One Day In Ubud

Ubud, a retreat away from the constant hum of motor bikes and honking of taxis cruising the streets looking to 'çatch' a fare....and I say catch cause we were caught twice in the one night in Seminyak...didn't read the little zero's on the meter did we!! and it cost more than the meal we had and the swish Italian restaurant.

We find accommodation at the Champlung Sari Hotel opposite the monkey forest so we have seen the odd errant chimp scurrying about..we have to keep our doors closed so they don't get into our room...bugger, can you image that!

The grounds man guards the pool diligently with shanghai in hand and I can't help but wonder how that old male monkey who has come down to sip a drink from a puddle of water by the pool would have fared if we hadn't come along....another younger monkey heads straight for the pool water....mmmmmmm tasty chlorine and all!

Monkey forest road is a narrow thoroughfare winding up and down, but mostly up from where we are..all along are shops selling all sorts of Hindu deities, Ganesha, Buddha, Vishnu and the ever present statues of Bali’s Romeo and Juliet aka Rama and Sita.

All sorts of kites, stone carvings, silver jewellery, up market clothing, sarongs and a multitude of cafe's selling every type of food .Oh and did I mention the ever popular carved penis..yes it comes in all sizes, mostly wooden and even ornately painted for the cultured at heart...for the life of me I have no clue as to the significance of them and not sure who I could approach to enlighten me either lol...and should I buy one and for whom I wonder!

Prices are up market in comparison to where we've come from. To me, after spending time browsing and buying in Legian and Seminyak, here in Ubud we're being charged Toorak, Double Bay or Noosa prices so fortunately very few additions had been added to my already burgeoning load, at this stage at least! But it's early days!

I've had a bit of a shopping frenzy already having bought some beautiful silver jewellery, exquisite cushion covers for my bed ( new colour theme imminent) that very heavy shell light I just had to have and now have to cart around the country, the usual mandatory cd's and dvd's for less than $1 each and numerous other knick knacks and we’ve only been in Bali for one week!

So what to do next I wonder...oh yes a Balinese massage that was just so good and I got the bonus 30 minute foot massage with it....of course the oil slicked hair was a good look for dinner in the swanky Ubud ‘Home Made Restaurant’....2 for 1 cocktail hour it happened to be so a couple of Mojitos for us set the mood before our sumptuous dinner of grilled tuna, Balinese style and wrapped in banana leaf with rice....yum.

Once again the Balinese have ambiance down to a fine art, entering the restaurant by stepping stones over a pond filled with water plants, stone carved Buddhas and little candles and fairy lights everywhere...the main eating area set up high on a deck overlooking the comings and goings of the main street of Ubud with colourful lights, flowering frangipani trees and the constant stream of people wandering the shops and cafe's along the way.

A cultural performance is under way and the rhythmic Balinese sounds drift across the night skies...Paul Kelly is playing somewhere in town tonight, with the infamous Steve Bisley as host...this is part of the Ubud Writers Festival that is currently underway. I make a mental note to return same time next year to thoroughly explore the many activities which are a feature of the Writers and Readers Festival, tick, locked in.

This morning we've been up for our buffet breakfast with the monkeys scattered about the place, a brood of what look like manx kittens playing about in the gardens and the raucous sounds of a restaurant full of French folk...yeah well say no more...I'm not impressed but then again I never am by arrogance and I'm seeing it in full bloom here.

So off we trek once more up the hill to the local market where we haggle over the Barung I'm trying to find for my son...it's a mission impossible as it turns out and in the end I decide I will not be coerced into buying any as the price is so variable and the quality dubious for many...I also pass on the Ganesha statue I was hoping to buy and the pair of  stone Rama and Sita statues as alas, my luggage is weighing pretty darn heavy already.....so that's another trip for me along with the ornate umbrella and other 'must haves' I'll be putting on my shopping list for my next trip.

So now I head home to rest and prepare for my foray into the monkey forest, I'm going alone as my friend isn't up to those pesky little monkeys jumping out at her and on her at their whim!!

It's going to be tricky taking photos and dealing with the monkeys at the same time!

Tomorrow we take a tour and head to the volcano, some temples, the elephant rides, maybe, and numerous other sights of interest that we may or may not be interested in.....

Just another day in paradise!