Ubud, Indonesia

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Full of incredible cuisine, beautiful beaches and inexpensive spa services, Bali is a wanderlust’s dream. While hotel hopping around Asia, I arrived in Ubud in July after a 7h30 flight from Tokyo. A traveler’s visa is required upon entry and costs $35 for American citizens. The visa may be purchased in advance or upon arrival. Completing the required paperwork in advance will help avoid long lines at the airport. My hotel was about an hour from the DPS airport and taxi transportation was only $25. 

 

Indonesian breakfast at Batu Emplug Ubud Cottages

 

I booked the Batu Emplug Ubud Cottages because the room was only $67 per night, included complimentary breakfast, had a small pool and was 15 mins walking distance from downtown. The vibe is of  a bohemian boutique hotel. Rooms are clean and spacious and staff members are friendly. Each day the breakfast is made to order and the cuisine is excellent. Freshly prepared juices and traditional Indonesian breakfast that included fried egg and rice or noodles were among some of my favorite dishes. The daily fresh fruit was great as well.  The hotel is on a quiet street that has cute shops, restaurants, a yoga studio and businesses offering spa services. 

Beautiful doorway architecture close to my hotel

Intricate architecture along the road close to my hotel

 

Upon leaving the hotel room, ornate architecture is widespread. Detailed carvings embedded into the homes provide the feeling of massive art sculptures. The designs are somewhat similar to temples in Thailand but are beautifully unique. 

 

Activities and Attractions

 

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

 

Cute baby long-tailed macaque monkey having a snack

 

As an animal lover, I tend to seek out opportunities to engage with wild animals in a more natural habitat. The Monkey Sanctuary was about a 20-minute walk from my hotel room. The Monkey Forest is in downtown Ubud where popular restaurants and shops are found along the streets. Street vendors offering an assortment of beautiful garments and trinkets have beautiful designs for reasonable prices. 

Adult macaque making sure I catch a picture of his good side

 

Even before entering the entrance gates, macaque monkeys may be seen roaming freely along the path. Lush greenery surrounds the sanctuary creating a wonderful natural setting. During the week, admission is about $5 (80,000 IDR) for adults and about $6 (100,000 IDR) for adults on weekends. There are more than 1000 monkeys so you are guaranteed to see many of them while wandering around. Employees are often seen feeding the monkeys and ensuring that visitors remain safe. 

 

Please secure your bags and belongings prior to entering because the mischievous monkeys do have a propensity to steal sunglasses, phones and other belongings if the opportunity presents itself. The sanctuary grounds are beautiful and large enough to accommodate many visitors without feeling cramped. Massive trees and even a temple provide a beautiful backdrop for pictures and provide a sense of serenity despite monkey’s running around. I really enjoyed seeing the monkeys roam freely and I think that you will enjoy your time here too. 

 

Traditional Balinese Dancing

Barong Keket represented as the large mythical creature on the left

 

Watching traditional Balinese dancing is a great way to learn more about the spiritual practices that are ingrained into Balinese culture. Beautifully decorated costumes and intricate dance movements characterize traditional dance. There are two popular dance forms called the Barong and Legong dance. The Barong dance exemplifies a combination of artistic expression and spirituality. Its origins are unclear but the Barong is believed to detail ancestral stories. Barong dances are usually showcased in temples indicating their spiritual significance. The most popular barong shown to tourists is the Barong Ket that describes the fight between good and evil. 

 

Legong dances have about 18 different dance styles included and originated in the 19^th century. The Legong Laseum (Kraton) is often showcased for tourists. Beautifully ornamented dancers perform intricate movements with fans while performing with a talented orchestra.

 

Ubud Palace 

Juak dance performed with a mask representing a demon and long nails in the Ubud Palace

Legong dancing at Ubud Palace

 

The cultural significance and beautifully detailed architecture add to the overall aesthetics of this beautiful palace. The Ubud Palace once housed the Ubud royal family. The temple was built by Rsi Markandya who is responsible for the formation of Balinese Hinduism, which is the primary religion of Balinese people. Balinese Hinduism differs from Indian Hinduism with regard to the religious practices. Several evenings a week, traditional Balinese dancing is showcased in the Ubud palace. Admission to enter the museum is free during the day but a fee of about $6 is charged to watch Balinese dancing in the evening. Arrive 45 mins early to secure seats closest to the stage. The shows typically last two hours and are a great way to experience one aspect of Balinese culture. Ubud Art Market is directly across the street from the Palace and can be easily visited on the same day as visiting Ubud Palace. 

 

Ubud Art Market

Fashion lovers will be in paradise in Bali. Beautiful silks and fine fabrics offer the opportunity to elevate your style for a reasonable price. Flowy fabrics and bohemian style are widely offered by street vendors. The Art Market provides a centralized location to pick up your next fashion treasure. Beautiful dresses, swimsuits and tropical two pieces can be found for men and women here. Tropical shirts, breathable linens and cute bags are all great items to pick up at this market. Intricate artwork and beautiful accessories are also found here. Vendors take pride in the clothing items that they offer and great quality items may be found all throughout this massive market. Negotiation on the price of the items being sold is expected so don’t be afraid to haggle within reason. Visitors can find much cheaper prices here than comparable items in the U.S.

 

Tegenungan Waterfall

Tegenungan Waterfall

 

Being near water has always had a soothing effect on me so I was eager to visit this scenic waterfall. It is located about 30 mins outside of Ubud by car and admission is about $1.40 (20,000 IDR). The streets leading to the waterfall are lined with cute boutique shops, restaurants and dessert shops. Fresh cold coconut is one of my favorite treats and was nice to stay cool on the walk to the waterfall. There are many picturesque backdrops set up to allow visitors to capture the perfect Instagram shot. Visitors descend down many flights of stairs to reach the waterfalls so wear comfortable shoes when visiting. 

 

There are actually two waterfalls found at this location. One smaller waterfall to the left that visitors must climb on rocks to reach and a larger waterfall to the right that is accessible by stairs. Small pools for people to swim in are found leading up to the waterfall. There is a beach club called Omma Day Club that plays popular music leading up to the waterfall that also seems like a good time. Swimming in the majestic waterfall is permitted so be sure to bring your swimsuit on a hot day. Climbing up a steep hill will lead you to a Bali swing that overlooks the waterfall. The Tegenungan waterfall is a popular tourist destination and is a great way to appreciate natural beauty while in Ubud.  

 

Satria Coffee Plantation

Luwak roaming free at Satria Coffee Plantation

 

Luwak coffee is a delicacy in Bali and visiting this coffee plantation is a great way to see the coffee preparation process and have the opportunity to try Balinese coffees and teas. They actually have a several Luwak’s onsite that were pretty amazing to see. One was caged but another friendly Luwak roamed freely and was pet by visitors. Seeing the free roaming luwak was the highlight of my time at the plantation. They appear similar to a lemur and a racoon mixed together. Visiting with a guide is a great way to learn about the plants grown onsite that are used in some of the teas. An assortment of coffee and tea samples are provided to visitors and are a great way to experience new flavors of teas and coffee. Instant coffee is predominant coffee type in Bali but it still packs a powerful caffeine punch. Be sure to try the mangosteen tea as this was my personal favorite. There is an onsite store that sells the teas and coffees that visitors sample as well as other items. 

 

Tirta Empul Temple

Beautifully intricate design at Tirta Empul Temple

 

Dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu, known as the god of water, this ancient temple holds spiritual significance for Balinese people. Shrines throughout the temples honor various Hindu gods. Beautifully decorated statues throughout illustrate the reverence for Hindu deities. Tirta Empul was built in 926 A.D. surrounding natural spring water. The naturally flowing water of this temple is used today to perform purification rituals. Worshippers and visitors that participate in the water purification ceremony cleanse themselves with incense and say prayers before immersing their sarong covered bodies into the water. They bathe their heads in the waterspouts for purification as well. The water is believed to have healing properties and the water purification ritual is called Melukat providing cleansing of the mind, body and spirit. I was unable to capture images of the natural spring out of consideration for visitors engaging in the purification ceremony in the water. The temple is set amongst a lush and scenic backdrop. Admission to enter the temple is about $3.26 (50000 IDR) for adults and about $1.63 (25000 IDR) for children 5-11. Sarongs are required to enter the temple so you may bring your own or rent one from the temple for $0.65 (10000). 

 

Tegalalang Rice Terrace

Tegalalang Rice terrace and Love Bali sign

 

Rice fields are widespread throughout Ubud and are viewed as a symbol of life and God’s gift. The terrace is arranged as paddies and uses Bali’s traditional irrigation system called subpak. Visitors may walk along the terraces and there is a Bali swing that overlooks the rice fields. Standing in front of the Love Bali sign is a great opportunity for a photo op. 

 

This is Bali Restaurant 

Very tasty Beef Rendang Bowl that I enjoyed

 

Flavorful food is widespread throughout Ubud. Fresh and healthy food are easily accessible at an affordable price. The flavors of the food taste like a fusion of Thai and Chinese food but are distinct based on the unique seasonings that are used. Coconut flavored dishes are popular in Bali. This is Bali restaurant is a trendy establishment in downtown Ubud that embodies all of the exquisite flavors of Balinese cuisine. The classic and signature bowls are packed full of flavor. Beef Rendang is a popular slow cooked dish in Bali that was amazing here. Complimentary appetizer and dessert were provided and were a nice touch to an already incredible meal. 

 

Jalan Raya Ubud

This adorable street is centrally located in downtown Ubud and is right outside of This is Bali Restaurant. It is a great place to pick up local clothing brands and relax at a spa and get a traditional Balinese massage. This street includes a variety of trendy shops, restaurants, bars and spas. Ubud does not have a raging nightlife scene and most bars in Ubud close by 11pm.

 

Ubud is an amazing place to be surrounded by natural beauty and relaxing spa services for a reasonable price with incredible cuisine. I look forward to returning to Ubud as soon as possible. 

 

Have you visited Ubud? If so, please share your favorite memory. 

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