Rice fields dominate the landscape, especially in the lower foothills south of the central mountains, and provide spectacular and scenic views when seen from the winding mountain roads.
The wide variety of tropical plants is surprising. There are huge banyan trees in villages and temple grounds, tamarind trees in the North, clove trees in the highlands, acacia trees, flame trees, and mangroves in the South.
And there are flowers, flowers everywhere. One can see (and smell the fragrance of) hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, and water lilies. Magnolia, frangipani, and a variety of orchids are found in many front yards and gardens, along roads, and in temple grounds. Flowers are also used as decorations in temples, on statues, as offerings for the gods, and during prayers. Dancers wear blossoms in their crowns, and even the flower behind the ear of the waitress seems natural in Bali.
Statues and altars are often decorated with a chequered black-and-white cloth, simbolising the balance of good and bad in the Universe.
And, well, the problem with so much beautiful nature is that sometimes there is just too much of it. No matter how carefully we drove, we still did not manage to avoid driving straight into a low-hanging branch on one of the cmall road. Now we know why the locals insist on driving in the middle of the road!
On the positive side, the lack of a windshield made the excellent views even better.
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Silvija Seres, January 2004