Indonesia - Ubud & Surrounding Villages

 After Uluwatu, we headed to Ubud but this was not without a little accident...

our driver hit a scooter as we pulled out of our Uluwatu hotel. 

Thankfully, she was ok but pretty shaken up. 

Ubud was a busy little village full of arts, culture and monkeys! 

We stayed just a few minutes away from the Monkey Forest 
and it was our first stop.

SO fun and well worth the visit. 

The monkeys were crazy! 

(has to be insanely unhealthy for them but they were brave little guys.)

We had great food while there - including dinner at the famous Dirty Duck. 

...crispy duck was out of this world 
and had our own little "cabana" overlooking the rice paddies.

Ubud is also home of the cheapest massages - ever.

And I had two (total price $25.00). 

We only spent two days in the Ubud area and since it feels like the cultural hub,

we took full advantage of the cheap personal drivers ($35 for an entire day).

In our whirlwind trip, we stopped by the coffee growers and learned about the still

very handmade way of harvesting and making ground coffee.

They are also known for their Kopi Luwak.

(little animal that eats only the very best beans and poops them out!) 

Amazing tour and even better free tasting - we came home with a few treats!

This was followed by stops in the silver village and the woodworking village.

I was in heaven in the wood village - interior designer's dreamland.

Next visit, I'll look into shipping because I fell in love with a number of pieces.

Most specifically a headboard that I'm still dreaming about.

The temples in the area were out of this world.

Elephant Cave (Goa Gajah)

Holy Spring Water Temple (Istana Tampak Siring)

We also had lunch overlooking rice paddy fields before 

heading to the Tegallalang Rice Terrace.

Of course, it had to start pouring as we arrived down this windy, hilly road

but wow... amazing sight to see.

Before our day ended, we packed in a traditional Balinese dance performance.

 

The entire time in Ubud was an experience of its own. 

It's a busy little village full of earthy, yoga-loving men and women.

(mainly single women in search of "Eat Pray Love" - where it was based/filmed)

This was the most cultural bit of our time in Bali.

We explored the villages, while taking back roads to each place.

But the main centre of Ubud was busy... busier than I expected.

But, truly amazing.

Next up was Keramas, Gili Air and Nusa Lembongan...

xx

the mcgees