Ubud- The Utmost of Art and Culture

Welcome to Ubud. A unique town where the arts have flourished for centuries. We were told that there is not a word for "art" in the Balinese culture. Everyone is and artist, everyone has a talent or a craft in which they have been trained. In researching prior to going to Bali, we learned that their agricultural knowledge and expertise in rice farming was so adept that they were able to devote more time to the arts that most third world cultures. We stayed in a homestay called Narasoma. It was a very simple accommodation with only the necessities. It was very affordable coming to about $15 per night. The host was excellent and full of good tips and information concerning the area.

The nicest part of the stay was the views from the back and front porches. One overlooked the jungle and the other the city.

Click on the photos to enlarge them.

In the mornings we could see the distant Mt.Agung, the holy mountain/ volcano.A highly recommended destination is the Ubud market. A mixture of tourist trinkets and Balinese lifestyle, the market was interesting but in some places slightly foreboding. Some of the vendors could become very pushy and at times begged for you to buy.

The items for sale were limitless. With every turn you saw different items and with every turn you moved deeper into the overwhelming atmosphere. Enough pictures could not be taken. It was sensory overload. The smells, the sounds, and the sights; fascinating.

Spices, Sunglasses, Sarongs.

Foods, Fabrics, Furniture,...

Fruits, Fish, and Feathers.

Petals, Purses, Paintings, and Plates.

Statues, Silver, Shirts.

Idol and Incense. Jewelery and Jimbay.

Baskets, Bracelets, Bowls, Banners

All was to be seen and sold in the market. It was all very inexpensive.

The Monkey Forest is also a Ubud favorite. Once again bananas for sale at the gates were highly coveted by the monkeys inside. The forest/jungle had an Indiana Jones feel to it, as all the limestone carvings were green with moss and the dense vegetation draped overhead.

Pura Dalem Agung- Temple of the dead. There were stone carvings of gargoyles eating children. Pretty wild.

The monkeys were terrific! Cute and funny but ferocious when you flashed bananas about.

Another one of many temples which are scattered throughout Ubud.

All over wherever we went while we were in Bali were daily offerings scattered about. They were often on the sidewalk or entrances of buildings. They were also piled high at temples and sacred spots. Each individual puts out multiple of them every day. Some ornate, some more simple. They were made from banana leaves and they things such as rice, spices, flower petals, cigarettes, coins, bananas, and a stick of incense. All biodegradable.

Adventures are like smoke in the breeze. The aroma of the present lingers for a moment and then dissipates leaving pleasant memories and a desire for more.

Uluwatu Cliffs- Bali Indonesia

The famous Uluwatu Cliff Temple is touted as a must see in Bali. Located on the west coast and hopping, with monkeys it was a beautiful and exciting stop. The temple was not the largest or most elaborate that we saw while we were there, but the scenery and the surroundings were fantastic. Upon entering the temple area you must "rent" and wear a sarong. Its like a skirt. I was also sure to buy some peanuts for Chelsie from the ladies in front of the entrance. Well, the peanuts were for the monkeys, but Chelsie is the one who loves to feed them.

The waves were fantastic as they crashed against the cliffs below. The sounds, the smell of the ocean, and the vanishing horizon were memorable. It reminded me in a way of our drive along the Big Sur region on the southern California coast line.

The temple is perched on top of the cliff and compliments the scenery.

The monkey stalk the tourists and seem to be everywhere. They are funny little munchkins and are always looking for handouts.

Chelsie wanted to take this little buddy home. He loved peanuts.

As sunset approached we migrated to the amphitheatre and found seats for the traditional Kecak dance. The performance is a series of scenes depicting stories of love, war, happiness and sadness. Elaborately dressed in colorful costumes, the actors use expressionate faces and disfigured movements to play their role while the men sit in a circle and chant in a trance like fashion. Only using vocal percussion to create rhythm and melody the chants change each scene without a a rest. The music and dance lasted the better part of an hour as the sun dipped into the ocean.

This was my main reason for wanting to see the dance is that they said that there would be fire during the performance.

After the sunset at Uluwatu, we changed beaches with our friends and went to Jimboran for an outdoor seafood dinner. It was very romantic with the live music, candles flickering, and the waves crashing on the shore.

The selection of entrees was like one would only find on the ocean side. Crab, lobster, and shrimp by the kilo. You could take you pick.

Chelsie and I enjoyed grilled red snapper and salad. We drank fresh juices and coconut milk with a straw from a fresh coconut. Down the beach, fireworks were shot over the ocean.