I recently returned from an unforgettable two-week journey to Bali, where I immersed myself in the rich culture and breathtaking natural beauty of this magical Indonesian island.
Over the near future, I’ll be sharing personal reflections and stories from the incredible places we visited. To begin, I’d like to start with Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali and the location of our first six-night stay. This vibrant town offered us a perfect introduction to the soul of Bali, and I’m excited to share what you will find, should you decide to travel there for yourself.
Exploring Bali’s Heart: Ubud’s Culture, People, and Serenity
Nestled in the highlands of Bali, Ubud is a vibrant and spiritual epi-center that offers a deeper, more cultural experience than Bali's bustling beach towns. Known for its lush rainforests, terraced rice paddies, and deep-rooted traditions, Ubud captures the essence of Bali’s rich history, warm hospitality, and spiritual depth.
A Spiritual Hub Steeped in Tradition
Ubud, often called Bali’s cultural heart, is deeply rooted in tradition. It serves as the center of Balinese spirituality, where Hindu customs intertwine with everyday life, creating a setting unlike any other. Temples and shrines dot the landscapes, each dedicated to different Hindu deities. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, for example, is both a tourist destination and a spiritual haven. Here, you will find statues and temples amidst ancient trees where long-tailed macaques roam, offering a glimpse into Balinese beliefs about the sanctity of nature and animal spirits.
The rhythm of Ubud is guided by ceremonies, and chances are good that you’ll witness at least one during your visit. Temple festivals, or "odalan," take place frequently and involve colourful processions, dances, and offerings. Each event is a beautiful display of reverence, patience, and devotion, providing insight into the values held by the Balinese. These ceremonies are expressions of gratitude, performed with vibrant flowers, incense, and meticulously arranged offerings. The Balinese welcome visitors to watch respectfully and, in some cases, even invite participation, embodying their spirit of inclusivity and friendliness.
A very meaningful experience is to take part in a water purification ceremony. The Balinese water purification ceremony is a sacred ritual performed at a temple’s holy spring, where participants cleanse themselves under flowing water to release negativity and renew their spirit. The ceremony concludes with a Hindu priest’s blessing, symbolizing purification and harmony, leaving participants feeling deeply connected and at peace.
Friendly People and Unparalleled Hospitality
Balinese people, known for their warmth and hospitality, are essential to what makes Ubud so captivating. In Balinese culture, welcoming strangers is an integral aspect of “Tri Hita Karana,” the philosophy of harmony with god, other humans and nature. This philosophy guides daily interactions, where the Balinese make you feel more like an old friend than a visitor. Conversations with locals often reveal stories of their customs, families, and the importance of spiritual practice. I witnessed genuine kindness, patience and respect. This generosity of spirit is as much a part of Bali’s allure as its natural beauty.
Art, Dance, and Craftsmanship
With the Balinese being fabulously creative and talented, Ubud is known for its thriving arts scene, which has also drawn artists and creators from around the world. Shopping in Ubud is a must-do for anyone looking to take a piece of Bali home. In the markets and shops you’ll find handcrafted jewellery, batiked sarongs, and intricately carved wooden statues made by local artisans. Each item is created with care and respect for Bali’s traditions, often incorporating symbols and motifs significant to the Balinese culture.
Dance and performance arts are also integral to the Ubud experience. Balinese dance, characterised by precise movements, expressive gestures, and colourful costumes, is not merely performance, but also a form of worship. Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) hosts nightly dance performances, where you can watch traditional dances such as the Legong, Kecak, and Barong. These dances tell ancient stories and celebrate the divine, inviting viewers to witness the connection between Balinese culture, history, and spirituality. Observing these performances is a way to connect deeply with the spirit of Bali, as each dance is imbued with symbolic meaning and reverence.
Nature as a Backdrop to Culture
Ubud’s natural landscape serves as both a sanctuary and a cultural backdrop. Rice terraces, like the famous Tegallalang, are iconic symbols of Bali’s agricultural heritage and community cooperation. The Subak irrigation system, a UNESCO-recognized practice, is an ancient method still used today, where water from nearby rivers is channeled into terraces. Farmers work in harmony with nature and each other, reflecting Bali’s value of community and sustainability. It is quite enlightening to take a guided walk through the picturesque rice fields.
Culinary Delights with a Cultural Twist
Balinese cuisine is as vibrant and diverse as its people. Ubud is teeming with beautifully appointed restaurants that offer a wide range of culinary experiences, from high-end creative cuisine to simple warungs (small family-owned eateries).
For those interested in a more immersive experience, Ubud also offers cooking classes that begin with a trip to the local market to source and learn about fresh ingredients. Cooking with local ingredients and learning traditional techniques offers a firsthand understanding of Bali’s delicious farm-to-table philosophy.
As part of a cooking experience, you may have the chance to learn how to create canang sari, the daily offerings of flowers, rice, and incense that are central to Balinese life. Crafting these offerings is both an art and a devotion, as multiple canang sari are prepared and carefully placed around family compounds or workspaces each day. For special occasions, you might be fortunate enough to witness a Balinese woman gracefully carrying a large, elaborate offering on her head, en route to the temple. After the food within the offering is blessed, it’s brought back home to be shared with the family.
Ubud’s Timeless Appeal
A journey to Ubud is an immersion into a world that prioritizes connection – to others, to nature, and to the divine. The town’s cultural and spiritual richness, combined with the openheartedness of the Balinese people, makes it a uniquely transformative destination. In Ubud, visitors are not just tourists but participants in a vibrant, spiritual tapestry that welcomes all who come with an open mind and heart.
Thank You ~ Cathy of 🌺 Babes in Bali
I am (really it’s we, as I believe I can speak for my fellow travellers) are very grateful to Cathy Gotfried of Erawan Travel Ventures for sharing her love and knowledge of Bali with us. After traveling to Bali for decades, she has fostered beautiful friendships and it was such a privilege to meet some of the incredible people she’s connected with. This especially goes for Nick, our Balinese Tour Guide. Being part of Cathy’s “Babes in Bali” tour was an unforgettable experience, made even more special by the fact that we were celebrating her 30th tour.
While in Bali, we were immersed in a wonderful array of experiences including: Tour of a family compound, Poan Cooking School class, canang sari making, guided tour through picturesque rice fields, Ancient Sound Healing session at Pyramid of Chi (amazing), visit to a Yayasan for Children (joyful), Water Purification Ceremony and Blessing (incredible experience), observed how silver jewellery is designed and crafted (so fascinating), visit to the Monkey Forest (wild experience), lunch overlooking the rice terraces of Tegallalang (incredibly picturesque), visits to many historic temples (awe inspiring), A Balinese massage or 2 (luxuriously relaxing), indulging in delicious chocolate, dining at unique and delicious restaurants, and stay in Lovina with snorkelling trip to Menjangan Island (wow, just wow), sunrise boat ride(beautiful), drive to Kintamani, seeing Mount Batur (impressive), attended fascinating cultural dance performances (so delightful), and of course there was a plethora of wonderful shopping everywhere we went.
I have many stories and photos to share from this incredible “Trip of a Lifetime”