c/o Four Seasons Resort, Bali at Sayan
http://www.fourseasons.com/sayan/

My husband and I spent two glorious days at the Four Seasons Property in Sayan, Near Ubud. The highlight of my stay here was the Four Seasons familiarization experience with Balinese farmers. I must warn you beforehand to wear sturdy shoes to walk because some bits can get really slippery.

The day started at 7 am with a wake up call from the front desk and fresh coffee and bagels before we met Sari, our ebullient guide for the day. Sari, took us on a long walk around through the verdant Ayung river valley overlooking the rice paddy fields and the noisy river below. Along the way, she introduced us to a lot of painters and locals living in the area and they allowed me to come in to take photographs of their homes and temples. We were greeted by a lot of dogs that were guarding the homes we crossed, some more territorial than the others. I got scared a few times but remembered the old adage ‘barking dogs seldom bite’ and they didn’t.

After an hour-long walk across the jungle path, we decided to make our way back down towards the hotel and were welcomed to a traditional Balinese breakfast on a private bale replete with all the trimmings Balinese coffee, rice porridge, banana fritters and a colourful bowl of tropical fruit. I might’ve eaten far too many mangosteens and was nursing a stomach ache for the rest of the day. The produce here was just incredible. My hands would get messy every time I dove my teeth into a juicy piece of starfruit or strawberries and mangosteens. The bale was beautiful and we were surrounded by lush green on all sides (something you don’t see often enough in Delhi).

After a delightful breakfast, I took off my shoes and socks and was warned that the next activity would involve getting my hands and feet all dirty. My partner wasn’t feeling too great so he retreated to the room but I went in and decided to emulate the local farmer as I watched him plant rice. Rice is a staple crop in Bali and a lot of people are dependent on it. The beautifully sculpted rice terraces look like delicate paintings when viewed from on top and rice farming is in no way easy work.

I grabbed my shovel and started to dig out the mud and boy, was it hard work. It took real strength to keep shoveling the mud and clay underneath to make the ground suitable for planting the rice seeds. I thought I was pretty strong and fit but was disappointed because I got tired really quickly. We wore straw hats to protect ourselves from the sun and I loved mine so much- I brought it back to India with me. My clothes got all messy but on the plus side, my feet felt absolutely soft with all the clay I was stomping on. It was like this natural scrub and massage that was gently exfoliating my skin and massaging my tired soles.

Next up, I watched the farmer plant the rice seeds, and show me how to arrange the saplings in a systematic way. The sun was out and it started to get really warm. I was panting and had clearly worked up a sweat by now. We took some photographs and celebrated our small victory with fresh, young coconuts straight from the tree. I thought we were done for the day when a buggy arrived to take me to the spa for an hour-long Balinese massage that would take care of sore muscles I never knew I had and get rid of all the clay and dirt. Traditionally, Balinese farmers drink a lot of coconut water to stay hydrated and return home to their wives for a deep- tissue massage that helps release tension and ease soreness after a tiring morning on the fields.

The spa suite was massive with a beautiful bathtub overlooking a lotus pond and private bowl for relaxation. I asked the massage therapist to really use all her strength and give me a deep tissue massage because this was going to be last authentic massage for a long time. I fell asleep shortly afterwards and was woken up to a cup of hot ginger tea. I woke up refreshed and found that I was walking better because my shoulder and neck were no longer sore. I highly recommend the balinese massage if you travel a lot or are a stress nut like me and tend to hold everything in your neck and shoulders. It does hurt a tad bit but its worth every painful nudge, tug and pull.

Thank you to the staff and team at Four Seasons, Sayan for such a memorable experience. Special thanks to Sari for taking pictures along the way and answering all my questions:P I have raved about it and sharing my certificate of achievement with all my friends and family. People take a lot of pride in planting and caring for the fields and I have a lot of respect for the farmers who care for the environment they work in. I still think about the glorious breakfast at the bale and have tried to replicated the banana fritters in my home- to no avail.

Hope to see you soon. We can’t wait to be back.
Love

Quick Tips:
Jl. Raya Sayan
Ubud, Indonesia
+62 361 977577
http://www.fourseasons.com/sayan/

Speak to the front desk or activity desk for the balinese rice farmers experience. Price on request.
WATCH THIS SPACE for a more comprehensive review on our stay at the property and the ‘muladhara’treatment that saved my life.