I know that I'm being ridiculous as I sit on my balcony in the 5 star hotel but I'm already feeling a little nostalgic for my simple life in Ranau. The hotel is quite separate from the city surrounded by an 18 hole golf course and marina etc... so consequently it is full of rich, mostly white, tourists who fly in for a luxurious taste of Sabah or are attending a conference or business. We, all 55 of us, are kept busy until 5 ish and then we can enjoy the swimming pool, gym, jacuzzi etc.. We are all so lucky to be treated to this standard and I do often have to pinch myself to check I'm not dreaming!
Yesterday morning I packed up my little room at the homestay and went for a final walk just to check on the progress of the padi planting. Most of it is planted but there are still a few fields in progress and it seems to be very much a family and community pastime. I'm fascinated by the regulation of the water level which I'm told is vital to the flowering of the rice plant. There mustn't be too much or too little and the older women are definitely the ones in charge who no doubt have acquired all this knowledge having been passed down for generations. The shapes of the padi fields are sometimes semi-circular, wavy or like a patchwork quilt but as to why I'm not sure. Anyway before I turn into a padi bore I will stop but I will be looking forward to seeing the growth when I return in January.
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