I am in the process of packing and moving house but I constantly get distracted and find things I kept but forgot about.
This morning I found another old diary and here's what I wrote.
"This morning Buda and I decided to drive into the country. No destination planned just get out of Kuta and Denpasar then see what evolves. We stopped at a paddy field and Buda called me into the muddy paddy - "take off shoes" he knew the farmer and we waded toward him.I kept grumbling "yuck" as the mud squished between my toes then Buda assured me "It's OK mate nothin to worry bout except snakes". I made the quick about face and scurried back to the van.
We drove another 10 klms and we walked toward the river- I asked about the snakes and he grinned "no all back in the paddy fields"
Then I saw the gravel ladies. They were women in there 20's & 30's wearing thin see through tops with no bras. They were carrying baskets on their heads and walking into the river bobbying down in 3 or 4 foot of water and scooping gravel and tipping it into the basket on their head. When full - possibly had 5 to 8 kilos in it - they would walk up a set of rough slipery steps and tip their bounty into a pile . The water just dripped off them and they turned around and went back to fetch another load. My camera was in the van but I just couldn't take a photo as I was so moved by their hard work and Buda advised me that they earnt about 40,000 rph for the day ( that's about $7). I wonder if I collected bras from work would it help them as it must be so uncomfortable."
Anyone else seen the gravel ladies?
Better get back to the packing
Di