All posts tagged: Ubud

Cafe Love: Sari Organik, Ubud

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Part of the joy of this little thatched-roof cafe, set overlooking a rice field in Ubud, is the journey there. You turn off the main road (Jalan Raya) up an unpaved driveway, wander into a narrow laneway – sidestepping motorbikes and potholes – and down a path lined with palm trees and set alongside some of the prettiest rice paddies you ever did see. There is plenty along the path to tempt you out of the heat – yoga studios, sari stalls, aromatherapy and massage clinics – but if you go the distance to Sari Organik you will be rewarded with fresh watermelon juice and simple organic meals using produce grown on the property. And what a lush, peaceful little property it is…. Want more? Check out my Wanderlust on Bondi Beach Radio Bali Special, which includes loads of great interviews from this trip to Bali and an accompanying soundtrack!

Bali Bliss: Ubud

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Ubud is known as the cultural centre of Bali. It is the first place I visited, and I imagine I will head straight here when I am next in Indonesia. It is a contrast of green rice fields and potholed streets, world-class restaurants and street food carts. There are galleries and temples and motorbikes screaming past – and what looks like more than a few women seeking the enlightenment of Eat, Pray, Love. Ubud does really have an energy though, for me it was an immediately calming one, as it felt all my home worries evaporate in the warm air. A feeling I would keep on this whole Balinese journey. After checking into the incredible Ibah Warwick Hotel (speaking of Eat, Pray, Love, the reason we know about this hotel is because my travel buddy Kel’s boyfriend stayed here with the cast and crew when filming the movie) we went exploring up the main street in Ubud. We stumbled on the stunning Saraswati temple, lined with a water lily pond in bloom. STAY – Sunrise …

Temples & Rice Fields: Ubud, Bali

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In the colourful outskirts of Ubud, you can discover sacred temples of ancient deities, waterfalls and evergreen rice terraces, as well as smiley-eyed locals ready to sell you handmade Balinese goods – think traditional oil paintings, cotton sarongs and wood-carved Buddhas. Bali doesn’t really do ‘tours’ in the traditional sense – it’s more find a driver you trust (by booking at your hotel, taking a traveller recommendation or having your friend who speaks Bahasa suss them out on the street), hire them for a day or half day, and tell them where you want to go (and don’t forget to take suggestions, as they have all the mad local knowledge). Simple. So, on my last full day in Bali (I had a red eye flight out of Denpasar that evening), I took off with my two new Californian friends (who, funnily enough, were in Bali because one won the Price Is Right and 6 nights in Bali was one of the prizes) with our trusty driver Nyomen for a day of exploring. I had the …