Ubud: Famous city, with the reputation of cultural center

The local royal family has always pushed the art, from Bali and from abroad. But if you stay just for the day, what you will see is mainly shops, restaurants, spa and hotels…  The monkey forest in central Ubud. In the evening you have all sorts of traditional dances. There are very nice shows with professional dancers. And you also have some museum.

Ubud is now a small trendy city, with a few organic shops. It is relax, but trendy.
But it is nice to have Ubud has a starting point to visit the region.

Yeh puluh: Next to Ubud. An old sculpture on the small cliff, yeh puluh is a quiet place.What I like there is a small restaurant in the rice fields and the sculptures shop next to the restaurant (sculpture from the husband and his father).

Goa Gajah: Elephant cave. Ancient site with still some buddhist stupa. It is classified by Unesco. The cave was already mentioned in a poem dated 1365. You can walk from there to Yeh puluh.

Tirta Empul: Sacred sources. Nice to be there when you have ceremonies and a lot of Balinese. They come here to purify themselves. Some of the sources are only for the cremation, so do not take water from them. Right above you have the residence of Suharto, now places where the president stays when he is in Bali. When you want to go out, you have to follow the path into a labyrinth of shops. Some people have complained to be about sellers being a bit aggressive, so walk faster if you don’t want to buy.

Gunung Kawi: Royal Tombs. A very nice place in the rice fiels. You have to go down to see the tombs, but it is worth it. The tombs are dated from 11th century. You can do great walks in the rice field around there with a guide or even walk from Tirta Empul to Gunung Kawi. I recommend this walk.

Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu: Nice temple with a few tourists. It has a lot of ponds with fish.

Tegallalang: Just North of Ubud. Kilometers of small producers of crafts.

Mas – Celuk: Another craft zone, with galleries. They work there silver, wood and paintings. It is nice to see the people work and then explain a bit the type of wood or the local jewelry. For the sculpture, it is impressive to see the work the balinese can do, in very big sculpture and small one also. If you decide to buy, do not forget to negotiate hard !!

Multiple temples on the edge of the caldera or crater.

Neka art Museum: For lovers of paint!!!
This museum will explain the painting in Bali. Visitors are invited to walk through a series of galleries, starting with classic paintings through contemporary Indonesian art, followed by the art created and influenced by Bali by foreign artists.

Art Museum Don Antonio Blanco: Still paint!!!
A unique blend of Balinese architecture imbued with the spirit of his native Spain.
A artist with a “Catalan charisma”.