Nusa Dua and Ubud

If you have only been in the Nusa Dua area (beach and 5 star resorts and shops), and if you have enough time, come up to Ubud (pronounced "oo-bood"). How much time is enough? Well, it takes about 1 hour each way by car. What would you see that's different from Nusa Dua? Terraced rice paddies (a healing, relaxing green), hills & trees, Balinese villages.

Different villages specialize in different arts - jewelry (gold & silver), wood carving, paintings (at least 7 different styles in 7 different villages), batik & ikat fabric making, basket weaving, carving & painting masks used in traditional dance and religious performances - and much, much more.

If the free afternoon includes evening, you could have dinner up here, too. Maybe try a Balinese specialty - bebek betutu (steamed spice duck - or you can get chicken prepared the same way), or grilled crispy duck. Or babi guling - roast pig.

If you want to stay near Nusa Dua, 2 favorite tourist sunset locations are the temple at Ulu Watu on the cliffs. And dinner at a fresh seafood restaurant at Jimbaran Bay; we've gone to "Aroma" several times. They usually offer at least 2 types of fish, shrimp / prawns, sometimes lobsters. And a choice of cooking methods and chili-spice levels. We usually go for grilled.

There's almost always a music (gamelan) or dance performance somewhere. While there are no major Balinese Hindu ceremonies Dec 10-15, there may be a village celebrating the "birthday" of its temple.

Rock Painting

One of the newer activities available at Bhanuswari Resort & Spa is Rock Painting.
The staff instructors explain and demonstrate how it is done.
Students begin painting.
The work can be quite delicate and requires concentration.
The proud artists with their finished projects!