Alex Mustard’s Bali Blog Part 1 - The dry bit.
People always ask me what it is that I like most about visiting Bali, and I have to admit that it is difficult to put my finger on it. Bali is a fantastic holiday destination for so many reasons. It goes without saying that the diving is excellent and diverse, but there is so much to savour above the waves. Beautiful landscapes, fascinating culture, the smiles of the Balinese or the relaxation of a spa, Bali has it all. It is certainly my favourite all round destination in South East Asia.
Whenever anyone asks me for advice on diving in Bali I always try and persuade them to extend their dive trip by a few days and to see some of Bali’s drier attractions too. So to put my money where my mouth is I decided to do just that. This is the first of five installments of my FiNS Bali Blog and it has no diving in it at all!
With just a couple of days free from diving we headed straight to Ubud, to sample Balinese culture in concentrated form. Up in the hills, Ubud is cooler and frequently wetter than the quiet dive resorts on the north coast or the busy tourist resorts in the south. But it offers a host of attractions such as local art galleries, shopping, spa treatments, fine restaurants and elegant hotels. It is also a great place to catch an entertaining Barong dance, visit local temples, or take a stroll through picturesque and verdant rice terraces.
We stayed at the Champlung Sari Hotel right on the doorstep of Ubud’s main shopping and eating establishments. Personally I would always stay centrally in Ubud as it makes it so easy to pop in and out for a meal a bit of shopping or some sight seeing. There are so many hotels with accommodation to suit any budget.
Finally no visit to Ubud would be complete without mentioning the Monkey Forest and all the little friends you will make there, especially if you go in carrying a bunch of bananas. Three troops of vivacious Balinese macaques live in the small forest and everyday they outwit many a tourist! Don’t be fooled by the adoring looks: you have been warned.
