Ubud, Bali, Indonesia: Part 1

Ubud has been our favorite place in Bali so far! We left Lovina and headed three hours Southeast toward Ubud, a large city in the middle of the island. On our way we got to experience some really interesting things as we drove down the narrow streets (with mostly only locals driving the other cars/bikes). One of the more memorable things was when we were driving down a little side street behind a truck that had a big structure about 20 feet tall with a kid about 8 years old at the very top. We were wondering why the kid was up there then noticed the structure was taller than the power lines hanging across the street. We weren’t sure how the truck was going to pass all the power lines and then all of a sudden we see the kid reaching up and grabbing the power lines with his bare hands and throwing them up over the top of the METAL structure. We were holding our breath thinking that kid was about to electrocute himself, but he was fearless acting like it was another day on the job for him.

We caught our breath and continued driving back up the hill that we had driven up on the way to Lovina. This time when we got to the top we stopped on the side of the road to see the monkeys. We noticed that one of the monkeys had both of its hands missing and felt sorry for him so we threw him a banana. He was able to catch it with his nubs. We thought all the other monkeys would try to jack his banana but apparently they all have respect for the poor guy because nobody came anywhere near him. We sat and watched them for a bit then hit the road so we could get where we needed to be before Tyson woke up from his nap.

Once we got to Ubud we first went to the hotel that our new Aussie friends were staying at to see if we wanted to stay there too. Unfortunately the price was way over our budget so we checked out some other nearby hotels. Everything was booked solid because the airport had been closed the past week due to volcano ash from a neighboring island and everyone was stranded in Bali. Not a bad place to be stuck, but it makes it tough to find hotels same day. After driving around for a while running in and out of hotels we finally found one that had a room available for the night so we jumped on it. The place was actually a great find. It was overlooking a creek and had a jungle view that looked out at the beautiful temple next door. Score!

We dropped our stuff off and then roamed the streets to look for a good dinner place. We walked into a place that looks like a store in the front but when you walk to the back it’s actually a four story restaurant. We sat down on the street level which is also the top floor. After ordering our food Marshall walked down to the very bottom floor which is actually the coolest because it’s an outdoor patio that overlooks the creek and jungle. We decided to move down there to eat our dinner. As we were waiting for our food I walked Tyson over to their koi pond to show him the fish. There was a statue in the middle of the pond and a wall around the outside with a small opening in the front and one stepping stone over the water. I put one foot on the stepping to show Tyson the fish that were hiding in the back corner and one of the servers came over to me and asked me to get off the stepping stone due to the Balinese religion. Yikes, sorry about that!

The next morning we had to move to another hotel because the one we were at didn’t have any rooms available that night. We actually found a really nice place down the street that was on top of a hill and had rice fields on the property. Our room was by far the biggest we’ve had on this trip and overlooked the beautiful pool. Another big score!

That afternoon we went over to the Aussie’s hotel so the boys could have some play time. Every time their family comes to Bali they have the same babysitter watch their son while they do a date night. The four of us wanted to do a double date so they had their nanny bring a friend (both named Made – pronounced Ma-Day) over that has a lot of experience so that we could have our own sitter for the night. Our sitter immediately started playing with Tyson. She handed him some of those kid ‘firework’ throw popper things that she had brought and showed him how to throw them on the ground to make them pop. He was having a blast throwing those for the longest time. Then she took him to go see some fish and chickens on the property. Meanwhile Marshall and I were having fun chatting with Neil and Kara. They got a kick out of Marshall’s terrifying Cambodia story and we enjoyed hearing some of their crazier travel stories.

After about an hour, it was time to head back to our hotel to get ready for our night out. Made followed behind us on her scooter. Unfortunately one of the main roads was closed to cars and was only letting bikes through so we had to drive all the way across town in 5pm stop and go traffic to get to our hotel. It took us an hour to get from their hotel back to ours which is only like a mile away. Talk about frustrating. By the time we got back to our hotel we only had 15 minutes to get ready and go over everything with Made before we had to meet the Aussies for dinner. Made gave Tyson a bath while we were getting ready and was just starting to feed him dinner as we were walking out the door.

We actually wanted to meet our friends at the restaurant we went to the night before because they had a cool lounge with couch seating and 1920s music in the background. They got stuck in traffic so we ended up getting there like 30 minutes before them. We ordered a few appetizers and drinks while we waited. Once they got there we only had about 20 minutes until the fire dancing show we wanted to see started. As we hung out we were texting with our nanny to see how Tyson was doing and she said he had actually fallen asleep shortly after we left. I don’t know what her magic trick was but it took him less time to fall asleep with her than it normally does with us! With a clear conscience about Tyson being OK, we enjoyed some more good conversation and hurried to finish our drinks and left so we could make the show a few blocks away.

Marshall rode on the back of Neil’s scooter so they could find a parking spot and buy the tickets while Kara and I speed walked to join them at the front gate. The show was being held at a big temple where they had set up seating in a semicircle around where they’d be dancing. We were a few minutes late so we had to sit in the very back but it was actually a good spot because we were higher up and could see the whole stage and didn’t have to look at the back of people’s heads.

We got there just in time for the show to start when about 50 bare chested guys came out and sat in a circle around a big fire holder in the middle of the stage. They did catchy chants while various actors in fancy costumes came out of the temple throughout the hour long performance to dance and tell stories through movement and sounds. The end was the coolest part. They lit a bunch of coconut shucks on fire and when they turned to coals a guy came out and danced all over the hot coals kicking them all over the place. The finale was a few of the costumed people dancing on the hot coals! I have no idea how those coals don’t burn their feet, but they seemed like it was another day at the office.

After the show we were all hungry for dinner. Neil recommended we check out a street they called ‘H street’, because it had “heaps” of great local restaurants. Marshall waited at the temple so Neil could first drive Kara and me over there on the scooter. I had never been on any kind of moped or motorcycle before so I was terrified, especially because we didn’t have helmets. I insisted that I sat in the middle of them so I’d have padding on either side, lol. We nearly drove up a curb but other than that we got there safely. Neil then went back to get Marshall. Kara and I started walking around trying to pick out a good restaurant. We found an Italian one that looked good so when Marshall and Neil arrived we all sat down at a table. As we were looking at the menu we all kind of looked at each other and agreed that the restaurant felt like a smoking lounge at an airport (although nobody was actually smoking). We walked a little farther down the road and ended up at a restaurant that Neil and Kara had eaten at previously and highly recommended. We all ordered their special handmade pasta that was absolutely delicious.

After great conversation over dinner we were all getting tired and ready to head back. Neil drove Kara back to their hotel and then came back to pick Marshall and I back up. On the drive to our hotel we accidentally passed the turn for our hotel so we had to turn around. As we were backing up in the road a white van comes out of nowhere and nearly clips our bike. I swear it was like an inch away from hitting us, but that kind of thing seems normal in Bali. Thank god we got back to the hotel in one piece. Great night all around and fond memories for sure.

The next day we decided to take it nice and easy. We checked out of the current hotel and moved over to another one that had a room available for the next two days and also came with a free massage for Marshall and I. Woohoo! After Tyson got his fill of riding around on the suitcase push cart in the lobby we all ate lunch at the hotel and then took Tyson down to the pool to play. There happened to be another little boy about his age there that looked happy to see another kid. They both had a bucket of toys so they were having fun sharing and playing together (aka throwing them in the pool so the Dad’s had to retrieve them). Right before dinner I cashed in on my hour long full body Balinese massage. This was my second one ever and it was wonderful. After my massage we ate dinner and then Marshall had his massage which is the first massage he’s ever had. He really enjoyed it as well.

We’re having so much fun in Ubud we’re thinking about staying here another few days but for now we’re just playing things by ear. No rush at this point as we still have 3 more weeks in Bali!!