Ubud is a place where we seem to relax just a bit more than when we are in the southern tourist areas around Tuban to Seminyak.   This is not so much a result of the lack of shopping opportunities (She can even shop in little Pacung!) I think but maybe I find more to do during the shopping parades.  There seems to always be something happening in the Palace and I have a growing love of the Neka Art Gallery and Art Museum.

This time we were only day trippers, the real reason (so I was told) was to just pick up some temple umbrellas at Sukawati Markets on the way. Even our friend and driver Made had a small smile at this revelation.

I had the intention of catching up with friends at the Adi Cottages and the adjacent Cisa Cafe and at the Lamak Restaurant. We also picked up a couple more prints from the Neka and She found some new (different?) automatic watches at Her favourite sellers in the market.  Needless to say the back of the little Kijang was pretty full before it's nose was allowed to point south again.

The storm-water drains in Ubud, as in many places in Bali, run under the street footpaths. What makes Ubud different are the steel grates set into the paths periodically. Amongst the accumulated rubbish these expose some luxuriant growths, mainly ferns, that I would love to have at home.

A junior orchestra was practising at the Palace.

The grin and obvious pleasure of this Gamelan player caught my eye, and the camera caught his.

Friends at the Cisa Cafe and Resto always make us feel welcome and the food is always a delight.

It's painted bright orange at the front so you can't miss it in the middle of Monkey Forest road.

*  Hit the Back button at the top of your screen to return to the starting page of our 2005 holidays.

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These links will take you to other Ubud places of interest.

        - the Archaeological Museum.

        - other photos from our April 2004 visit -

        - and from our 1999 visit.

        - the ancient site of Gunung Kawi.

        - the mysterious Yeh Pelu.

Ubud from 1979 - a Palace dance night;    -   Herself with Joged dancer at the Palace.

'Joged' is a dance of un-ashamed erotic movements during which members of the audience are invited to participate and (attempt) to follow the movements.