Terraced Rice Paddies

 

While in Ubud we decided to take a trip to see the famous terraced rice paddies at Tegalalang, an example of Bali's subak irrigation management system, an ancient method of cooperatively allocating water on the island through community centers and temples. 

 

The system has recently been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, as it reflects the Balinese philosophical triad of Tri Hita Karana, which unites the spiritual, human and natural worlds.  The subak watershed management system is an egalitarian and democratic process that produces a great deal of rice... pretty interesting and definitely beautiful:

The rice terraces are the site of many gatherings and serve as the backdrop for lots of wedding photos:

Say What?!

'Sup, ladies.  It's been a long time since I've rapped at ya from this blog.  I've been busy, hangin' around the crib.  Twist ties to chase, beds to lounge on, shorties to wrassle, floors to spin on...

When Meg and Tim told me they were heading back to the U.S.A. for 3 weeks today, leaving us alone, I was all, "Say what?!":

Then I was like, "Hmmph. Fine." and "I don't care.":

 We tried to break the news to Tiga in a way she could understand, but she was still all, "Huh?":

"Huuuuuuuh?":

At that point I shook my head and thought to myself, "Sigh. I cannot believe this is my life. It seems I was made to suffer.":

Anyway, Meg says even though she's traveling, she's got some more posts lined up about her trip to Bali with the girls.  I'll just be sitting here by myself in the meantime if anyone wants to bring me catnip or clove cigarettes.

Lincoln, out.

Monkey Forest, Take 2

Once more into the Monkey Forest, Ubud's nature reserve/temple complex/monkey sanctuary. 

The monkeys seemed significantly less aggressive this time around, but there were also far fewer tourists to jump on.   This big (balled) guy was crashed out right by the ticket counter:

 

Maggie and Chrissy posing in front of the main temple:

Lots of crazy statues throughout:

Chrissy, getting into the act:

Lots of grooming: 

Lunch time?

All dressed up and nowhere to go?  Remember the story from the last time I was forced to wear a sarong into this particular temple?

Bedawang Nala, a mythological turtle who supports the world on his back... he's surrounded by 2 giant serpents that bind him to human/earthly needs:

Boma, one of the guardian spirits: 

After hitting up the main temple, we headed down some stairs into a part of the forest that Liz, Meghan and I somehow missed last time...

There we saw some more cool statues, some seriously crazy Indiana Jones-esque vines, and some waterfalls:

The river is guarded by two large Komodo dragons:

So many vines!

On the way out, more terrifying statues of Rangda, a demon queen who eats children:

 

Monkeys, monkeys, monkeys: