Weekend Getaway

I had the chance to have a fun and relaxing weekend in Ubud, Bali with my sister over a weekend in February. Only a 2.5 hour flight, Bali is a very close paradise. I couldn't believe how pristine and beautiful everything was. The culture, the food, the Hindu architecture--all of it is enchanting, making Bali a unique and enjoyable destination. I could definitely go back and explore more of this Indonesian island. We stayed in central Bali--Ubud in a resort on one of the many river gorges in this area. It was a beautiful setting for a hotel nestled into the hillside. I had my first full massage in the outdoor spa overlooking the river.

We spent the first day exploring the main roads and shopping district of Ubud where I learned that my sister is much more decisive than I am and can drive a hard bargain. Cami also came with several restaurant recommendations and they proved to be winners. The food was as delicious as it was beautiful.

A street corner in Ubud with the Hindu offerings--rice and flowers wrapped in some sort of leaf. These offerings are littered all throughout the country in every conceivable setting.

We spent a day exploring some local craft villages known for their silver jewelry and wood carving. My favorite thing was meeting a lady who owned a shop and she let us have a look in her own living quarters--a Balinese style compound she shares with her married sons, containing religious structures and private rooms surrounding an open courtyard. Below you can see the entrance to her home as well as the courtyard with apartment. This is such a unique concept of a home and we saw the outside fences to these homes all around in Bali.

On our final day in Bali, we headed north to see an old palace that was once the home of a king and queen. It was nestled in rice terraces in a valley alongside a river. We didn't realize how many steps we had to descend to get there until we were climbing back up in the heat of noonday.Not far from the palace is a famous, old temple with sacred waters. We saw the sacred waters behind the temple, bubbling with a black smoke coming out just beneath the surface of the water. We were lucky to go on a day when the locals were their worshipping and performing all the typical rituals. Upon our return, we took a walk through the rice fields, stumbling on a quaint organic, outdoor restaurant situated in the rice fields. We stopped to share a very healthy tasting salad and beet, sweet potato, orange, passion fruit smoothie for me. I'm positively glowing--but I'm afraid it is more from the sweat and sunscreen rather than the organic serenity.