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FireFlyz | 19
A lone fruit seller lurks in
a calmer corner of Ubud
Market –most of the space
is given to tourist shops
The local currency is the Indonesia
Rupiah, with the current exchange
rate at RM1 for 3,266 rupiah (as of June
2016).
Flights between Kuala Lumpur and
Denpasar (Bali’s major airport) are
regular, with a flight time of 3 hours.
Indonesianweather is similar to that of
Malaysia, and Bali has a tropical warm
climate with a dry season and a wet
season. The best months to visit are
May, June and September.
The Indonesian language has some
similarities toBahasaMelayu, andmany
peopleworking intourismspeakEnglish
so communication is straightforward.
IndonesiaandMalaysiaareon thesame
time zone, so no jetlag!
argy of lazing by the pool or indulging
in a massage, the tourist trail has much
to be enjoyed. The Monkey Temple
Sanctuary is the starting point for most
visitors: this ancient temple complex is
alive with macaque monkeys that scuttle
and scatter over statues of themselves
amid peaceful jungle surroundings.
Further afield is the Uluwatu Temple
– well worth the journey – while those
moving around Ubud town should en-
sure they direct their footsteps through
Ubud Palace (Puri Saren Agung) to
admire the well-preserved Balinese
structures built to house the royal leader
in the 1800s.
Gift Hunting
Goa Gajah should be included in any
itinerary too. This ‘Elephant Cave’ is an
archaeological spectacle that dates from
the 11
th
century. Visitors descend the
stairs to admire relics, rock-wall carv-
ings and a Hindu temple, all reflected
in the still bathing pool, located in the
depths of the earth for an atmospheric
and immersive spiritual experience.
The heritage of Bali’s early civilisa-
tion has also left a gift of natural beauty
in the rice terraces of Tegallalang, the
terraced landscape courtesy of the
traditional irrigation system (Subak).
Tourists can make it a day trip by stop-
ping by the nearby village of Pakudui
for a glimpse of traditional Balinese life
and the chance to purchase hand-carved
wooden keepsakes that serve as super
souvenirs.
For serious and more boisterous gift
hunting, head to Ubud Market, where a
small gaggle of fruit and vegetable stalls
are almost suffocated by an explosion
of tourist fare. Pick up t-shirts, purses,
table mats, paintings, postcards, orna-
ments, hats, key chains – the list is
endless and bargaining is a must.
Once the shopping is done, ease the
transition back to calm by pampering
your body in the way Ubud has be-
come known for: yoga. There are many
venues in which to get into the lotus
position in Ubud, but the Yoga Barn
comes with the strongest reputation
and does not disappoint. Admire the
wooden structure nestled in the trees,
take one of the many classes, and then
enjoy a nourishing meal in the café
where all manner of specialist diets and
intolerances can be catered for.
After the gentle activity, a traditional
Balinese massage is just what you need,
with local hands easing away your
physical and mental anxieties and
strains and offering yet another cultural
tradition to make your trip one you will
never forget.
There is much to do, but a trip to
Ubud allows for doing very little too,
as the atmosphere and style of the town
and its hotels lend themselves to calm
relaxation. Let the hotel staff pamper
you, let the swimming pool soothe
you, and soak up the serenity that
make this area of Bali a top honeymoon
destination.
I fell in love with Ubud, feeling a tug
of regret when I had to board a plane
back to the rush of real life. But I will be
back – I now know where to go to find
a piece of paradise.
Need toknow
Visitors keen to get closer to
the monkeys can buy bananas
and feed them, but be careful,
they can get vicious!