Rice harvesting begins

Rice harvesting has begun here and you can tell everywhere you go.

As we drive along the tiny paved road that leads to our home we are confronted with ladies, that have spread their piles of rice along the side of the road, right on the pavement and are walking through it with bare feet looking for something (not sure what but am determined to find out eventually).

In the once vibrant and green rice patties there are sections that are sparce of growth and filled with what looks to be amazingly muddy and nasty dirty water, scattered with piles and piles of bushels laying amongst the water waiting to be directed by floating to the side where they then are hoisted upon someones head to be carried to an area so they can be beat against a barrell upon it's side until the tiny grains of rice fall out of the shaft. Upon that time they are collected, along with stray leaves and other floaties to be laid upon the road for drying and a good walking through.

Many tiny merchant shops along the sena or market are closed during the harvest time because entire families are expected to work to bring in the rice. They must do what they can while the weather permits.

There are bushels on their heads, people up to their waists in water, and all sorts of rice laying on the road as it dries and gets ready to be bagged for the markets..

I could not help but think of my Uncle, his twin and their family Tax business - they are so alike the rice farmers. They are dedicated, wake up early and work late, often times working through lunch. Files from clients are sitting in orderly piles all throughout the office waiting to be tended to. There is a process, a hand off and an entire community that works on a common goal. Even the other people in the community that don't live the "rice" or "tax" life give more understanding and a helping hand when they can. Putting in as much work as they can while the weather permits.

Just in awe of it all!