Life Along the Rural Riverside

Yesterday morning, before addressing my errand, I went to the riverside with my pet dog to have a walk to relax and free myself from stress. There, I witness how simple life is taking place in a rural area. As we took our first stop to rest our feet, I saw a fisherman aboard his bamboo raft casting his gill net, a form of traditional fishing net that is still in use. Then we continued with our walk until we reached the spot with a hanging bridge that is like concealed in between two bamboo groves growing on both sides of the river, which is only designated exclusively for human beings to convey their goods and other necessities across the river and vice versa, as well as their produce from crops like rice, corn, peanuts, and sometimes tobacco plants. There are also lowland vegetables like eggplants, string beans, mung beans, squash, lady fingers, and bottle gourds. During the wet season, when crops are already harvested, jute plants grow in abundance on vacant plots, as well as swamp cabbage on plots with accumulated water, from which they are free to be gathered by passersby. Sometimes I chance upon a farmer crossing the river aboard a bamboo raft to tend his plots and to bring his carabaos to the riverbank to bathe in the water and to wallow in the mud to cool down and protect themselves from blood-sucking insects.

The simplicity of life that I witnessed in this place is enough for me to be motivated, as I am inspired by the farmer's resiliency and patience.

This is my humble contribution for this week to the Lifescape Tribe Community and thanks to @suteru for inviting me to publish an article here.
A fisherman aboard a bamboo raft inspect his gill net for catch.

One of the hanging bridge that is exclusively used for people crossing the river.
Rice plants that are about to mature before ready to be harvested.

Passing along a plot planted with maize.

Tobacco plants that awaits final stage of harvest. Note that sone of its leaves were already plucked from their stems.
A motorcycle riding man going to the other side of the river.