Do
Not Miss Beautiful Ubud For Your Bali Vacation by Made Dertha
What is it about Ubud that one
should visit this beautiful village? Because Ubud has much to offer; from
its stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and the terraces rice filed,
its most talented artist, its typical traditional market and myriad of
shops that line the road is a heaven for shopping, its undying culture,
its serene environs and plentiful of nice small hotels and restaurants
and many more.
Ubud has no great beaches
to speak of, no mountain lakes, and no grand hotels. Yet it has the richness
of soil and it is the center of Bali's art and culture. If you don't stay
in Ubud, or you don't have much time during your Bali Holiday, a visit
is worth because it would offer you a memorable stay in Bali.
Driving out of bustling Denpasar,
the tranquil green of rice paddies contrast sharply with the boisterous
sounds of the city. Palm-leaf carvings of Dewi Sri (the Rice Goddess) guards
over the crops, and small thatch huts dot the rice fields, giving shade
to those who work them. Temples and small shrines can be seen along the
way, women lay out offerings of flowers, rice, incense and holy water to
placate evils spirits and please the good one.
Even with the great influx
of tourism, village life basically goes on the same. Almost every village
on the way up to Ubud specializes in some kind of art form. You can stop
off and see the artisans at work in their studios.
Many places near Ubud make
beautiful side trips. Morning walk through the villages lead to out-of-the-way
retreats. The route to Tegalalang offer beautiful views of terraces rice
field and myriad of art studios, Mas, Penestanan and Peliatan, the centers
of wood carving and painting, Sayan offer a stunning panorama of Ayung
River valley and still home to spectacular view of gorges and palms and
rice fields. Campuhan , the place where three rivers meet - a sacred site.
There is a very beautiful temple called Pura Gunung Lebah is worth a visit.
To the north is Petulu village
is known for many things but the most spectacular is the kokokan or white
herons. Every morning at dawn and the afternoon around three or four o'clock,
you can see them circling the trees in droves.
To the south a short walk
you will arrive at Monkey Forest. To visit it, one must by a ticket. There
are hundreds of tame monkeys and a temple stands in the middle of the forest.
In the center of town the interesting places to see are the Puri (the court
of palace of former kings), here every Sunday morning at 10 o'clock dozen
of young girls study traditional Balinese dance.
Ubud main market just opposite
the Puri offer varieties of merchandises; Produce, dry goods, linens, T-shirts,
paintings, wood carvings, even traveling medicine men appear here. Closed
to market you can visit Puri Lukisan (Museum of Paintings). Established
in 1954, it is dedicated to showing the works of local painters. It is
the excellent place to get an overview of the stylistic differences between
artists.
Ubud is a picturesque township
and visitors have been attracted by its charm and beauty for decades. If
shopping is your interest, Ubud has a myriad of shops which line the road
to Monkey Forest and the Museum Puri Lukisan. Don't forget to bargain!!!
If art is your interest, in Ubud, Mas and Peliatan, one can study dance,
music, painting or a number of other art forms.
The best way to meet a teacher
is to find a style that appeal to you (by going to galleries and watching
performances) and than approach the artist directly about lessons.
While you are in Ubud and
need more complete information, you can visit Bina Wisata a local Tourism
Bureau. It prepare map of Bali and Ubud. There is a massage board, small
book store and a printing press on the premises. It's about 500 m past
the market.
Waka Namya Resort is a nice
place to stay. It offers free luxury shuttle service to the center of town
and to the Rudana Museum and Arts Gallery; it is one of the best galleries
in Ubud. It also offers a free tracking to the rice field. Excellent service
and very friendly staffs. I know the manager very well, so I send many
guests to this resort. Waka di Ume, Komaneka, Santi Mandala Resort and
Maya Ubud are also very nice place to stay.
For more affordable accommodation
you can choose Ubud Sari; small, charming and rustic ambience. It has a
complete Spa and Beauty Salon service, Yoga, Chiropractic, Healing Week
in Bali Program. Raw Health Food Program and Colonic Hydrotherapy.
So Ubud has many attractive
objects can be seen for your Bali Vacation. And do not hesitate to choose
beautiful Bali for your holiday. Bali is a small, beautiful island in Indonesia,
the ultimate tourist destination in Asia.
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About the Author: Made Dertha
was an English and Italian tour guide for many years in Bali, writes for
Bali Turista Tours where he is the Managing Director now. Bali Turista
is focusing on Bali hotels and villas reservation. Just visit www.baliturista.com |
