I had an opportunity to return to a place that had been missing from my mind for a long time: a paddy field. A paddy field is a flooded plot of rich land where growers produce aquatic crops, mainly rice and taro1. This kind of scenery is common in southern and eastern Asia, where most of growers practice wet-rice farming. However, I was not fortunate enough to see the green paddy plants, as the harvest festival in Sarawak had just finished. The field was empty and abandoned, but it still had its appeal with the surrounding greenery.
My friend and I left early in the morning, hoping to catch the sunrise over the fields. As we drove along the road, we were welcomed by a foggy sight of the limestone mountains that surrounded the area. It was a stunning and calm sight, like a work of art. We parked our car near a small hut and walked towards the fields.
The fields comprised several sections divided by earthen bunds that kept water in the field for most of the growing season. Some sections were wide and looked like lakes, while others were narrow and shallow. Some sections got water from small channels that provided irrigation for the crops. The water was clear and reflected the sky and the mountains. I was fascinated by the view, and it felt like I was in a computer wallpaper.
Harvest season had ended, and the growers had not planted new seeds yet. My friend and I strolled around the fields and explored. We spotted many small huts scattered around the fields, where the growers stored their tools and equipment. Sadly, there were no water buffaloes grazing on the fields. I guessed they had been substituted by manual work or machines to help with planting paddy.
We decided to climb one of the limestone mountains next to the fields, hoping to get a better view of the area. We found a trail that led us up the mountain. It was a difficult hike, as there were many plants and sharp rocks along the way. Some parts were hidden with roots and leaves, making it hard to see where we were stepping. We had to be careful not to slip or fall.
We met many beautiful small insects and plants on our way up. We saw butterflies, beetles, catepillar and more. We also saw some wild flowers, ferns, mosses, and fungi. We marveled at the diversity of life on this mountain. We took some more photos and tried to identify some of the species.
We did not reach the summit of the mountain, as it was too hard and risky for us to continue. We decided to turn back and head down. We were tired but happy with our adventure. I had also enjoyed the beauty and tranquility of nature.
