Ubud, Bali: Overview 2015
Barry and I were in Ubud again – because we love it there.
One of the great pleasures of being in Bali is the fresh coconuts – everywhere! For a little more than $1.00 U.S., you can enjoy this mineral-rich, hydrating treat.
Coconuts!
.
Not only can you drink the coconut water, you’ll find coconut in many dishes. Here – at the Yoga Barn cafe.
Coconut trees are everywhere.
A stop at Sari Organic for a coconut treat (note the straw is of sustainable coconut too).
Art is everywhere in Bali. Some of the streets in Ubud have patterned pavement.
Artistic pavement.
Ubud street.
Walking down an Ubud street, you will have visual treats everywhere you look.
These donated concrete slabs allowed the Ubud street to be paved.
For this concrete work, the close-by greenery leaves provide a beautiful pattern.
Even the shower floors are beautiful – at Dewa’s.
A wall next to Nyomen’s where we buy many of our gifts in Ubud. Nyomen’s husband carved these faces just to decorate the wall
Eating is a treat in Ubud.
One Sunday night, we tried this buffet in a family compound. Good and the cost? 35,000 Indonesian rupiah = about $2.65 U.S. 🙂
Dessert at Bollero’s – a favorite.
Food choices – from street cart venders to top five-star chefs – are part of the Ubud scene. We often just stopped in at Umah Pizza for a huge green salad – and yes, pizza; it was down the street from our home stay.
Warm volcano chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream – yum – at Bollero’s.
One of Barry’s favorite dishes at Bollero’s – Lemon grass, coconut chicken.
One of my favorites: vegetable/pineapple skewers at Warung Boga Sari
A feast at Dewa’s family compound
With friends at lunch at Bali Buddha
Bollero has photos from the past decorating the walls.
This caramel, peanut butter, chocolate pie was as good as we remembered it! At the Indian restaurant – Bumbu Bali
Usually we make friends as we hang out at Nick’s pool. This year, two Mainland friends came to visit us: Gail from near Seattle and Chris from Chicago.
Lunch at Nick’s with Gail and Chris – and Barry
Enticing walks lured us through the rice fields and all around Ubud.
A shaded walk.
Rice field.
Rice glowing in in the sunlight.
Terraced rice fields.
A big hotel is in the background, and tourists throng through the Ubud Palace, but you don’t have to go far to be away from the crowds.
Husked rice set in the fields to dry
Volcanos in the distance.
Shaded walks.
Plants familiar – and in this case not – but beautiful!
Rice field
Flowers are spectacular.
Rice field and volcano
Planting
We love the Balinese.
Two of our favorite Balinese: Krishna and Rama.
Dressed up for a temple ceremony, another cute Balinese boy
Spas are abundant in Ubud and nearby.
Naya Retreat & Spa – lovely
Barry and Chris at Naya – they came willingly to Rebecca’s Kundalini event 🙂
Of course, monkeys
You’ll see them especial in Monkey Forest
Everything has a reason in Balinese homes. The guards at the gates symbolize the positive and negative aspects of everything. In order for the head of the household to make wise decisions, the guards share both perspectives.
Guardians of the doorway
Ganesha, remover of obstacles, is in the middle of this doorway with the guards on either side
You’ll see classical – and quirky art
Traditional carved puppets
The painter of beautiful, intricate wooden eggs
Friendly painter. Barry met him on a walk through the rice fields near Ubud.
For the first time, we saw a cremation, an important rite of passage for the Balinese Hindus who believe in reincarnation.
Only the frame of the bull remains – and the ashes of the deceased
We went out almost every night for dinner, music, shows . . . Ubud has a range of entertainments within walking distance of our great home stay, Vera Accommodation <http://www.balicheapaccommodation.com/en/Cheap-accommodations/Indonesia/Ubud-Bali/Studio/Vera-Accommodation/1542>.
Hindu stories of the Ramayana come to life
The blacken feet of the trance dancer – he pranced through burning coconut husks! In the front row, I kept backing up so I wouldn’t get burned! How does he do it?
At Bar Luna: an entertaining and informative talk by two Western women who have married Balinese men
Music almost every night. Here we are again at Bar Luna. The performer made his instrument of bamboo – amazing
After Chris rescued a kitten, we went to Villa Kitty, an animal shelter just outside Ubud
Elizabeth (from Australia) is the moving force behind Villa Kitty
When we were there, for the Sunday fundraising buffet, Villa Kitty had 140 rescue cats of all ages and conditions and about 20 dogs. Elizabeth and her staff do wonderful work of rescuing animals as well as educating Bali residents.
Fellow Villa Kitty visitors
Chris and Villa Kitty rescue cats
This Villa Kitty resident looks much like the kitty that John and Sigrid got for us here at the Maui Humane Society – cute cat
Shopping is always an option in Ubud
Friendly faces, great prices
We enjoy being in Bali – especially in Ubud, a town rich in Balinese culture and religion. I also love all the yoga from very well-trained teachers offered in Ubud. My choice is The Yoga Barn almost every day! http://www.theyogabarn.com 🙂 . The Balinese and the visitors we meet there are wonderful, interesting people. Barry and I are sure to return.
Bye to Krishna, Rama and Ayu – until next time.
Aloha & Sanpai jumpa, Renée
"Where in the world are Barry and Renee?" 