Have you ever heard of under sea-level paddy fields? In Kerala, India, apparently a vast amount of land has been reclaimed by erecting dykes. The backwaters of Kerala is a network of rivers, canals and lakes sandwiched between the hinterland and a narrow stretch of land running parallel to the Arabian Sea. In between these watery networks, lay miles and miles of paddy fields protected by dykes ranging from 1-2 meters high.
In the background of this photograph, the below sea-level paddy fields can be seen along with the dykes. On the right is one of the multitudes of houseboats found in the Kerala backwaters that has become a tourist industry in its own right.
The Sidemen Road is well-known for its rustic landscape of paddy fields and villages. We came by groups of farmers harvesting and threshing bundles of paddy the traditional way. Here are two ladies threshing in tandem into a makeshift threshing contraption.
It is common in Bali to have paddy fields with different stages of growth. Some are seedlings, others in the middle stages of growth while still others ready for harvesting. This system ensures consistent supply of rice all year round and it is common to have 3 harvests per year.
For some, it's shopping therapy. Others, movie therapy. Yet more, reading therapy. For me, it's writing therapy.