29.06.2020.
I fell in love with Ubud, what a fantastic fusion of art, yoga, rice fields and indonesian enticing spirit everywhere, even at the pools. First things first, hostel I was staying at wasn’t easy to find as most of them were lacking aircon or water or anything else. The hostel itself is placed as the role of the temple so I had the opportunity to absorb the spirit of the temple. The painting at the pool is just fascinating. Such a special place at Bali.
Art market at the centre is filled with colours, originality, shops so it’s hard to stay with empty hands here. All versions of bags play their songs with fantastic design, everything your heart wants can be found here. Hats and caps take their piece of cake with their special beauty. Wooden art is so eye-catching within all the shapes and sizes. Simple things like a tree become a high source of inspiration as decorations and encircled rings will not leave you indifferent. Dresses bring the art to your home as you cannot but take it. Multifunctional sarongs can be a beach cover, pretty dress, little blanket, scarf or the temple cover so you cannot miss it. What a discovery! I use it as my yoga mat so I can easily carry it anywhere instead of the one I lost.
Just roaming around centre with all the cozy and colourful shops is such an enchanting feeling, I can with the full right say that Ubud is the most artistic town I saw. Something so wonderful, heavenly and enourmous, something that interwines art at every step I hardly saw ever or I could imagine.
Ubud art market is situated just across the Monkey Forrest making it a very pleasant walk that passes also the Royal palace. Bargaining is undoubtable which will surely going to happen as you wonder how much you can buy. Ubud art market served also as the background of the famous movie Eat, pray, love featuring Julia Roberts. Ubud art market is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm, sometimes even at the night time.
Don’t confuse it with shops that circulate around Monkey Forrest Road. Artistic treasure of Ubud is not only found at the centre. Visiting the water temple Tirta Empul is an indispensable part of every Ubud tour. Tirta Empul is powered with the holy spring water, located in the proximity of Ubud. Pakerisan river is the main source of water which feeds pools and fish ponds. Tirta Empul temple is surrounded at its exit with various shops and crafty souvenirs. It’s where I bought my fantastic flower dress and my sarong.
Tegallalang rice fields at the north of Ubud is the scenery caught up from paintings, natural explosion of wonder. Not only you will find here the adrenaline swing, but also the sky bike and lovely locals that will take picture with you. Of course, I expected to find few shops but the whole village is a treasure of art. Just watching from the car all the wooden crafts and dresses bursted my desire to come back, to explore more. It’s officially the longest route of art shops in the world. 10 km of pure wonder at Tegllalang Handicraft Centre will cover everyone’s tastes as the choice is more than enough. Every gem of art needed its place in my eyes. Not only in Tegallalang, many other neighbouring villages spread the powerful production in front of your eyes. These are the villages of Pengosekan, Payangan and Peliatan. What will you exactly find in Tegallalang? Coconut hats and coconut ceramics, animal sculptures and wooden wonders, paintings and jewellery.
Special system of irrigation at the rice terraces made them a fabulous art of nature. At Tegallalang you can also visit Gunung Kawi Sebatu temple which is also a water temple. Wellness is also popular in Tegallalang so you can get a flower massage at Sinar Natural Body Healing & Spa. Did you hear about the luwak coffee which is produced by an animal that chews these coffee beans? It is produced at Alas Harum Agro Tourism in Tegallang among other varieties. It’s one of the most expensive coffees in the world. While returning from the hike at volcano Mount Batur we had a chance to visit one coffee plantations. Different tastes of coffee spreaded in front of my eyes like coconut, vanilla or gingeng but I liked the best without any flavour.
Roaming around Ubud is just like a feast to the eyes between the crafty world, buffet restaurants where you can eat all you want for the small price, veggie heaven and special indonesian architecture. The treasure of yoga studios and retreats provides an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in this ancient knowledge. Even the Monkey Forrest is emerged into the temples, artistic sculptures and lovely, playful monkeys. Or even those that sleep. Such a relaxing walk through the centre of Ubud is at the same time such a deep forrest.
You cannot but to love Ubud, so much art at one place is indeed a fairy-tale scenery.
This looks so beautiful, I was supposed to be in Bali this Summer but unfortunately all my flights were cancelled! Hopefully I will be able to go next year instead!
Bali is amazing
This shows different a image of Bali compared to what others know about it. Artistic place indeed!
A wonderful article & photos on visiting Ubud. We are still yet to visit Bali from BC Canada. Definitely on our “Must Travel To Next” list. Have pinned your post for future reference when we can travel there. Great Post! 🙂
Thanks so much. Yes, it’s a very special place.
I haven’t visit Bali. My mother visited there last January. She said Bali is awesome. I hope I will visit Bali in the future. Thank you for sharing your travelogue.
I was in February..
Wow, Ubud sounds amazing. I’d like to visit the monkey forest.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks, it definitely is amazing
Thank you for sharing this amazing post. I like the artistic town, it’s so colorful.
Ubud sounds amazing. My bucket list keeps growing 😬
That picture of the market was so beautiful!
Have heard so much about Ubud – the waterfalls, rice fields, the swing! Have always wanted to visit the country and explore. Lovely write up!
Thanks, hopefully you will soon
Ubud is a very relaxing place surrounded with greens and sounds of nature. I enjoyed my 3 days yoga first thing in the morning. Also I have visited an art center full of amazing artworks. It is one of the places I want to visit again. This post brings back memories in Bali. Thanks!
Thanks for the beautiful comment..
Wow, I love the look of the market! Your pictures are lovely!
Tash – https://www.agirlwithview.co.uk
Looks absolutely gorgeous! All your pictures are beautiful 🙂
As a huge art fan, Bali looks right up my alley. Plus, doing a coffee tasting while looking out at the gorgeous landscape seems like a dream! Thanks for sharing your lovely photos and descriptions!
Thanks so much, bali is amazing
I’m desperate to visit Ubud, it looks so beautiful! Amazing photos, and great post!
What a fun trip! I could spend hours browsing the art market and the surrounding natural beauty. Thank you for sharing your experience and beautiful photos.
So true, the art makes the trip so valuable..
It can take hours..
Can’t wait to see Bali. This post just made me more excited:)
Thanks, I can’t wait to go back..
A must for anyone visiting Bali. Thanks for sharing.
So true..
Bali looks beautiful, so much culture to learn. Thanks for sharing
WOW! What a fantastic account of Bali along with beautiful glimpses through your awesome captures! Cant wait to start travelling again!
Bali has been in my list for so long now! Great pictures and post.
Thanks for the suggestion.
This is awesome. We are thinking about Bali for the honeymoon and ubud is definitly on the list. Thanks for sharing. – Danielle
Hola,
Great post about Ubud. I miss being there. The atmosphere over there is amazing.
Thank you for bringing me back to Bali.
Adriana