Rice terrace in Ubud, BaliBut, Bali is so much more than beaches. It’s emerald-green rice terraces dotting lush interior landscapes of mysterious, monkey-filled forests. We have one question: Could anywhere on God’s green earth be greener than Ubud?
Rice terrace in Ubud, BaliWhile it seems clear that the Balinese are only too happy to cater to the whims of the international traveler – their reputation for service certainly proceeds them – what stays with you is how, apparently without effort, they manage to remain so true to themselves, and their own unique way of life where everyday tasks, art, and religion all merge together.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the verdant foothills of central Bali. This is Ubud. Ubud can be described as a magical, wonderful, cultural center and the spread of workshops along the main roads in and out of town. And could anywhere on God’s green earth be this green? From the fluroscent emerald flash of young rice fields to the thick curtains of foliage that drape across the landscape, only greener for the scarlet accents of ginger and hibiscus. Anything that begins as another color be it brick wall or pebble pathway, soon becomes green with shaggy moss. Even the air seems to possess a pale green cast, as the moisture suspended in it picks up the pervasive glow of the verdure.
Magic is one of those words that travel writers’ overuse with alarming alacrity, but undeniably there’s a kind of magic here. When Balinese people lose something, they consult a balian a benign sort of sorcerer, who tells them where they’ll find it. Balians can interpret dreams, cure sickness, go into trances and speak in the voices of ancestors. And magic, in the form of the island’s unique religion, a blend of Hinduism and nature worship, is at the core of Bali’s arts, underlying the aesthetic everywhere.
The Ubud painting style is influenced by the early western artists the lived in the area.This is one of the most expressionist of all the Balinese painting stylesUbud is almost always referred to as Bali’s cultural heart, and with good reason. Galleries are, almost literally, on every corner. Someone once said that every Balinese is an artist, and no matter how they choose the express their art, be it painting, stone or wood carving, weaving or dance, a real sense of beauty permeates the air.
Kecak dance in UbudAs a center of the arts, Ubud is famous for it's regularly nightly traditional dance and shaddow puppet performances, which are part of the traditional culture and are arranged for tourists on a regular schedule and plenty of spas for resynchronizing your healing chakras. Ubud is generally quieter and the streets calmer than the more urbanised parts of Bali, and whilst traffic is slower than downtown Kuta. Central Ubud can be covered on foot, but you'll need wheels to explore the extended vicinity. The easiest option is to join a tour, or just charter a taxi/bemo for a few hours. You should not be surprised to run into a foreigner who happens to be living in Ubud, meditating or soul searching for his next book or poetry collection. Most hotels in Ubud are small, homely hotels and homestays that will provide you with a room that faces the ricefields with bird sonatas togently wake you in the morning.
