Ubud

Ubud is somewhere I have been told I would love and want to stay,because it so surrounded by beautiful countryside and has lots for yoga and bohemium shops and vegetarian/vegan cafes. I do certainly like all these elements of it, but the town itself is very busy and full of tourists tripping over each other. So I'm indifferent-I'm having a lovely time, but wouldn't rush back.

It is also more expensive than what we were used to in Amed and so we haven't varied our dining experiences very much. On the first night we explored the area and scouted out the cleanest and brightest of the cheapest restaurants and since we enjoyed the food there we have had nearly every other meal there. All the Indonesian restaurants sell the same things anyway. I have been eating a lot of delicious tofu and Tempe based dishes, often with peanut satay sauce.

Yesterday Becky and I spent the morning shopping until we actually did drop. A few hours of bartering and walking around all the market stalls into the heat nearly finished her off. But we got some great bargains. I bought two pairs of shorts, two tops, two jumpsuits and a bumbag for a grand total of £23.21! She bought so much stuff I couldn't tell you, because she flew back to Australia last night, so she could fill her bag. Then she and Naomi went for a spa afternoon whilst I went to a wonderful, challenging yoga class in a stunning and peaceful location. It was mega hot and humid and the class was during the afternoon, so it was my sweatiest ever practice. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. The teacher was a local man, with a lot of knowledge and passion.

Then we went out for our last meal, as Becky flew off late last night and Naomi took a boat to the Gilli Islands this morning. We were so sad to leave each other and made vague plans of meeting somewhere again.

(Some of these photos are of the decorations they have up outside buildings and lining the streets. They are from a Hindu festival a few weeks ago and will be taken down within the next few days. )Read more