Ubud is a small town in the centre of Bali, which has become popular for its culture and serene way of life – mostly helped by the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. Ubud is a perfect retreat for people wanting to have a go at yoga or mediation, eat vegetarian and organic food and rest.
The streets of Ubud are lined with cobblestones and ornate Balinese carvings. A the southern tip of Ubud’s centre is the ‘Monkey Forest’, here around 600 or so Macaque monkeys nestled in the jungle. This is probably the most touristy part of the area.
There is no fence around the sanctuary so you can see many monkeys rooming around the entrance to the park.But don’t take their appearance lightly as they are all ready to grab any food or souvenir in their reach. Unfortunately due to the rain during our short stay we missed out on visiting this, but we have heard good things.
Most of the cultural sights of Ubud can be found in the centre. The museum of Puri Lukisan (or fine arts), the Ubud palace- where to local royal family still live and the Pura Taman Saraswati.
To get out of the bustle of Ubud a small walk across the Wos River to Campuhan Hill is recommended by myself and the Lonely Planet. As it has become popular the route is paved, making it an easy route to see the rice terraces and countryside around the centre.
There are numerous guided tours by car or mountain bike that are on offer to visit the temples, Mount Bator and villages surrounding Ubud for those that want to and have the time to explore!
