For a thorough exploration of Balinese culture and tradition
-- and a good dose of comfort and quiet -- Ubud is the place.
Though unabashedly touristic, the town is the cultural pulse
of the island, the richest region in Bali for art production,
and the very reason why so many expat artists and collectors
have made Bali their home.
The town has a royal legacy and hosts the Royal Palace, a center
for cultural performances and dance. In and among the smaller
streets of town you'll find refined boutiques, chic galleries,
and cool trinket shops, alongside open-air cafes that swallow
passersby on lazy days. Outside the busy town labyrinth, the
phosphorescent rice paddies, virgin jungle, gorges, and river
valleys of this hilly Shangri-La are ripe for exploration.
Ubud's central location makes the whole island accessible as
a day trip. About the only thing it doesn't have is a beach,
but they're all a short drive away.
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