Eat, Pray, Love in Idyllic Ubud
Credit to Author: MAAN D’ASIS PAMARAN| Date: Fri, 19 Jul 2019 00:00:36 +0000
There are so many things to experience in the soul of Bali
The book and the movie that has inspired many a personal journey takes its last leg in Ubud, where the “Love” part of “Eat, Pray, Love” takes place. In addition to channeling Julia Roberts by taking cinematic photos of cycling through lush ride paddies and groves of coconut trees in local garb, there are so many other things to do in this beautifully breathtaking location dubbed as “the soul of Bali.”
Despite – or probably because of – the influx of tourists, traditional culture is alive and well with the way the locals live and work. They still practice their festivals and rituals amongst the more cosmopolitan developments that haven taken place in recent years. Ubud’s art scene is also nothing short of spectacular, with intricate woodwork, paintings, silver ornaments found in so many shops and galleries on offer as souvenirs. These can range from little dainty pieces of hammered silver jewelry to large panels of wooden walls that have been carved to depict animals or scenes from Balinese culture.
For an even broader shopping experience, there’s the Ubud Art Market, a memorable setting in that Julia Roberts movie. In this artisans haven and bargain hunter’s heaven, one can find a myriad of pasalubong items ranging from sarongs, traditional Balinese wooden masks, woven bags and hats. Make sure to brush up on your haggling skills because that is part of the fun of shopping at this market.
Ubud is also a place to heal because its name is said to come from the Balinese word Ubad, meaning medicine, which in turn was inspired by the abundance of medicinal plants and herbs in this region. There are many types of healing methods in Ubud including relaxing spa sessions and yoga and meditation classes.
Of course, a trip to Ubud also means taking a lot of Instagrammable photos, including ones at the famous Ubud Swing and Nests with lush green landscapes as the background for breathtaking shots. For an even closer view of nature, trek to the Ubud Monkey Forest, which is home to about 700 long-tailed Macaques and about 115 species of trees growing around its 27 acre-land. A “Holy Spring” bathing temple can be found inside the Ubud Monkey Forest area, for a truly immersive experience.
Global gourmands will enjoy indulging in Indonesian cuisine with its more familiar Satay and Rendang, along with more localized favorites such as Bebek Goreng or Crispy Duck. Coffee is a big part of the culture here, and there are coffee destinations for those who want to have a farm-to-cup experience.
For more information about Ubud and how to get around this idyllic artisan paradise, visit https://www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/destinations/bali-nusa-tenggara/ubud
The post Eat, Pray, Love in Idyllic Ubud appeared first on The Manila Times Online.