rice terraces – the suite life of travel

It was my last morning in Lovina and I was traveling south to explore the popular tourist city of Kuta. I said goodbye to the beach, joined the Sunarsas as we caravanned our way for a two and a half hour journey.

Passing through the town of Batur, we could see the Ulun Danu Temple with its numerous statues. Dedicated to the goddess of rivers and lakes, Dewi Danu, it is the second most important temple in Bali. Pura Gunung Menak is set in the beautiful region of Kintamani at the base of Mount Batur and is one of Bali’s nine directional temples. The devastating eruption of Mount Batur left the local villagers to rebuild their town yet miraculously its most important shrine survived.

The nine temples on the complex are categorized by each god and its purpose. For example, Pura Taman Sari represents all matters relating to agriculture while Pura Sampian Wangi is dedicated to the making of various crafts. The Balinese Hindus leave offerings at the designated temples and pray for blessings depending on their specific needs. Throughout the temples, there are statues of monkeys, representing Hanuman, a heroic god of Hindu legend. His likeness represents bravery, strength and perseverance, a symbol of loyalty and selflessness.

The spectacular scenic view from the temple overlooks Lake Batur and the mountain. The weather was a bit overcast, but the vantage point from here on a sunny day is nothing less than spectacular.

I was a little disappointed that I could not see the top of Mount Batur because of the clouds. A trek to the top to view the sunrise is a popular excursion for many tourists. We gathered back into the car for the remainder of our drive, deciding to make a stop in the artistic town of Ubud to take in the view of its famous rice terraces in the heart of the city.

The drive seemed to fly by as we entered the town of Ubud. We found a parking spot close to the rice fields and hurriedly walked towards the restaurant where Wayan had made plans to meet some friends for lunch. This little artist community is abundant with Balinese restaurants and we planned to browse the assorted clothing and art shops after our meal.

Having finished my order of delicious bakso soup and a side of rice, the Sunarsas and I walked around the corner to the Tegallalang Rice Terrace. This location was made popular by the film Eat, Pray, Love. I am fascinated by the vivid green layers of rice plants that create a set of stairs on the side of the hill. The local owner of the terraces offered us coconut milk from his trees and encouraged us to buy some of the artwork and souvenirs from the nearby shops.

The view from the street was surreal as we descended a set of stairs taking us closer into the fields. Wayan’s children decided to take the walkway down so that I could take their photos. Having a few minutes for visiting the shops, it was finally time for our departure.

The character and charm of Ubud can be seen in its amazing architecture. Walking back to the car, we strolled through the stone pagodas and sacred buildings. The subdued colors seem to blend in with the earthy surroundings as tourists made their way into boutiques and coffee shops for a moment to relax. I love the laid back atmosphere of Ubud, but I am looking forward to checking out the upbeat crowds of the south before flying back to the United States.

What type of vacation do you prefer? A relaxed, laid back journey or a fast-paced energetic adventure? I would love to hear about your perfect idea of a vacation if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my fabulous trip to Bali! Wishing you many Happy Travels of your own!

What to See and What to Do:

Ulun Danu Baratan Temple
Jalan Bedugul, Singaraja, Candikuning
Baturiti, Kabupaten, Tabanan, Bali, 82191 Indonesia
Telephone: +62 368 2033050

Updated Information since my last visit in January 2015!

Admission Fee: Adult: 50,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiahs); Children: 25,000 IDR. There is an additional charge for parking: Motorbike (2,000 IDR), Private car (5,000 IDR), Bus (10,000 IDR). There may be additional fees for activities associated with the temple and gardens. At the time of this update, the exchange rate was 15,000 IDR to the US dollar.
Hours: Open daily from 8AM to 6PM
Amenities: Access to the temple grounds, lake activities to include fishing, speed boating, traditional Jukung boating and pedal boats. There are additional opportunities to have your photo taken with a local wild animal, shop for gifts and enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
Scenic View: Gorgeous views of the temple and Lake Bratan
Length of Time to Spend Here: Approximately 2 -3 hours
Tips for Your Visit: Lake Bratan is about an hour and 30 minutes from the popular tourist areas of south Bali. Bring a change of clothes for participating in the water activities. Dress appropriately for the temple ensuring that your shoulders and knees are covered. Note that some of the areas may be closed to accommodate local prayers or religious ceremonies.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Admission Fee: Free
Hours: Open daily, 24 hours
Amenities: Nearby restaurants, souvenir shops, and cafes.
Scenic View: Spectacular views the terraced rice farms
Length of Time to Spend Here: Less than 1 hour to see the rice fields and additional time set aside for shopping and dining
Tips for Your Visit: The rice terraces are located about 15 minutes outside of Ubud. For a tour guide, contact Ubud Adventures at www.ubudadventures.com or by email at admin@ubudadventures.com for more information.

Where to Stay:

Puri Sebali Resort (affordable)
Jalan Raya Sebali
Banjar Sebali, Desa Keliki
80571, Ubud Indonesia
Telephone: + 62 81 808 889 028

Where to Eat:

Bridges Bali
Campuhan Bridge
Jalan Campuhan
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 361 970095

Traditional Balinese style food overlooking the Campuhan River.

What to Eat:

Babi Guling: Suckling pig, which is similar to BBQ pork in the US.
Bakso Soup: Indonesian soup made with meatballs, noodles, spices, vegetables and broth
Gado-Gado: A cold salad of vegetables served with a peanut sauce
Nasi Goreng: Fried noodles with lots of vegetables and a choice of meat, topped with peanuts and an egg.
Pisang Goreng: Fried Bananas, served with palm sugar, honey, flaked coconut or ice cream
Sate Ayam: Chicken on a stick usually served with a peanut sauce
Spring Rolls: Crispy pastry filled with minced meat and mixed vegetables and then fried, usually served with a chili sauce

What to Read:

Balilicious, by Becky Wicks
Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
A House in Bali, by Colin McPhee
Love and Death in Bali, by Vicky Baum
Snowing in Bali, by Kathryn Bonella
Under the Volcano: A story of Bali, by Cameron Forbes

Photo Guide for South Bali:

The Edge Hotel in Uluwatu, Bali is amazing for spectacular cliff views.
Rock Bar Bali is the perfect location to watch the sunset over Uluwatu
Ulu Cliff House is a beach club located in Uluwatu that provides incredible views of the coastline
OMNIA Bali’s infinity pool
Gili Trawangan Swings at Ombak Sunset
The Ayana Pool at Ayana Resort
Sea Circus in Seminyak for breakfast
La Brisa Bali located in Canggu is the popular location to watch the sunset
Tegenungan Waterfall in Ubud
Tegalalang Rice Fields for the gorgeous scenery and the Love Bali sign
Thomas Beach Uluwatu
Bingin Beach Uluwatu
Motel Mexicola for its colorful exterior
Bambu Indah Hotel in gorgeous Ubud
The Monkey Forest in Ubud
Hidden Hills Villas
Nusa Penida for the cliffside views
La Laguna Bali in Canggu
Mt. Batur for its sunrise (north Bali)
Crate Cafe at Canggu