What to Expect From Ubud, Bali

Hey everyone!

I made it to Bali. My first impression was one of relief – the readiness to get off the airplane, the blissful ocean breeze filtering into the structurally open airport, the availability of a gorgeous hotel 5 minutes away… the letdown was intense. I crashed hard and didn’t wake up until 9:30 the next day.

You’d think the jet lag would be killing me, given the 12 hour switch between here and Toronto, but it hasn’t been bad. From day one, I’ve been sleeping through the night and getting through the full day without napping. I wish I could tell you my secret, but it’s been hit or miss over the course of my travels. That said, it seems to be easier when you drop into a new time zone as suddenly as possible and force yourself to stay awake through the first day, no matter how much caffeine it takes. The worst time zone adjustment I’ve ever had was during the Atlantic crossing on the Queen Mary II, when the clock was set forward an hour every day. That creeping difference was killer.

I’m now in Ubud, at a gorgeous little $12 Airbnb set outside the town centre and overlooking a wide expanse of rice paddies. Each morning I wake up to a simple breakfast, hot tea, and a misty view of the field. The farmers bring out little offerings for the shrines set up throughout the paddy, never starting their work before each offering has been properly distributed. A cow or two wanders placidly, sometimes stopping to stare at me. Each morning, a troupe of ducks makes a pilgrimage to their favourite spot in the middle of the field, where they’ll socialize and pick around for food until the end of the day, when they dutifully herd themselves back home. Not a bad life, all things considered.

I’ve been to Ubud before, but only briefly. I hardly remember it from that trip. Ubud is like the touristy Disney World of Indonesia, while the rest of the country has so much more to offer in terms of culture and off-the-beaten-track experiences. So far, that’s holding true on this trip as well. Central Ubud is absolutely full of tourists and shops catering to them. There’s nothing local about it until you get towards the outskirts, where local families live and run their businesses. That’s not to say that Ubud sucks. You can get fresh veggies here without getting sick. I had a gourmet tuna steak with wasabi mashed potatoes the other day for – get this – $12. The scenery is absolutely fab, and there are affordable spas everywhere. Ubud’s location in the centre of the island makes it a great hub for day trips, and it’s easy to connect with other digital nomads, expats, solo travellers, and backpackers. Plus, the wifi is pretty decent.

There’s a lot to love about Ubud, but just as you can’t visit Manhattan for a week and say you’ve seen the USA, don’t expect to fully “get” Indonesia from a stay in Ubud.

Stop by Ubud for sure, especially if you’re into that hippie yoga vibe and want to sample some of the best smoothie bowls the world has to offer. But if you want a nitty gritty, real-world travel experience in Indonesia, check out the other islands and get away from the tourist hotspots. This isn’t the Ubud of Eat, Pray, Love anymore.

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Now I’m head-down in prep for the Family Adventure Summit Teen Program. I can’t wait to meet these teens and build up our little community! It’s such a gift to be able to give back some of my experience and watch the next generation of worldschoolers take off. I’m loving this opportunity.

I don’t have much to share in terms of experiences, since I’ve been so busy planning and working ahead for this Summit. My Airbnb host is extremely confused as to why I’m at home so much, tapping away on my keyboard instead of out on waterfall tours or day trips. I tried to explain that this is my lifestyle, not my vacation, but he only gave me a bemused look and shrugged. Ha!

I do get out occasionally, usually every afternoon when I’ve wrapped up my work for the day. I took one day off to walk all over Ubud, about 13km total. I walked past (but not through) the Monkey Forest, giving the monkeys and their teeth a wide berth. I am NOT a monkey fan. Luwaks, however, are adorable. Check below to see the two I found cuddling. I saw Ubud Market and peeked into the palace, had a scoop of gelato and hiked up the Campuhan Ridge Walk. I tried a “hair cream bath” spa treatment – bliss – and had the most gorgeous $8 lunch of all time.