INDONESIA - BALI -UBUD - 'CROWDED AND POLLUTED YET SORTOFOKAY' - 28 AUGUST 2018

24 AUGUST 2018



We arrived at Ubud to very crowded streets - traffic and people. We had a short walk with all our gear to our hotel - The Swan Inn.

It was so good to Kara (our daughter) again. She was already staying at the hotel.

We checked in to a large room on the second floor with good views over the roof tops of Ubud.

We had lunch and chatted. The rest of the afternoon was at the hotel chatting and resting until dinner.

Dinner was good. I had the best beef  rendang ever. e listened to live music and had a few drinks.

25 AUGUST 2018

I woke early and walked the now not so crowded streets of Ubud and visited the traditional market. It as fun walking through the market crowds and gazing at the happening from various vantage points.

Back to the hotel and Kara and I were off for a guided bird hike (520 000R  pp) around Ubud. It was great. Su, the guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining, The other people on the tour were nice and friendly and we saw lots of birds. An excellent morning.

A  bit weary and hot from the walk so we had an easy afternoon and night.

26 AUGUST 2018

It rained early in the morning.

A lazy day - massage, pool, take away pizza, checked out a few shops.

Not feeling the best - sort of on/off virus and one eye keeps weeping.

27 AUGUST 2018

We booked tickets online for the Bali Bird Park. Nyoman picked up/drop off return for 300 000R. It was a great day - many birds, bird shows, cute birds, ugly birds, birds with character and all in a setting of nice gardens and avairies.

28 AUGUST 2018

Jacinta and I had a walk through the traditional markets then coffee at a nice cafe.

Back to the hotel to pack. Nyoman pick us up at 12:30 for our journey to Legian - 350 000R.

Ubud had changed somewhat since our last visit - the crowds of tourists were larger, some people were aggressive on the narrow footpaths, the traffic was very congested and the air was hard to breath at times. On the plus, there was good and tasty food.

I was glad to go and I don't think I'll be back.

INDONESIA - BALI - UBUD - 9 to 14 Juy, 2014 - 'BIKE, HIKE, MONKEY'

Info

Car/driver Balian to Ubud – 450 000R - 2 hours

Mountain bike hire – 30 000R - Made - Jalan Kajeng, Ubud

Bali Botanical Spa -

Car/driver Ubud to Padangbai  - 270 000R

Rumah Roda - Jalan Kajeng, Ubud

Our journey

We loaded the gear in the car and left Balian for Ubud. We reached there in about 2 hours.

We had booked Gusti’s Hotel in Jalan Kajeng but when we got there were no rooms. They said they had rooms at the rice field part of the hotel. I motorbiked over there but there was only one room with no aircon for a higher price than originally quoted. We drove back and I ended up finding a room at Rumah Roda, which was across the road in Jalan Kajeng from Gusti’s.

The room was on the second floor. It was a big room with fan, breakfast, pool, balcony, Wi-Fi and a partial open air bathroom.

We went for a late afternoon walk through town and saw a large temple ceremony, drank cocktails, and had dinner. Later, we had a night swim in the pool.

Ubud is spread over a large area and semi merges with other towns and villages in the area. There are rice fields, walks, markets, heaps of restaurants and shops, temples and a monkey forest. The roads are steep in parts so walking is hot in the middle of the day. Traffic can be congested and day tripping tourists abundant.

The next day, we had a rice field walk. It started at the end of Jalan Kajeng in a direction away from Ubud, climbed an embankment and then doubled back to Ubud. The rice fields were lush and vibrant green and the irrigation channels were full with fast flowing water. We stopped at a rice field restaurant towards end of the walk which had nice food, cold beer and a relaxing view.

Later, I hired a great and well maintained mountain bicycle and rode down Jalan Kajeng and followed the rice field walk, then took a series of roads that eventually lead back to Ubud. A great ride. There were tracks, steep drop offs, roads, lots of ‘hellos’, dogs and rice fields.

Later again, I had a second bike ride along Campuan Ridge and beyond. It was harder ride with portage up steep steps, dirt and concrete tracks and roads. The people were friendly and were amused by my go pro camera on my helmet. I came across a funeral which was progressing along the road then turning off into the rice fields.

We met Sam and Sacha, who were from Paris.

I walk to the monkey forest and wandered the paths and temples and sat to watch the monkeys.

Jacinta had booked a treatment at the Bali Botanical Spa. They met her at Starbucks for car pick up. She had a facial, exfoliation and flower bath – 135 000R + 190 000R = 325 000R about 2 hours

We had an afternoon walk, which turned into cocktail time and then dinner at the Black Beach Restaurant.

We met Chris and Carmen from Melbourne later, at second cocktails. We listened to a nice duet of song and guitar until the power blackout.

After an easy morning, I had another bike ride along tracks, streets, villages, ravines and bridges around Ubud. It was very hot but fun!

We lunched at the Lotus Café. It is such a pretty restaurant with huge lotus ponds and temple backdrop.

I had another late afternoon bike ride though the rice fields. It was so cool with mud, narrow tracks, portage, steep ravines, a slow massively steep  uphill grind and a fast and furious downhill ride back to Ubud.

We met a couple from US of A. Nice young folk.

In the morning, we packed and said our silent good byes to Ubud and drove to Padangbai

Indonesia - Bali - Ubud - 17 to 19 april 2011

  Sunday 17 April 2011 – Labuan Bajo and Ubud – sunny

Pradha hotel – 450 000 triple air con. Not best value. Not recommended at all.

I woke up for an early swim in the pool. We then packed, had breakfast and took the car to LB airport. Oddly, we each had to stand on the airport scales to be weigh. Strange! The airport tax was 20 000 R. We were pretty early so we spent a lot of time waiting.

The flight was quick and Nyoman was waiting for us. We drove to Ubud (250 000R) and checked into the Prada Hotel. We had a walk around the town looking in shops and the Ubud markets. The sellers there seem to be uninvolved, persistent or rude. Such is life! Anyway, I bought two pairs of Bali pants which will do me for a few years and Chloe saw a dress she liked. There weren’t many bargains or quality items.

We went back to the room and the aircon wasn’t working so we switched rooms. This took a while, and then we had dinner downtown.

Monday 18 April 2011 – Ubud – sun, cloudy

Happy birthday Peter! Bring out the dancing girls it’s time for a wild one! Anyway…

I went for an early walk skirting the edge of the rice fields and river gorge. I walked the track at the end of Jalan Kajeng and at the cross track turned back towards Ubud. It was a 2 hour easy walk. I met a man who wanted to sell me a coconut, dogs that barked and growled, ducks and a few westerners. The views were very beautifully panoramic and with the sound of rushing water I was in ‘walk heaven’.

Back at the hotel and  I rested while the girls went shopping.

The girls then had a facial, while I continued resting.

Later in the afternoon, Jacinta and I walked to and around the monkey forest. It was very calming with plenty of monkeys. (20 000 entry)

We had a crap dinner but at least there was music.

Indonesia - Bali - Ubud - Gayatri II hotel - 2008

Gayatri II is located in central Ubud along a small lane (gang) near the Monkey Forest Road and the soccer fields.

Rooms

There are a variety of rooms from fan t air conditioning and budget to large family rooms to traditional rooms. The budget rooms are in the old three storey building and the family rooms in the modern three storey building. All the rooms are lack care in some ways. I’ve stayed here a few times and there is always a room problem though they fix them when you ask. E.g. air conditioning not working, toilets not flushing, cleaning the room, toilet paper, clean towels.

Pool

There is a small pool with a toddler’s pool attached. There is seating and a small pavilion around the pool. At one end of the pool there re rice fields which makes a nice backdrop.

Gardens

The garden is small with a fish filled pond and walk-over bridge.

Restaurant

There is no restaurant but breakfast is served at Gayatri guesthouse and restaurant which is a ten minutes walk. There are many nearby restaurants.

Best Points: pool

Worse points: breakfast, steep slippery steps

Note: this hotel is fine but I think there are much better ones around.

Indonesia - Bali - Ubud - Kajeng Bungalows - 2009

Kajeng Bungalows, Jalan Kajeng, Ubud, Bali April 2009

0361975018
air con 250 000
fan 160 000
10% discount after two days

Kajeng Bungalows is located on Jalan Kajeng, Ubud. It is a small hotel with two air conditioned rooms (250 000 r per night) and about a dozen fan rooms (160 000r per night). There is a 10% discount for stays of more than two days. Each room has a balcony with seating and table. The rooms have double or single beds with a mosquito net canopy.

The hotel gardens and rooms are interconnected with steep stairs with no guard rails. The gardens are simple but nice. The bottom of the hotel has a pool and fish pond.

The entrance of the hotel runs through the family compound.

The view from the hotel is of the jungle which lines the river gorge at the far rear of the hotel.

Breakfast is tea/coffee, fruit and either toast, pancake, omelet or jaffle. Only one of the latter items is served on a set day. There is no choice.

Toilet paper and towels are provided but you may need to request them.

Telephone: 0361975018

Worse Points: noise from the pool was very loud throughout the night depending on age of hotel guests.

Best Points: nice pool; easy place to meet people.

Indonesia - Bali - Ubud - ricefield walk from Jalan Kajeng - 2009

There are a number of walks around Ubud. This is one that we took.



The walk starts at jalan Kejang which is the first street on your right when walking from the Ubud markets. The street is very interesting with the surface made of blocks of concrete with the names of sponsors, individuals and businesses that helped paid for the road. There are a number of guest houses, houses, shops and small restaurants lining the street.



Eventually, the shops and houses begin to end and the street crosses a small river and leads steeply upwards until it levels out at rice fields and beautiful countryside. The street is now a dirt track which follows the river passing through rice fields, jungle, irrigation canals and the distance views of misty mountains,

Along the way there are people working in the fields and making offerings at the numerous shines that dot the corners of the rice fields



There are various shelters for living and animal enclosures, at strategic points there are shelters for resting during the day. Some are on stilts to watch the fields.

The track crosses the river again and leads up a steep embankment and intersects with a more major track. At this point you can follow the track to the left back to Ubud or continue on to the right.

At one point there are a number of shops selling handicrafts.



The track after a time diverts downhill onto a concrete walkway or continues to two rice field hotels. Taking the track downhill leads to a temple, passes numerous dwellings and irrigation canals. The track ends at a minor road. Turn to the right and walk up the road a short distance to a cross road then turn right and follow it back to Ubud markets.

Indonesia - Bali - Ubud - 2009

Ubud is a small city/town in the hills of Central Bali. It is about an hours drive from the airport. It is made up busy streets lined with shops, houses, restaurants. The busy streets slowly give way to rice fields on the outskirts. The town is very steep in parts.

The day is very busy with traffic but in the evening it all seems to cease.

The food in the restaurants are very good and there is a wide variety of accommodation with a wide price range starting at about 100 000 rupiah for a simple fan room with breakfast.

Generally the town has a laid back feel and is a good base for activities that are available in the centre of Bali.

THINGS TO DO AROUND UBUD

Batubulan – stonework

Celuk – silver and gold

Sukawti – traditional craft market pasar seni

Mas – woodcarving

Batuan – pura puseh - 1st and 15th of month

Sights

Goa gajah – elephant cave

Tampaksiring - Gunung kawi royal monuments - Pura tirta empul

Petula – herons at sunset

Sebatu – pura gunung kawi – spring temple

Activities
Taman Burung Bali Bird Park and Rimba Reptil Park

Canyon tubing ??

Downhill cycling - 275 000/200 000 www.baliecocycling.com

Gunung Batur - Volcano climb – 250 000 for walk to three volcano peaks

Rafting – white water

Sebatu – street walk, pura gunung kawi

Taro – elephant safari park

Danau Bratan, Tamblingan and Buyan – canoe, walk, temples

Candikunning and Bedugul – recreation park, views, markets

Bali botanic gardens – plants, ropes course

THINGS TO DO IN UBUD

Ubud tourist information centre – to left of markets

Ubud palace, puri saren agung

Pura marajan agung – gate

Pura desa ubud – for community

Pura taman saraswati – left of market right side – via café lotus – pond – dance

Agung rai museum of art – dance and gamelan practice

Pasar ubud (Ubud market)

Puppet shows

Dance show

Cooking class – 175 000 adult 125 000 child

Spas

Monkey forest sanctuary

Walks