After nearly two weeks spent on the island of Java, I headed to Bali two days ago!
It’s amazing how these two islands separated by a small strip of the sea are so different.
I decided to head directly to Ubud, one of the places I was most curious about this island. And the initial impact was strong after the quiet Java, and the initial feeling was that there were definitely too many tourists and above all too chaos: where is the place of artists so quiet described in the book “Eat, pray, love “?!
It took me a day to understand why this place has become so famous. Ubud, is a town full of original stores, both clothes and ethnic jewelry, of natural products, and of yoga clothes and accessories.
But not just that, there are also art galleries, Hindu temples/anemics, places to practice yoga, places to relax with massages and various treatments, tropical vegetation, flowers and the smell of incense everywhere for religious rites that begin in the morning but they continue in several hours of the day. Not bad, right?
One evening, thanks to two Indonesian boys who later hosted me, I spent a nice evening at a bar where local and foreign perform with various instruments or singing, so at that moment of peace and happiness, I thought that life on this island, could be really nice!
I have asked these, my friends, if they are ever stressed, with traffic, work, life, and so on. and they replied that it is impossible and in any case, if they happen, go to the beach, go surfing, snorkeling or just swimming and enjoying the sea view! “Yes, I am increasingly convinced that this is the life I want I have too, not too far from the sea!
There are many famous places to visit in Ubud such as monkey forest, royal palace, different temples, but if you are in Ubud you cannot miss some of the most famous places such as Elephant Cave, Jatiluwih, and Tegalalang, Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, etc.
Bali, but especially Ubud, is ideal for Yoga lovers. So I decided to attend a free group lesson in one of Bali’s most famous places: Yoga Barn. And here I have found a magical place, a paradise for yoga lovers**, meditation, and all that leads to mental, mental and physical well-being.
Yoga Barn is a place to practice yoga and meditation but above all, a meeting place, surrounded by greenery in the heart of the city. Here you will forget the traffic of the main streets of Ubud and immerse you in another world. You will yoga with the only noise of a stream flowing nearby and singing the birds!
Another way to get away from traffic and noise in this city?
Just walk the Campohan Ridge Walk, a quiet place and surrounded by greenery, rice paddies, and vegetation just off the center! It’s a good place if you want to escape the traffic and you want to enjoy the landscape of rice fields, hills, palm trees and take a look at the life of the village.
It’s one of the things I most liked about Ubud because I think it’s important to have a place where you can stay in touch with nature on foot and not by force with the bike. Obviously, more and more people are aware of this place and therefore you will almost never be alone, except for a few minutes and for a few minutes, but the presence of people will certainly not ruin the atmosphere of tranquility because those who come here maybe I’m a bit looking for some quiet.
I left Italy with a thought, a goal, to do things never before I always thought and wanted to do. Trying and surfing is one of those things that I have long wanted to try and I regret that I have not done in Australia, an indisputable homeland of this sport.
so, thanks to the guy who hosted me, I went surfing at Canggu Beach. Yes, because besides being a yoga sufferer, healthy eating and keeping fit, like almost every Balinese, there is an adoration for the ocean and for water activities. Canggu is a popular destination for surfers and surf enthusiasts. In this place there seem to be the perfect waves for people who learn this sport but also for the experts. So, I finally tried for the first time surfing with the beginner board that was much bigger than me!
It was tiring, and at some moments I thought it a bit dangerous, but as the first try did not go wrong, of course, I should try it many times before I could be able to really surf or still feel safe but it was nice to try this sport right in Bali!
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