3 weeks in Bali, Indonesia- 5/28- 6/15/2024

Day 14- Sidemen-6/9/2024

We are staying at Alamdhari Resort and Spa, and today we decided to take it easy since it’s raining and there isn’t much to do in Sidemen on a wet day. After breakfast, we lingered in the dining room, where the view alone felt like an experience.

From the dinning room we could clearly see Mount Agung, Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano. The mountain rose dramatically in front of us, its slopes deep green and powerful.

The summit was partially hidden, with clouds gently floating and wrapping around the top, constantly shifting and revealing different shapes. It was incredibly pretty and serene, one of those quiet moments where the landscape feels alive, even as everything else slows down with the rain.

Below the restaurant, we could clearly see layers of rice field terraces unfolding across the landscape. Some borders were a rich golden color, while others remained a vibrant green, creating a beautiful contrast that marked different stages of the growing cycle. The terraces were embraced by dense forest, which surrounded the fields like a natural frame, adding depth and calm to the view and making the scene feel both cultivated and wild at the same time.

After breakfast we walked back to our room, taking our time to enjoy how beautiful the resort is. 

Alamdhari Resort and Spa is built into the hillside, with gently winding walkways that go up and down, following the natural shape of the land rather than forcing it flat. Each path feels quiet and private, leading past pockets of greenery and small open spaces that invite you to slow down.

The property is lush with colorful flowering trees and tropical plants, adding splashes of color against the deep greens of the forested surroundings. Everywhere you look, the landscaping feels intentional but still natural, blending seamlessly with the valley below.

At the heart of the resort is a beautiful swimming pool, perfectly positioned to overlook the scenery, making it feel less like a hotel amenity and more like a peaceful lookout over Sidemen’s rice fields and mountains.

The entire property has a calm, secluded atmosphere, an ideal place to rest, especially on a rainy, unhurried day.

We were the only two people in the area so it felt like we had the whole resort for ourselves.

Enjoying a quiet moment next to the pool. Resting in front of the pool, we gazed out into the distance at a dense forest stretching across the valley.

 Layers of trees in different shades of green filled the view, their canopies thick and untouched, with mist drifting in and out after the rain. The quiet presence of the forest, combined with the stillness of the pool, created a deeply calming moment, one where it felt easy to simply sit, breathe, and let the surroundings do all the talking.

 Our room is on the top floor with a large balcony.

View of the property from our balcony.

View of the pool from the balcony.

Afterwards, we are headed to the Spa.

The Spa is really beautiful and Zen.

A small pond with a large Buddha statue.

Walking around this area is very peaceful and relaxing.

It rained on an off and here the patio is totally wet.

We had lunch at a really nice restaurant close to our resort.

I had Nasi campur, a classic Balinese dish.

Nasi Campur is rice with a variety of side dishes arranged in small portions around the plate.

I saw a really friendly white dog and I gave him some of our leftovers.  He was really happy to have some food.

On the way back we saw farmers working on the rice fields.  In Bali, rice harvesting is still largely done by hand, especially in areas like Sidemen where the terraces are narrow and machinery can’t easily be used. When the rice turns golden and the grains feel firm, farmers begin the harvest in a careful, methodical way. They start by cutting the rice stalks close to the base, traditionally using a small hand tool.

The stalks are gathered into bundles and carried to the edge of the field or onto a flat area nearby. There, farmers spread out plastic tarps or woven mats on the ground. To separate the rice grains from the stalks, the bundles are tapped or beaten firmly against a hard surface or over the tarp. With each strong strike, the rice grains fall away from the branches, landing in a growing golden pile. This technique is simple but effective, relying on rhythm and strength rather than machines.

NEXT... Day 15-Tirta Ganga