Many visitors to Bali are quickly discovering that there is a lot to see and experience in the surrounding areas as well. Apart from going on a cruise and landing in Komodo Island with the monstrous lizards, there are other destinations neighboring Bali that are also worth exploring.
Therefore, once you have had enough of the surf breaks and wonderful beaches of Bali (if it is possible to have enough of them, that is) venture farther inland and see the cultural hub that is Ubud.
Ubud is known as the cultural heart of Bali. If you haven’t visited this spectacular destination yet, this is what awaits you:
- Magnificent jungle views
- Finger-licking cuisine
- Top-notch entertainment
- The breathtaking green rice fields
- Waterfall treks
If you spend too much time in Bali, you wish you had divided your time equally between the two destinations. There are a lot of activities to do and wonders to see and not enough time in the day to do everything.
Things You Must Do in Ubud
Here are a few of the activities and places that will keep you occupied and enthralled in Ubud.
The Rice Terraces
30 minutes from Ubud, you will find the most famous rice terraces in Bali and possibly all of Indonesia. Many Bali honeymoon resorts will recommend a visit to these rice terraces for a spectacular view with your loved one. You will also get a lot of ‘Instagram-able’ moments here as the terraces make for beautiful backgrounds for your photo sessions.
At Tegellalang, you will find rice terraces that look like paintings with their yellow and green landscapes. There are restaurants where you can have lunch while taking in the spectacular views around you. Afterward, you can take a stroll through the curved paths and watch the farmers in their element.
You will also experience the world-famous kindness of the locals who are only too willing to make your experience as fulfilling as possible.
Experience a Kecak Fire Dance
Culture is best experienced through song and dance. Local residents are only too willing to stage performances of their cultural dances for the visitors. The Kecak Fire Dance is a delight to watch. It is performed by about fifty men dressed in traditional Balinese sarongs. They sit cross-legged in a circle around a fire and chant a seemingly never-ending unfathomable tune.
Two women dance in the middle of the circle around the fire. Then a man in a horse costume comes in, lights up a few coconut husks and kicks them around the floor making the ember twirl into the air. It is amazing to watch.
The Waterfalls
Ubud is a waterfall paradise. There are more waterfalls in this area than you have ever seen in one place. If you like hiking, here is your chance to not only enjoy a hike through the beautiful countryside but also see the spectacular waterfalls along the way.
The mist from the falls is pretty cooling which is great if you are all hot and sweaty from the hike. You can opt to enjoy a swim to cool down.
Eat Some Local Food
There are no better places to enjoy authentic Indonesian dishes than the market. Make your way to the Gianyar night market to mingle with the local youth and sample some of the local delicacies such as babi guling (suckling pig).
While you are there, you should not miss out on the deep-fried bananas. Choose a stall that is thronged by the locals. That is a good sign that the stuff they are ingesting is good.
Conclusion
Ubud is not a town you just pass by because you are curious. You must plan for it because you cannot experience everything the town has to offer. You may not even get to leave the town at all because there is so much to see and do.
In fact, you will want repeat experiences. Don’t just consider Bali for your honeymoon or vacation. Visit the nearby Ubud and create memories for a lifetime.