Welcome to Ubud, Bali
Ubud, a town nestled in central Bali, is surrounded by lush jungle and exudes bohemian and spiritual vibes. Popular among travellers, it offers a peaceful atmosphere perfect for digital nomads and remote working. We arrived via a Gojek taxi from Uluwatu and even though it was rush hour and it was a little chaotic, we immediately felt the authenticity and charm of this less commercialised destination.
Transportation and Cultural Experience
Getting around Ubud is simple with ample scooters for rent, though many key places are easily accessible on foot if you stay in the main town area. Gojek is available for longer trips and day excursions and there are also many tour companies in the town where you can organise transport.
Locals are generally friendly and welcoming. However, haggling is the norm due to Ubud’s popularity with tourists. Fabrics, in particular, are extremely affordable so it’s a great place to stock up on clothing and accessories. We bought 2 men’s vests for around $6, a nice handmade fabric handbag (still my main bag after 6 months use) for around $3 and a nice long evening dress for around $2.50.
Lush Surroundings and Activities
Ubud’s green, countryside-like landscape is captivating. Although it rained during our trip, it added to the atmosphere. Monkey Forest, a popular tourist attraction, allows visitors to get close to local monkeys in nature. However, if you are like us and you’d prefer to skip the monkeys, we recommend exploring the central streets of Ubud, where you’ll find vibrant markets, boutique shops, and intricate Hindu temples that contribute to the spiritual ambiance.
Ubud also serves as a great base for a sunrise trek up Mount Batur, with numerous tour companies in town to help you book the adventure. We will share our experience of this trek in detail soon – it was epic!
Culinary Delights
Ubud offers a diverse selection of local Indonesian cuisine and international choices, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. We enjoyed budget-friendly artisan food from Meguna Ubud Restaurant, which provided some cool views of Monkey Forest so you can eat your dinner whilst watching the monkeys play in the trees (from a distance!). For health-conscious travellers, KAFE serves up tasty, reasonably priced food such as the humongous salads (see pic below!) we sampled during our trip.
Embracing the Digital Nomad Lifestyle
Ubud boasts trendy and modern cafes and coffee shops equipped with air conditioning and fans for those hot, humid days. Many of these establishments, such as Meguna Ubud Restaurant mentioned above, offer co-working spaces and opportunities to connect with other digital nomads. Decent free WiFi is widely available, and a range of budget-friendly accommodations cater to various needs.
Memorable Experiences
One of our favourite experiences of Ubud was wandering through the local markets and browsing through stalls ranging from handicrafts to postcards. We recommend visiting in the morning though, to avoid the heat and our sweat dripping experience writing our postcards! There are also many stalls with fantastic artwork and boutiques to leisurely browse. A hidden gem we thoroughly enjoyed was a cafe called Sweet Orange and the stunning rural scenery provided an unforgettable experience. We’ll save this for another post!
The Ubud, Bali Experience
Our short but memorable trip to Ubud was truly delightful. The locals were especially friendly, and we felt well taken care of by our host at Merthayasa 2 Bungalows. The accommodation was clean and homely, and the owners went above and beyond, providing us with takeaway breakfasts for our early morning Mount Batur trek (at 2am!) and a tasty breakfast of Nasi Campur (Rice with a variety of side dishes) on our departure day, which really set us up for our next destination.
Ubud is an ideal retreat from the beach scene and offers a chance to unwind and connect with nature. We highly recommend visiting this serene and vibrant destination in Bali and we will definitely be visiting again when next in Bali.
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