The Sidemen Valley: Rice terrace and silver shop rings

Sidemen valley is lovely. So lovely!

Just waking up this morning at Medukah Point Hill with a lovely sunrise/daybreak. A couple of good tropical rains last night. It's 6:30 a.m. here (so, 4:30 p.m. in Mountain time).

I already have a beef with a very loud gecko somewhere in the A-frame roof.  That, and the early bed time last night, and I was up at 3 a.m.! Uggh. (hello Netflix movie). 

It's cooler up here in the mountains. Rice terraces and a lovely breeze. No need for A/C - the fan is perfect. I love the breezy view (270 view of rice terraces) and the outdoor attached bathroom! :)  

WHAT a cool place! 

Early morning view of the restaurant from my cabin

Outdoor connected bathroom. Brilliant!

Today, Gede is driving me to Sidemen rice terrace and then a silver class where I can make myself a ring. (He charges 70,000 IDR - less than $5 per hour of driving. NO problem!). He pointed everything out yesterday when we went in search of the ATM.  

I love the village pace and this valley is stunning!

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Good morning! 

I set up the hammock under my cabin. :)))

People working in the flower and rice fields below.

My cabin. <3

View of the tiny "road" from my cabin. More rare to see a car on it. Perfect for scooters.

I can't get enough of this view...

Sidemen Rice Terrace "tracking".  A surprisingly cool walk through rice terraces - multiple family farms in this rice valley. Scenic - with Mt. Agung (largest mountain in Bali!) in the background coming in and out of the clouds.

The trail and a warung (family eatery) with a view of rice terraces. Wow.

Mt. Agung

Bamboo platform scenic overlook of the rice terrace and Mt. Agung

The view is so epic. Small village in the background. 

You can find some warungs there (family run open cafes).

Fish ponds

Local version of a 'scare crow'. I zoom out at the end of this video. Epic view.

Sidement Silver Class. ALSO a surprisingly cool thing to do! $300k (19.50) for a ring. This particular shop (of many) was popular! It's right by the river, had plenty of cool hangout spots for people. Was told to hang out for 30 minutes (since they had a big group to finish)... so I went for a walkabout to get lunch in the village.

About a 10-minute scooter ride to the silver shop from Sidemen rice terrace track. 

Thru villages, forest, rice fields. So. Lovely.

Found it! Many silver companies around, but I had seen this on blogs/videos. 

"The one by the yellow bridge"

Other side of yellow bridge; swimmable river below

Went for a walkabout. Searching for a warung (family-run cafe) in the village. Found a spicy noodle place. 10,000 (.65c) for the plate. 

Ring-making time! 

Picking out the type of ring design took a while. (You can bring your own design too.)

I helped melt down the pellets and the ring-making process begins - about 6-7 stations.

One of the stations. He liked to sing 'frere jacques' so I could keep pace. 

The song sticks in your head. 

Six or seven different stations - pretty cool!

My infinity ring and a stamped engraving, "Bali 24 KD" :)

Back at the Medukuh for late afternoon nap, sunset with a beer and dinner. So... lovely. So lovely.