Day 2 - 29th May

Day 2: Adventures in Bali – Rice Terraces, Balinese Culture, and Chocolate Delights!

Hello everyone! Welcome to Day 2 of our Bali OLJ! 🌞

We started our morning with an amazing breakfast at our hotel that overlooked the stunning peaks of Mount Batur and Mount Agung. It was the perfect way to kick off our adventure for the day!

Our first stop was the world-famous Tegallalang Rice Terraces, a place where nature and culture integrate seamlessly. Here, we learned all about the Subak irrigation system, which has been practiced in Bali for centuries. It is a community-driven approach to managing natural resources, where farmers work together to maintain a balance with the environment. It was really inspiring to see how cooperation between local communities is essential for sustainability. The terraces themselves were breathtaking, with lush green paddies stretching as far as the eye can see. We even had a few moments to snap some photos before heading to our next stop!

Next, we headed to Ruma Desa Bali, a traditional Balinese household where we got a chance to interact with the locals and learn about their culture firsthand. We were welcomed by a warm and friendly lady called Cynthia, who showed us how to make the iconic canang sari, a small offering made of flowers and food that is presented daily to the gods. It was such a beautiful moment of connection to the Balinese spiritual practices. But that’s not all! We were also shown how they make Balinese coconut oil, a process that involves using every part of the coconut. Next, we were introduced to the Balinese Sanskrit alphabet, and guess what? We each got customized name tags in Sanskrit! It was such a cool keepsake that felt like we were truly part of this ancient tradition.

After a hearty lunch, we got our hands dirty (literally!) with a visit to the local paddy fields. Now, this is where things got super fun – two of our group mates had the unique opportunity to plough the fields on water buffaloes, which was a bit challenging but also a total blast! They also got to try their hand at traditional rice-planting, and it was hilarious watching them learn the technique. The whole experience really brought us closer to the roots of Bali’s agricultural practices and gave us a deeper appreciation for the hard work that goes into growing rice.

No day in Bali would be complete without a little sweetness, right? Our final stop was the Cau Chocolate Factory, where we got a behind-the-scenes look at how chocolate is made sustainably. We learned all about the health benefits of cocoa and how the factory works closely with local farmers to ensure ethical practices. Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying the chocolate milk and ice cream, which was truly to die for! We also got to shop for some delicious chocolates to take home as souvenirs (although they might not make it back to Singapore…).

After such an action-packed day, we were treated to a delicious BBQ dinner back at our hotel. The staff were super friendly and made sure we felt right at home, and the food? Absolutely mouthwatering. It was the perfect way to unwind after a day full of new experiences.

We are so excited to see what’s in store for us next. Stay tuned for more updates as our journey continues! 🌴✨