Experience the rice terraces in Bali on a giant swing

The giant swing catapulted the writer above the trees at Uma Pakel Agro Tourism near the Tegalalang Rice Terraces of Ubud. Photos: The Star/ANN MARIE CHANDY

In December I made a short trip to Bali, Indonesia. I found everything about Bali beautiful from the abundance of bedogol statues and monuments, the reverence everyone seemed to have for deities in the temples, the little canangsari offerings on every corner, the bamboo poles and coconut leaf ornaments (penjor) especially with the Galungan festival just round the corner, and, of course, the bountiful massage parlours, bars and crowded beaches.

While I was enamoured by everything (and almost everyone I met), I had two “firsts” in Bali – one was going on a giant swing that catapulted me above the trees at Uma Pakel Agro Tourism near the Tegalalang Rice Terraces of Ubud. The other, and one of my favourite experiences, was watching the Sekaa Tari Kecak or “Kecak Ramayana and Fire Dance”.