Eat, Pray, Love Binders - Ubud, Bali

After Nusa Lembongan, Ubud would be our final stop in Bali, and last major stop of the whole trip. Located in central Bali, Ubud exhibits every element of Bali culture from temples, to dance performances, art, rice fields galore, spas, and monkeys. It's always been a popular destination in Bali, but has exploded a little bit since the book/movie "Eat, Pray, Love" showed Ubud in an only semi-accurate depiction (there is no beach, and a lot more traffic). I still haven't seen it, but we could tell that the women in Yoga pants sipping kombucha at the cafe talking about their feelings certainly had. Either way, Bri and I were out looking for a relaxing final stop, some good food, and taking in the culture of Bali.

Our friends Mike and Kelsey Grady suggested we stay at a house in Ubud that they stayed at on their honeymoon in Bali last year. Owned by Americans from New Mexico, but run by a local family that lives downstairs, the house was beautifully perched up on a hill overlooking the rice fields, providing an incredible view and cool breeze. Open windows, outdoor shower, a tower with a futon, and a temple in the courtyard, this place was a Bali wonderland. The family was great, including Putu the mother who cooked for us in her restaurant downstairs. And Ketut, the oldest son who gave us tips and drove us around to see the sights.

Carrying our bags up the stairs to the house..

Front gate to the house, getting excited to see our pad

Some of Putu's home cooking downstairs, Nasi Campur

View from the deck and bedroom

Bedroom, great view and slept with the windows open for the breeze. Frogs and bugs buzzing all night long, like a jungle.

Downstairs

Outdoor shower, averaged three showers a day since it was so hot

Front door, Bali style

The tower, good place to have some wine we bought at the market... Out of beer mugs

Another sunset, nbd

Our first day we decided to avoid the touristy center of town and hike the Champuan Ridge, overlooking the rice fields and wandering through numerous villages. We stopped for lunch at Sari Organik, a crunchy kinda place with a view of the rice fields, for some healthy and fresh fare. We checked out a traditional Bali dance that evening. Yeah, we got cultural.

Walking along the Chumpuan Ridge

Rice fields

Cafe in the rice fields

Harvesting going all all the time

Well deserved fresh juice and lunch at Sari Organik

Paths and waterways behind our house

More waterways behind the house, like a wonderland

Dancing, Bali style

Busting moves

Ketut had mentioned there was a wedding in town the following day, and asked us if we wanted to come. Thinking he was just being nice, we didn't think he actually wanted us to come, considering in America you can't just bring random strangers along to a wedding. When we ran into him the next day on our way out the door, we learned he was serious, so we scrapped our plans, put on some traditional Bali gear and hopped on the back of their motorbikes to head to the wedding. We kept asking when it started, thinking we were running late, and he just said "it starts when it starts and ends when it ends". This was a hard concept to grasp, considering our own wedding was planned down to the minute. When we showed up, we were welcomed and found about 50 people just chillin at the house/compound, including the bride and groom who immediately offered to take a picture with us. Everyone was incredibly nice and welcoming, even offering us a huge buffet of food. We learned that in Bali weddings basically everyone hangs out, with guests coming and going all day, eating, chatting, while the couple has multiple ceremonies and does occasional blessings in the background. There are many similarities to American weddings, such as sweet engagement photos, proposals, and tons of food (no booze though). We were very thankful to be invited by Ketut and his wide Made, and that we could take part in a very special and real part of life in Bali.

Brando and Ketut before the wedding

Wedding time, all dressed up

This guy couldn't stop laughing at Brandon

The bride and groom, and the Binders

So many offerings

You offer a Binder a food, he will load up a plate. So good.

Bride and Groom making the rounds

Engagement photos

After the wedding, we decided to pamper ourselves at the spa at the famous Hotel Tjumphuan across the street from the house. For less than a one hour massage for one at home, we both got a two hour massage and use of the incredible pools and hot tubs. On our last day, Ketut drove us around the countryside including stops to overlook some serious rice terraces, a temple, have some Babi Guling (suckling pig, a specialty in Bali), the Volcano, finally dropping us off at the Sacred Monkey Forest in town. The Monkey Forest is a park and temple, that is home to hundreds of cheeky monkeys everywhere, allowing tourists to get up and close to the critters that run amok. It was pretty hilarious.

The pool at Hotel Tjumphuan, a nice break from the heat and humidity

Fanciest hot tub cave ever

Relaxed, but really hot

Babi Guling (suckling pig) from Warung Ibu Oka. Best part was the crispy skin.

Rice terraces, pretty impressive way to grow rice in the steep hills

Ketut is a Raiders fan. He was just wearing it by chance. Thinks they need to scrap the zone offense.

Water temple, where the spring starts and runs down to the rice fields

Putting our sarongs to use

Batur volcano, still active

Baby in the Monkey Forest

It's hot, have to sit and keep cool

Deep in the Monkey Forest

Ubud was a great place to round out our Bali experience, before heading back to Bangkok for 1 day and then back to the great U-S-of-A. Not quite time to get all sentimental about our amazing trip coming to an end, but it is sort of sinking in that a return to "real" life is just around the corner...

Quick stop to check out the Four Seasons just outside Ubud.

 

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