The development in Ubud has turned the area into the mecca of healthy lifestyle in Bali. Restaurants offering organic raw foods as well as yoga and meditation classes for self healing are growing rapidly amidst lush greenery. However, Ubud has more than all that. If you’re planning your first visit to Ubud, these are a few ideas about the area that you should know.

 

Heal Your Heart
Ubud is about one and a half hour away from the Ngurah Rai International Airport. It may sound like a long way up, but the journey is well worth it as the view of rice fields will please your eyes. If you want to “hide” from the crowd, Ubud is the place to be. Many parts of the area is surrounded by lush greenery, and this allows you to connect with nature and with yourself. Spend a couple of days alone in Ubud and enjoy some “me” time while looking at the greenery, and you may finally hear yourself think. To help you reach balance between your mind, body and soul, it is better if you enjoy some delectable drinks and meals that many restaurants in Ubud offer, like Pomegranate, Sari Organik, Indus Restaurant and Jungle Fish. Natural surrounding and delicious dishes are a wonderful combination to feed your mind, body and soul with some positivity.

 

Adrenaline Rush
There are many yoga retreats and meditation classes here, but it doesn’t mean that these are the only exercises you can do in Ubud. If you’re looking for an adventure, pump up your adrenaline rush by going rafting along the Ayung River with Bali Sobek or Bali Adventure Rafting, or along the Telaga Waja River with Bali Bintang White Water Rafting. Go Voyagin and Adventure & Spirit can also take you outside of Ubud to discover Bali’s hidden waterfalls and go canyoning. But if you’re not up to water activities, you can contact Bali Eco Cycling and join its half-day Ubud Eco Cycling that will take you through challenging terrain or take its Rice Paddy/Village Eco Nature Walk to discover ancient ruins, lush jungles, traditional villages, and more.

 

Artsy Ubud
Ubud is haven for art enthusiasts with so many museum and galleries like Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) and The Rudana displaying Balinese fine paintings and arts. Pasar Seni Ubud (Ubud Art Market) is also filled with souvenirs that are quintessential Bali made by local craftsmen – from paintings to wooden statues, from sarongs to keychains, you can find almost everything here to bring home. Just a little bit outside of Ubud is Tegalalang, an area known not only for its rice paddies but also the furniture they sell. Along the Tegalalang road, a lot of stores are standing, offering unique designs of lamps, chairs, bookshelves, and more. This is where you should go if you are planning on redecorating your home with some artsy furniture. Though it is known as a peaceful area, Ubud hosts lively musical events. To enjoy some remarkable live performances by international and local musicians while indulging in some delectable dishes, you can go to Jazz Cafe.

 

Out and About
You can arrange with Padma Resort Ubud’s shuttle service to get you from South Bali to the hotel and back. Padma Resort Ubud also provides shuttle service to take you to downtown Ubud, and you can continue exploring the area with a rental bike, a rental car or a taxi – however, riding a bicycle is highly recommended. If you’re up for rafting, canyoning and cycling as mentioned above, consult with each operator whether they can pick you up and drop you back to your hotel.

 

 

ABOUT THE WRITER

Risty Nurraisa

Risty Nurraisa is the Managing Editor of Bali & Beyond magazine, one of the leading lifestyle, travel and tourism magazines in Bali, and author of Indonesian young adult novels.