Why Ubud ?
What is it about Ubud that one should
visit this beautiful village? Because Ubud has much to offer;
from its stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and the terraces
rice filed, its most talented artist, its typical traditional
market and myriad of shops that line the road is a heaven for
shopping, its undying culture, its serene environs and plentiful
of nice small hotels and restaurants and many more.
Ubud has no great beaches to speak of, no
mountain lakes, and no grand hotels. Yet it has the richness
of soil and it is the center of Bali’s art and culture.
If you don’t stay in Ubud, or you don’t have much
time during your Bali Holiday, a visit is worth because it
would offer you a memorable stay in Bali.
Driving out of bustling Denpasar, the tranquil
green of rice paddies contrast sharply with the boisterous
sounds of the city. Palm-leaf carvings of Dewi Sri (the Rice
Goddess) guards over the crops, and small thatch huts dot
the rice fields, giving shade to those who work them. Temples
and small shrines can be seen along the way, women lay out
offerings of flowers, rice, incense and holy water to placate
evils spirits and please the good one. Even with the great
influx of tourism, village life basically goes on the same.
Almost every village on the way up to Ubud specializes in
some kind of art form. You can stop off and see the artisans
at work in their studios.
Many places near Ubud make beautiful side
trips. Morning walk through the villages lead to out-of-the-way
retreats. The route to Tegalalang offer beautiful views of
terraces rice field and myriad of art studios, Mas, Penestanan
and Peliatan, the centers of wood carving and painting, Sayan
offer a stunning panorama of Ayung River valley and still
home to spectacular view of gorges and palms and rice fields.
Campuhan , the place where three rivers meet – a sacred
site. There is a very beautiful temple called Pura Gunung
Lebah is worth a visit.
To the north is Petulu village is known
for many things but the most spectacular is the kokokan or
white herons. Every morning at dawn and the afternoon around
three or four o’clock, you can see them circling the
trees in droves.
To the south a short walk you will arrive
at Monkey Forest. To visit it, one must by a ticket. There
are hundreds of tame monkeys and a temple stands in the middle
of the forest. In the center of town the interesting places
to see are the Puri (the court of palace of former kings),
here every Sunday morning at 10 o’clock dozen of young
girls study traditional Balinese dance. Ubud main market just
opposite the Puri offer varieties of merchandises; Produce,
dry goods, linens, T-shirts, paintings, wood carvings, even
traveling medicine men appear here. Closed to market you can
visit Puri Lukisan (Museum of Paintings). Established in 1954,
it is dedicated to showing the works of local painters. It
is the excellent place to get an overview of the stylistic
differences between artists.
Ubud is a picturesque township and visitors
have been attracted by its charm and beauty for decades. If
shopping is your interest, Ubud has a myriad of shops which
line the road to Monkey Forest and the Museum Puri Lukisan.
Don’t forget to bargain!!! If art is your interest,
in Ubud, Mas and Peliatan, one can study dance, music, painting
or a number of other art forms. The best way to meet a teacher
is to find a style that appeal to you (by going to galleries
and watching performances) and than approach the artist directly
about lessons.
So Ubud has many attractive objects can
be seen for your Bali Vacation. And do not hesitate to choose
beautiful Bali for your holiday. Bali is a small, beautiful
island in Indonesia, the ultimate tourist destination in Asia.
Made Dertha writes for Bali Turista where
he is now the Managing Director. He was an English and Italian
tour guide for many years in Bali.
Article source: Hotel
Ubud Bali
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