Before I get started with this post, I would just like to say a big ‘hello and welcome’ to all the new readers! I was featured on the WordPress ‘Discover‘ page yesterday, and as such have had a massive influx of new readers. To all of you, thank you for joining along on this journey; I very much look forward to taking you with me around the world.
It says something about the Ubud region that no matter how often I come back to Bali, I always want to return. Maybe it is the cooler climate, maybe it is the abundance of lush greenery or maybe it is just that little extra positive vibe that keeps pulling me back in, but either way, I love the place. Check out this awesome first picture, a horse just chilling out while he catches a lift!
My most favourite and trusted driver – Made Paul Artawan – was once again helping me out and was our driver for another day. His own home is in Ubud, so on the way to the city centre, Made offered to take us on a local road and give us a glimpse of the area that he calls home. Talk about a gorgeous area! Look how leafy it is, plus – no tourists – always a bonus!
After the drive from Seminyak we were a bit on the peckish side so stopped at Maha Cafe for a quick bite before doing some more exploring.
For those wondering what this fella I have been dating looks like, look no further! Meet Matt, the handsome pilot with the ginger beard.
After we had filled our bellies it was off to another Balinese Temple. Located around 50 metres from the main market in Ubud, Pura Saraswati is a lovely little detour. Surrounded by a pond filled with hundreds of lotuses (or loti – which google tells me is the plural of lotus) entry is free, and the Cafe Lotus next door is a lovely spot for a lazy afternoon cocktail.
Entry to the temple is free too, so it is a great stop for the budget backpacker. It is by no means an extensive temple that you could spend hours exploring, but sometimes a short visit is all you really feel like doing, especially on a hot Bali day.
Look at all the many many lotuses/loti! I would love a lotus pond like this in my backyard one day in the very distant future. The likelihood of me ever owning property in Australia is slim to none, so if I want a pond like this, I may have to move to somewhere in South-East Asia.
Here is Mister Matt striking a pose. At 6 foot 3 he is almost as tall as the temple itself!
I have seen and visited a lot of temples in Bali, but I never get sick of them. Something about the burnt oranges and the ornate doors just keeps reeling me back in time and time again.
Nothing like a little bit of Balinese door porn!
After departing Pura Saraswati and having a lovely lunch at Bali Bohemia (check out this edition of Ellen Eats for more info) it was time to head on to another spot in Ubud – Tegenungan waterfall. As we left Bali Bohemia we went past the cutest little family of monkeys; if you look closely, you can see the little baby monkey breastfeeding!
After we said goodbye to the monkeys we met some lovely local ladies working hard. These women all knew Made personally and wasted no time in striking up a conversation. I couldn’t understand much (curse my English only brain) but they all seemed pretty happy and jovial.
Just down the road were more rice paddies and a bunch of ducks! Ubud is full of surprises.
After not too long we finally got to Tegenungan. In hindsight, coming in the afternoon was probably not smart – the place was chockas! When I return to Ubud I will try to revisit Tegenungan in the early hours of the morning, I think the place would be magical without the huge crowds.
Getting down to the waterfall requires going down a lot of stairs, which is fine, but getting back up them with my unfit self was a whole different story – Matt practically had to pull me up the stairs! It was a bit embarrassing actually. I remember when I backpacked through Europe, I ate so much food every day, but I was also climbing heaps of stairs to the tops of cathedrals, churches, buildings and hills to see the cities from above day in and day out – I was bloody fit! It might be time to start thinking about another few months backpacking through Euro-land – I can’t think of a more appealing workout regime!
Anyways, back to Tegenungan. There was way too many people around, so I was not all that keen on swimming, which is a shame, because I pretty much am always keen on swimming! A return trip to Tegenungan at sunrise will have to be on the agenda during my next Bali trip.
T H E L O W D O W N
Getting to Bali: Flights to Bali are frequent, check out adioso.com to find the cheapest dates to fly
Getting to and around Ubud: Hiring a private driver is your best bet – I personally recommend Made Paul Artawan
Pura Saraswati: Entry is free and the temple is located 100m from Ubud markets
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1 with M.Zuiko 12-40mm f2.8 lens
What to Pack: Clothing that is light and breezy, sunscreen and water
Remember: Though there is no clothing requirements at Pura Saraswati, covering your legs is considered respectful
Don’t forget to add me on Snapchat and Instagram – @wwellend – for more foolishness and travel adventures!
Finally, I have a question for all of you, my lovely readers. I want to know what YOU want to read about! I am going to free up three weeks of my travel time in mid-2017 and would like you to tell me which of the following trips you would like me to take. Please vote!
Your photos are absolutely breathtaking, thank you for sharing.
I really enjoyed reading this article! I would love to go there one day! And I just added you on snapchat! 😉
Awesome! Expect to see lots of snaps in the next few days – I will be in Japan!
Can’t wait to see them! 😀
I’m so happy I found your blog through Discover! Your trips all look incredible, but these photos make me want to explore Bali especially badly.
Awesome! It was so cool to be featured and to meet even more new readers! Have you got any plans to visit Bali in the future?
Bali scenes will always be welcome- until the day when my retirement from this labour of love (May, 2021) finds me headed from Ireland to New Zealand, with all manner of joyful noises and sights along the way.
Counting down the days? I would be!
Congratulations on being featured in “Discover”! I really enjoyed this post, you both look very happy and relaxed – and once again, I feel as if I’ve traveled there through your beautiful pictures and words.
Thanks so much again, it is so lovely to have the same people travelling with me each post 🙂
I like how you put that, it’s so true!
I loved Ubud much more relaxing than the coastal area – thank for the pics :-o)
Totally agree! It is so much more chilled out!
Lindo!
Congrats, Ellen, on being “Discover”ed! What a nice surprise to read about your adventures and surprises… in my current hometown 😉 Glad to read that you so enjoyed the “loti” pond!
I still think loti sounds weird haha! Lotuses sounds better 🙂 But thank you so much!
Great article! Ubud is now on my list. Any problems with communicating with locals in english?
Not at all! It is a super easy place to travel 🙂
Beautiful photography. Especially the one on the bridge.
Thank you so much! I love to hear that people like my photographs 🙂
Beautiful.
Love the read! I just started my travel and teaching blog and made my first post today! It was super exciting and slightly nerve racking, so I look forward to reading an experienced blogger!
Check out my first blog page and let me know how I went!
https://thetravellingteacher213.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/welcome/
Awesome – well done! I will be sure to check it out 🙂
Congratulations Ellen on having your post published on Discover – great achievement. I too really like Ubud.
Thank you so much – it is so exciting!
Great pics, moving to oz in november. Gotta make sure I get here at some point too!!
Where in Oz are you moving to?
Stunning pics! I also prefer to get up earlier in the morning to check out places when there’s not many people around. It’s amazing how different a place can feel then 🙂
I totally agree! It is so worth the sleep deprivation for that magical moment 🙂
Ubud is my favourite as well. Although Bali has so many charming beaches, I always spend some times in Ubud, before went back to Jakarta. But I’ve never visit Tegenungan or any other waterfalls there. Maybe if I have a chance to visit Ubud again, I should explore its waterfalls. Nice article anyway …
Any plans to visit beautiful Bali again?
Yes, I have a plan to visit Bali in September. But I need to fix my schedule first, since there will be a training as well in this month.
That’s not far away! How long will the trip be?
Might be a week 🙂
Oh wow – I must go there some day! 🙂
I cannot see the list of destinations and vote.. Maybe it’s some technical problem?
Hmmm, which browser are you using?
A bit late for replying, but now I can see the poll! I will vote for it now 😀
Astonishing pics and beautifully written..:)
Thank you so much 🙂 Glad you enjoyed!
Great post! Spent 4 months backpacking through Indonesia in 1998, when English was hardly spoken.
I think tourism has changed a lot since then, but may be not in Bali as this island was always touristy.
First of all, congrats on the feature! From what I’ve seen during my brief time following you, it’s very well deserved! 🙂
I love that second image in the “lovely local ladies” (points for alliteration) section. For whatever reason, seeing shots of workers in vastly different cultures enjoying life always resonates with me. It’s like a little reminder that so much of what we stereotypically think will bring us happiness is irrelevant…
I’ll spare you a ramble on possible roots of happiness, but I just wanted to let you know that that image struck a chord. Keep up the awesome posts! 🙂
Awesome! Thanks so much Kyle – this comment put a big smile on my face! Hopefully I can keep bringing you photos and posts that strike a chord. Thanks for reading!
wow i really like
I´m so happy I came across your blog! So many beautiful photography and inspiration 🙂 I can´t wait to read your next post now. Hope you have a lovely day!
Thanks so much! Happy reading 🙂
Yea! Congrats on being featured in discover! Nice photographs! Nice captions! Awesome journey and would greatly love to travel like you😊
Thanks so much – it was so exciting to be featured there 🙂 I hope you go off on an amazing travel adventure soon!
I find your blog very inspiring! Any advices for a beginner? -Viveca
In terms of blogging or travelling?
Reblogged this on Site Title and commented:
Its really amazing !!
Congragts..! And this is the first time I’m reading this much big blog patiently. Its lovely what u write infact its amazing. And do u have any travelling experience in India ?
No not yet! Hopefully one day 🙂
U will b enjoying here 🙂 all the best
I really did! Thanks for reading 😊
Thats my pleasure by the what’s ur name ?
I’m a new blogger plz endorse me
Traveling: the amazing discovery – http://wp.me/p73n3P-m
Great entry! Felt as if I was traveling with you which is awesome. Thank you for the amazing post and pictures.
I love getting comments like this! Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed travelling with me 🙂
I’ve just stumbled across your blog, and I’m glad I did 😊 As I too will be taking up some solo travelling at the end of October and have decided to blog about it. Being a bit of a techno phob this is a major thing for me, in a good way of course. Looking forward to reading more!
Good on ya! Where will you be travelling?
Aaw thanks so much for the reply! I’m heading to Hong Kong, China, Ball, Oz and Cape Town. Got to admit some of it will be with organised tours, I’m brave but not that brave ha!
I LOVE Cape Town! South Africa is one of my favourite countries to travel through – that will be an amazing trip!
I hope you never stop travelling. I love all these posts.
You and me both!
Great photos and a lovely, lucid style of writing! Wishing you more interesting adventures ☺
Thanks so much! It’s a pleasure to bring you along on my travels 😊
beautiful shots!!!
Tegenungan Waterfall is really nice waterfall and very easy to get down there. But once you have to come up it can be a bit challenging. So make sure you wear comfortable shoes, light clothing and probably swim wear if you are interested in having a dip. Sometimes they won’t let you swim if the weather is bad.
I’ve just discovered your blog & love it! Just wondering, as a first time visitor to Ubud, how would I go about contacting your driver. He sounds amazing and I would love to be shown around the more ‘non touristy’ sights of Ubud 🙂