Moving Mountains: Bangli, Bali

The river cliff of Buruan village in Gianyar, Bali, is slowly being hacked away, cut into blocks and carted two kilometers uphill. The dark gray stones will find their way into homes and temples, but rarely will end users discover the hardship of the stone carters’ lives. Women from Bangli today cart the five kilogram plus stones, half a dozen at a time, up a steep and slippery jungle path; two kilometers of tree roots to trip on and snakes to scare with a load of 30 kilograms or more. It is hard labor moving this mountain according to Trisha Sertori. Earning just Rp 700 per stone, the women average eight trips per day, seven days a week for an income of less than Rp 30,000 per day.