26Nov
Exploring Ubud’s Traditional Charms: Day 1 in Bali

Our journey to Bali kicked off with an enchanting exploration of Ubud, a cultural heartland known for its traditional architecture and vibrant clothing. The day was filled with awe-inspiring sights and immersive cultural experiences.

Novotel Bali Ngurah Rai Airport:

We arrived in Bali at midnight and thought of spending some time in the lounge and checking in the Dwarka Villa. But there are no lounges at Bali Airport on arrival. So had to spend the night at the Novotel Hotel. The hotel was undoubtedly good, but we hardly had time to explore it.

Dwarka Palace Villa:

Our home for the next few days was the exquisite Dwarka Palace Villa. Nestled in the heart of Ubud, this villa seamlessly blended natural beauty with traditional Balinese construction. There was a personal pool for a refreshing dip, surrounded by lush greenery that transported us into a tropical paradise.

The minute details of Bali’s architecture were evident in every corner of Dwarka Palace. From the intricately carved wooden elements to the open-air design that embraced the natural surroundings, the villa was a testament to Bali’s rich cultural heritage. The Villa has become my dream room.

Tirth Imphul Temple:

When in Bali, a temple visit is much to know about its spiritual side. Amongst lots of them, we chose the famous Tirth Imphul Temple, a place that felt peaceful and spiritual. Before entering the temple, we need to wear something called a Balinese sarong. The sarong is a colourful cloth that is important in Bali, worn like a lungi—it’s a way of showing respect.

Later on, we did a special ritual called a holy bath. Wearing the Balinese sarong, we bathed in water that is considered sacred in Bali. It felt like, “Ganga me dubki lagana”.

Bali swings:

The most famous attraction we see in Bali on Instagram is the Bali swings. These swings are typically set up high above the treetops, providing a unique perspective of rice terraces. Also, they had beautiful flowy dresses on rent for beautiful photos and videos on the swing. We anyways got the chance to just see them and could not experience the fun as firstly there was a big queue lined up and next, our younger kid was not allowed.

Dinner at Bollywood restaurant:

For vegetarians like us, it was not difficult to get Indian food in Bali as there are lots of Indian restaurants with delicious food. We took a taxi from the temple and went to the Ubud Palace area and found an Indian restaurant named Bollywood restaurant. Yummy Food here and moreover the ambiance and Indian sitting were just what we needed after a tiring day.

Farmer harvesting at the rice field

Tips of the day:
  • There are no lounges at the Bali airport on arrival, so book your hotels accordingly. We booked the Novotel hotel on time, so had to pay a bomb price for it. So prior booking of the hotels is recommended online.
  • For travelling in Bali you can book taxis through apps like Gojak, Grab and Blue Bird. Sometimes local people don’t support foreign apps Gojak and Grab, in those conditions, the local app Blue Bird though costly can be of use.
  • Most taxi drivers are tour guides also. So keep their numbers with you while in Bali. These people generally are connected through WhatsApp chat and WhatsApp calls rather than phone calls.
  • Instead of hotels, prefer villas in the Ubud area of Bali. It is a fun and different experience.

Dwarka Palace Villa, Tirth Imphul Temple, and the Bali swings provided a kaleidoscopic introduction to the island’s cultural richness, leaving us eagerly anticipating the adventures that awaited us in the days to come.

Stay tuned for more tales from our Bali journey!