How to Enjoy Ubud, Bali

Balinese Pura (shrine)

While the tropical island of Bali is most identified with its famous beaches and surf, it is also a marvel of cultural attractions. The center of Bali's cultural treasures is to be found in the highland town of Ubud, located only a couple of hours from the main beach resorts of the south coast. Art, crafts, temples, music, dancing and good food--everything is there.

Instructions

1. Venture to Ubud. Properly speaking, Ubud is a conglomerate of villages located 33 kilometers north of Kuta, Bali's main surf rat backpacker ghetto. It is therefore just a short hop, and can be easily reached from the south coast by either taxi, tourist mini-bus, or bemo (mini-bus converted to local public transit). If you are on other parts of Bali, you will need to use either a taxi or a tourist mini-bus, as improvising bemos across the island will be cheap, but enormously time consuming.

2. Orient yourself and explore Ubud. There are three main streets: Jalan Raya ("main street"), which crosses the northern end of town, and is intersected by Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman. The area where Jalan Raya and Monkey Forest meet is the location of Ubud's main market and taxi/bemo stand. Down these three streets, you will find most of Ubud's galleries. The town is also honeycombed with Balinese-style Hindu temples and shrines.

3. Visit the Monkey Forest. At the bottom of Jalan Monkey Forest is a forest park with temple, where macaque monkeys are allowed to run wild (hence the name). The antics of these beasties are amusing to Westerners, who most likely have never seen them outside of the zoo. Keep shiny objects hidden, as the monkeys will try to steal them, and if a monkey does get something away from you, be careful about trying to get it back. Macaques are quite vicious and are known to bite.

4. Go shopping. The arts and crafts are the main attractions in Ubud, so bring along a shopping budget. There are also other items available, such as the selection of a giant pirated DVD shop on Monkey Forest Road. There are many workshops south of Ubud, which can be reached by bicycle or even walking, and here you can go shopping for arts and crafts at the source, cutting out the middleman.

5. 

   Take in a show. Several companies performances of traditional Balinese music and dancing, ranging from the tribal Kecak chanting and fire dance to the more courtly Gamelan and ballet or Barong dances.

6. Explore the surrounding rice paddy country. Pastoral life goes on very close to Ubud, and the countryside to the north consists of truly beautiful terraced rice paddy country. Just set out on foot from Ubud along one of the town's smaller roads leading north. With or without a map, you will find your way onto the terrace dikes and footpaths for a wonderful Bali-style countryside stroll.

7. Go on day-trips. The most popular day-trip out of Ubud is to Goa Gujah, or the Elephant Cave, which features prominent Hindu ruins, but also those of a Buddhist stupa. The return trip from Goa Gujah can be arranged to pass by the arts and crafts workshops south of town. Other excursions include Gunung Kawi (Mount Poet) and Tirta Empul. Gunung Kawi is the burial site of a medieval king, and offers a stellar view of the rice terrace country. Tirta Empul is the holiest of holies in Balinese-style Hindu. It also features hot springs that are said to be spiritually cleansing.Further afield are packages that will go as far away as Lovina Beach, 2 or 3 day treks up the side of Gunung Agung (3,414m), and to the semi-active volcano of Gunung Batur.