It's no secret, Bali is one of our favourite places in the world. From the people, to the landscapes, to the food and textile traditions, it's pretty hard to beat the island of the gods. Back in October we hopped on our scooters for a day trip to the lush, spiritual center of Ubud for and brought along our favourite sustainable Kimono. Here are some pics and travel recommendations if you find yourself in Ubud.
By the time you get to Ubud, you will have already heard about the Monkey Forest, and it is definitely worth a look. But while you're in the area, we recommend checking out Jalan Hanoman - a street named after a Hindu Monkey God. The street is packed with cute shops filled with jewelry, crafts and loads of yoga wear. Grab a Bali coffee from Anomali Coffee at the top of the road, and dive right in!
Taking a break from browsing the shops on Jalan Hanoman
Once you've worked up an appetite, head over to our favourite spot for a local lunch - Savannah Moon. This little restaurant, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Ubud, is run by a local painter and his wife. The setting is simple and beautiful, and the smoked duck in banana leaf (see photo below) costs around €5 CAD and blows our mind every time!
Smoked duck in banana leaf at Savannah Moon - yum!
Coconuts. Everywhere in Bali, and a perfect refresher from the heat. Expect to pay anywhere from €1-2 CAD per coconut depending on how touristy the location is - more if you're in a restaurant.
Coconuts. Because... coconuts.
When in Ubud, we always visit our friends at the Threads of Life gallery. Just up the street from Savannah Moon, Threads of Life is an organization focused on culture and conservation to alleviate poverty in rural Indonesia. Their naturally dyed textiles made by traditional weavers across the country are stunning. We worked with them to produce our truly unique hand-made and naturally-dyed premium items. Say hi from the TAMGA team next time you pop in!
The last stop on our day our in Ubud was the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. Attracting buses of tourists on the daily, we had never been and finally got to check it out (it's beautiful, but packed!) Here's our tip - skip the rice terraces, head up to Gunung Kawi Temple. It's a 1,000 year old pre-colonial temple, with amazing 7m tall statues carved into two cliff faces on either side of a river. It's around 45 minutes by scooter from the centre of Ubud, but if you go around 5:00pm there will be almost no one else around. In the late afternoon twilight, you can't help but feel the magical history and culture that this island holds.
Until next time - travel safe, travel often and make sure to pick up a Lia Kimono for your next adventure✌️
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