'Heaven on Earth': Limestone Paradise
Buffaloes pulling wooden ploughs or rakes first ready the fields
for planting. These animals are the main beast-of-burden and when not working is
frequently seen slumbering or rolling in the alluvial thick mud left after
harvesting.
A cow is walking home from the fields while the peasant-in-charge casually
strolled behind. They had just crossed a double-arched stone bridge over a
river. Beside the track, straw was bundled up from recent harvesting. Meanwhile
peasants continued with the planting in distant fields.
On the main road an elderly woman was leading her buffalo back to their
village. They had just passed a farmer walking with a large flock of quacking
ducks towards a roadside pond.
Planting the rice, although a fascinating site for visitors is hard, hot work
in the strong sun. Thinking of the term 'back-breaking', I watched two peasants
bent over in the mud as they transplanted young, green shoots.
Rice, when harvested was put into large foot-operated wooden threshing boxes,
where the grain was removed from the stalks. This was also taking place next to
fields being planted. This area can produce rice crops almost all year round.
Although the rice farmers often welcome clouds,
photographers wanting bright light do not. However, at one point as I watched
two peasants working in a field the clouds parted and a beam of light shone
straight onto them. Their images were reflected in the calm waters - an
unforgettable memory.
Yangshuo area is the place makes people feel like in Heaven - simply at home
with Nature and the incredible human landscape which Man has forced from it. So
many images from a place of incredible beauty.
|