A Quick Peek into a Laidback Week in Ubud, Bali

We arrived in Ubud one week ago (probably a little more by the time I posted this). It is magical. Being in one place for more than a few nights is a nice change from New Zealand. Ubud is known for yoga retreats and stunning jungle hideaways. It’s grown and gotten busier in the last decade, but it still has so much magic for travelers looking to experience a slice of Balinese paradise.

I wanted to check in and let everyone know that we are all safe and sound here. There was a volcano eruption on the island on Saturday, but it hasn’t impacted us or where we are staying.

Our First Week in Bali

We chose Ubud to start our time here. It is the cultural center of Bali and a popular spot for tourists because of its central location on the island. We planned almost two full weeks here. It is a great place for vegetarian food, learning about Balinese culture, and just chilling out for a while.

Our daily routine has changed a little since we wrote about it here. It’s so interesting to read about the way people spend their time, especially when backpacking and exploring a new place. So, we wanted to give you a peek into our first week in Ubud.

Our day starts in the table shown above with banana pancakes, fresh fruit, and a full pot of coffee to share. Breakfast is included in our nightly rate, so we make sure to take advantage of it every day. The coffee is incredibly strong and often has a grittiness to it, but we always have our first cup here. The banana pancakes are something that I will be trying to recreate for years in the future.

We pick a route for a morning walk. There are great paths through the rice fields around town, and we can explore new options daily. If we have any chores, we get them done early—laundry, groceries, etc. We try to plan to be back at the bungalow around 11:00 because the middle of the day is the hottest. We spend that time reading or writing.

Booking only a few full-day adventures ahead of time left us a lot of free time to wander. We usually try to explore one new neighborhood every other day. Each area is a little different than the next, and Ubud has many small sections to explore. We have made it about halfway through the area in the last week, with much more to see.

Walking is not as common here as in other parts of the world. The sidewalks are few and far between, but we stick to the quieter side streets when possible. Many look like a mix between a sidewalk and a road with room for only a scooter. We have found a few paths through rice terraces and along ridges with breathtaking views. They are usually empty except for us.

Our neighbors are monkeys. We are located close to the Sacred Monkey Forest. Every day, we pass these sneaky creatures on our way to town. It is so fun to watch people interact with them. They love to steal water bottles. Our favorite restaurant is right next to the forest, and just this morning, one of them dropped in on our meal. Justin just about jumped out of his chair, but the little rascal didn’t get the chance to grab any of our food before the servers chased him back outside.

Check out our favorite vegetarian restaurants in Ubud for recommendations.

The colors have been a highlight. Everywhere we look, there is something beautiful and colorful to see. It is so much different from anywhere we’ve ever been. The temples, the flowers, and the greens—it’s all just incredible. The camera comes with each day and I’m sure we have more pictures than we will ever know what to do with.

The hardest thing we’ve encountered is the heat. Being from Minnesota, our bodies aren’t used to 85 degrees and high humidity daily. We are learning to enjoy the early mornings and evenings, take breaks when out, and appreciate every breeze that touches our skin throughout the day. Plus, we have a pool outside our door that barely anyone uses.

Bali was one of the places I was most excited to visit on our journey, and I’m already sad that we didn’t plan more than four weeks here. You can see how tourism is changing this magical little island—some good, some bad. I’m excited to share more as we explore.