|
Why Ubud is special
 The town of Ubud is the undeniable artistic heart and soul of
Bali's art. It rests among lush hills and rice terraces.
The
vacation lifestyle is markedly different from Kuta's, the island's other major tourist magnet. It's more cultural,
less hedonistic.
Life proceeds at a slow pace
in Ubud, even for visitors, which
is part of the charm.
The locales are open and
friendly -- and you encounter few pushy vendors.
Day
trippers from the southern beach resorts miss out on the special sense of place. You need to stay in the
Ubud area for at least several days. It's an insightful, unforgettable experience.
Checklist of key
attractions & activities
in and around Ubud
Traditional dance and gamelan orchestra
performances - There's a quality performance practically every night. (Click the "2" button for brief descriptions
of Balinese dances and music.)
Art shops, galleries and studios -
You find many in Ubud and nearby villages, including in the neighboring village of Penestanam (renowned for its refreshing Young Artist School style
of painting).
Museums - The area has world-class
museums. Namely, the Neka, Puri Lukisan and Agong Rai. (Click the "top runners-up" button for brief
descriptions of those institutions.)
Ubud Palace - Small, walled
complex of embellished buildings and courtyards smack in the middle of town.
Restaurants - Good variety to suit
different tastes and wallets. Nearly all have a relaxed, unpretentious tone.
Hiking - One of Bali's best
areas for short walks on scenic foot paths.
Whitewater rafting - Run the
rapids down the eye-arresting Agung River gorge. Easy but challenging enough to thrill novice river rafters.
Basic swimming proficiency recommended in case the rapids get the better of your rubber raft.
Doing nothing - Some visitors
unwind by renting a cottage or villa with a picturesque rural view -- and hole up with a good book or companion.
Click these buttons to
learn why the top ten Bali
attractions are popular
Other Bali web pages
Islands near Bali
Next Bali web page
|
