Exploring Ubud

One of the main areas that people tend to head to in Bali is Ubud. It’s fairly central so it’s easy to take trips out to attractions throughout Bali. 

I took the trip to Ubud in a taxi with another guy from my previous hostel. That’s the easiest way to get around Bali, and they’re cheap. It was refreshing to move locations at a time convenient to you and be there within an hour. A big change from what I’m used to. 

We checked into the next hostel, the most beautiful one I’ve been to. I even got a double bed!

Immediately after, we grabbed a set of hire scooters and off we went. The roads here were even more chaotic than in Canggu, but it was fine as long as you were prepared for it. One thing we noticed here was the narrow roads in parts. I wouldn’t even call them roads but more footpaths. There are also monkeys which you need to weave around. 

We headed to a couple of waterfalls and the rice fields. The rice fields in particular were very beautiful. In going to these places, I realised that Bali is an incredibly touristy place. You can tell that this is the industry that makes them the most income and they have massively capitalised on it. There’s always someone to take your photograph (which you have to pay for) and there’s even Instagram tours. If you block all that out though, it is rather stunning. 

The next day, it was very early wake up call, 1:30am in fact. We were going to tackle the hike to the top of Mount Batur. Everyone seems to love a sunrise hike but there’s a more practical reason for it, it’s too hot to do it in daylight. One thing I was shocked at was the volume of people climbing this thing. I’ve never seen so many people on a mountain. Thousands. I’m not even exaggerating. I know Snowdon gets a bad rep these days for being busy but this was something else. However it was absolutely stunning. The best sunrise I have ever seen in my life. 

After a well deserved nap, we went for a quick look around the monkey forest next door to the hostel. 

We then treated ourselves to a steak, which is obviously very cheap over here like all food, and absolutely delicious. It’s another early wake up tomorrow, well only 6am, as we board a ferry out of Bali and to the Gili Islands.