Bali: around Ubud

The countryside around Ubud is really spectacular, terraced rice paddies, palm trees, jungle and rivers strewn with giant boulders - it almost looks too perfect like it might all be made from styrofoam and concrete.

Tim you will regret the day you did not purchase the sequinned christmas hat!

We went for a wander to the west of Ubud centre and met the great Wayan on the road, he showed us his bridge he had made and his rice field and we got chatting. He offered to take us on a walk through the paddies and jungle and what a walk it was....

Wayan leads the way

Some cotton 

and some rice

and a wee game of poker using torn pieces of dragon fruit for chips

Bali: Ubud

I was really looking forward to coming to Ubud mainly to get away from the beach but also to explore the rice paddies and jungle that surround it (and also the shops!). Ubud is brilliant, it has a great mix of friendly faces, drop dead gorgeous scenery and some amazing places to eat - just watch out for all of the Elizabeth Gilbert wannabes.

Ubud, home of the spa. The only thing I managed to get Dan to do was get his feet nibbled by fish.

Sasha and I spent the day at Spa Hati, rice paddy views and amazing massages with all of the profits going back into community projects.

We stayed at Ubud Terrace on Monkey Forest Road, £10 a night for a room in a bungalow with a pool and breakfast - bargain!

Some of the many offerings that get made every day, there are offerings everywhere to ward off the naughty gods. In front of shops, at the beginning of roads, on bike seats, on statues....

The monkey sanctuary in Ubud is quite comedy, Sasha got robbed of her water bottle by a monkey which wrapped itself around her legs.

One of Bali's specialities - suckling pig mmmm

Lots of colourful temptations at the market

Our favourite restaurant Bendi's where they serve a mean homemade wine (Brem) and distilled palm syrup (Arak) with whole smoked duck and really good tofu.