Magical and all that I wanted it to be - nature, yoga, art, surfing, fresh fruit, and ocean. We spent time down south at the beaches but my favorite part was up in the jungles of Ubud. This is where I had one of those "once in a lifetime experiences" that I will never forget - doing yoga outside on an elevated outdoor patio surrounded by a lily pad pond as thunder and lightning filled the jungle around us. I would go back here in a heartbeat - there is heart and soul here that I imagine can only be found in places like India, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Likewise, poverty and threat of terror are a reality here, but you realize that this small Hindu enclave is home to some of the sweetest people I have ever met.
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| The temples, the sea, the people…Bali is ethereal |
The Must-Dos
1) Although the beaches are nice, I wouldn't recommend staying the whole time there as the north is more rugged, mystical, and interesting. We stayed at Jimbaran Bay by the beach and enjoyed the sunsets and outdoor massages tremendously. Instant relaxation!
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| Jimbaran Bay |
2) Yoga, yoga, yoga - there is nothing better than doing yoga outdoors, nothing!
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| Outdoor Yoga in Ubud |
3) There are stunning hotels in Ubud and definitely spend a day downtown - a bit touristy, but the local artists do amazing things with wood, from furniture to decorative carvings to small objects made from reclaimed boats. Outside of Istanbul and Marrakech, this is the place to buy home furnishings. Also, try one of the local batik factories for beautiful clothes and fabrics.
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| Batik - so beautiful |
4) Although touristy the Lotus Cafe is a pretty location to sit and have a break and beer.
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| View from Lotus Cafe- Ubud |
5) We took a tour into the country side to see the rice paddies and also local communities - very humbling and powerfully beautiful.
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| Beautiful landscapes |
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| Magical all around... |
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