Vinnie, Mandy, and Wayan's family passed farmers in the fields that surrounded the village.
When they arrived in the center of the village, Vinnie and Mandy stopped to watch two men with swords.
"Are they fighting?" Vinnie asked.
"Long ago, warriors used to fight with those weapons.
But now they use them for this dance," explained Nyoman.
They all watched the men's careful movements.
Their dance was smooth and graceful.
Finally they reached a large field.
There were many wooden carts on the field.
"We're here!" Wayan exclaimed.
"Help me tie the bar," his father instructed.
Wayan and Vinnie placed a long bar on the oxen's necks.
The bar connected two long sticks to a small cart.
"Let's take them to the starting line," said Wayan's father.
They joined a group of other men with their oxen.
Wayan's father climbed onto the cart and stood up.
He grabbed the rope reins to steer the team.
"Ready!" shouted an elderly man with a red flag.
He swung the flag down.
All the oxen took off, pulling the carts.
"Go, Budi! Go, Gede!" shouted Wayan.
The crowd cheered as the oxen ran down the field.
The race was only 100 meters long, but it was very exciting.
"We won!" Wayan was jumping up and down with joy.
"Congratulations!" Vinnie yelled.
The other men congratulated Wayan's father.
Wayan and Vinnie went to pet Budi and Gede.
"Help me take this bar off, Vinnie," Wayan asked.
"Let's take the oxen for a walk."
The boys walked through the crowd.
Some villagers stopped to congratulate Wayan.
Meanwhile, Mandy and Nyoman walked among the crowd in the village.
"What happens now?" asked Mandy.
"Some people will go home and prepare for the Iron Fence festival," explained Nyoman.
"It is being celebrated now.
But my parents will attend a village meeting first."
"What is the meeting about?" asked Mandy.
"Today it will be about water for the rice fields," said Nyoman.
"But they discuss lots of things at village meetings."
Mandy suddenly realized Vinnie wasn't around.
"Where are the boys?" she asked.
"Wayan is probably showing off his oxen to his friends," laughed Nyoman.
Soon the girls reached a large, open building.
"What's this place?" asked Mandy.
"This is the village community hall," replied Nyoman.
"You don't know much about Bali, do you?"
"No," said Mandy.
"This is my first time here.
So I really want to learn about your people."
Nyoman smiled at her and said,
"We are very friendly people, Mandy."