the Paro-Thimphu highway and a five-minute drive away from Paro International Airport. This sustainable café, housed in what was previously abandoned ruins, offers a great view of the wide Paro valley and the adjacent rice terraces. All the proceeds from Your Café and the services provided at Neyphug Heritage go to support the Neyphug Monastery.

The best time to visit Bhutan is during the spring months of March to May when the valleys come alive with flowers in bloom or during the months of October to early December when the air is clean and fresh with sunny skies. If you visit Bhutan in November, you can watch the process of rice harvesting. When we talk about rice fields, rarely Bhutan’s name comes up but if you get a chance to view some of the high altitude rice terraces surrounded by beautiful valleys, Bhutan will not disappoint you

Rice fields in Puli, Taiwan (East Rift Valley)

by Ryan McNutt from The Nutty Trekkers

The East Rift Valley of Taiwan, flanked by staggering mountains, is home to some of the most beautiful rice fields in the world. But the most picturesque fields are located west of Puli, up the mountain valley towards the Walami Trail. There lies a small aboriginal hamlet with a B&B that overlooks the paddies, and sunrise there is just breathtaking (pic above).

There is no better way to navigate the East Rift Valley than on the seat of a bike. The 3-day route up the valley from Taitung City to Hualien is fairly easy, and there are a number of rental shops to choose from. The best time to visit is during the spring and fall months when rain is minimal, however, we were their mid-winter and it was still fantastic.

The East Rift Valley is an unspoiled land of old-school agriculture and wilderness, with stunning rice paddies being the star of the show. Outside of biking, the other popular activity in the valley is to visit one of the natural hot spring resorts – a favorite pastime of locals.

Rice Terraces near to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, North Thailand

by Becki Rendell from Meet me in departures

Thailand is such a diverse in terms of landscapes. To the south, you have the glorious beaches however, head to the north of the country and you have mountains, hills, waterfalls and the iconic rice terraces. I certainly suggest visiting the north when you visit Thailand.

The areas surrounding Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are surrounded by this terrain, you won’t have to venture far to find beautiful ride fields just outside of either of these cities. You can get to both of these cities by train from Bangkok, or by catching a flight. Chaing Mai and Chaing Rai are both well connected but various local buses or tourist shuttles.

If you visit this area of Thailand between June and October, it’s the rainy season so temperatures are cooler but the humidity raises. Between March and May, the weather can be very hot. So the best time to visit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai is between November and February when it’s a little bit cooler yet because of the recent wet season, everything is very green.

There are loads of things to do around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, including lots of adventure sports such as white water rafting, mountain biking and zip-lining all of these are close to the Rice Fields.

Rice fields at Yuanyang, China

by Sarah Carter from Let’s grow cook

The Yuangyang Rice Fields are located in the Yunnan province of South-West China.   These rice fields cover an area of 113 square kilometres and were created by the Hani people, who began using the mountainous areas in this terraced fashion.  Their creativity was so unique that an emperor of the Ming Dynasty period granted the Hani people the title of “Skilful Sculptor”.  These rice terraces were created in the 14^th century and are today inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage site as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.  Visit the fields from Xinjie, where guided tours are available.  The best time to visit is in January when the fields are filled with water.

Rice fields at Sekinchan, Malaysia

by Sean Lau from Living Out Lau

When you think of gorgeous rice paddies, you might immediately think of the rice terraces in Bali. Did you know that Malaysia also has some stunning rice paddy fields? Sekinchan, a small fishing village located 1.5-hour drive away from Kuala Lumpur, has some of the most elegant rice paddies I have ever seen. Though it is mostly a small fishing village, Sekinchan is mostly famous for its lush paddy fields, especially after the TVB drama Outbound Love. Their rice paddies stretch beyond the eye’s reach, and it feels like an absolute paradise to be there.
With the perfect combination of fresh seafood, beach, and beautiful rice paddies, Sekinchan is a town not to be missed when you visit Malaysia. However, since it is a small fishing village, I recommend just taking a day trip to Sekinchan from Kuala Lumpur. Before visiting, it is wise to ensure that the rice plants are not cut down. Or else, instead of the lush green fields, you might encounter plenty of nothingness! Though it depends on the season, it is recommended to go in the middle of March to May and the middle of September to November.

Rice fields at Vang Vieng, Laos

by Roshni Patel from The Wanderlust Within

One of the best things to do in Vang Vang in Laos is to visit the rice fields next to the Nam Song river. The rice fields are surrounded by the iconic Karst mountains that make the small town of Vang Vieng so famous. The Vang Vieng rice fields can be visited all year round but the colours will differ from a lush green in the wet season (May-October) to a bright yellow in dry season from (November to April). The rice fields in Vang Vieng are some of the quietest in Asia, and you’ll often have them all to yourself. To explore them, use the wooden walkways provided and stroll bare foot to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Alternatively, join an evening sunset yoga class that takes place on wooden platforms built in the rice fields, you’ll be surrounded by nature and beautiful views. If you want to take it a step further you can stay at the hotel that is surrounded by rice fields but as it is quite basic you may prefer to just visit them.