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.

Locally Crafted Pillows - with Built-in Aromatherapy

While shopping, we found these lovely throw pillows (just up the street from the Delta Dewata supermarket).


They come in several colors, as well as neutrals, with built-in aromatherapy in the fabric inserts. I'm not sure what it is - a bit like sandal wood.

They also have small bolsters - perfect for the sofa arms.


And matching magazine holders.


They have many other styles and sizes - silk covered poufs, for example - that would suit other decors. And they sell a few very original purses! Ever seen a leopard skin handbag



with an enormous zipper? The teeth were almost 1 inch wide - unfortunately, I didn't have my camera at the shop.

Recycled Glass - art and gifts

Photos taken at Nyoman Glass shop on Jalan Raya Mas, just south of Ubud, Bali.
Many of the larger pieces are displayed right on the street.
In addition to glass, the shop offers wood carvings.
There are a few pieces of cobalt / Prussian blue – my personal favorite.
And some pieces have an opaque finish.
Whimsical birds and cat / angles fly overhead.
Yes, that is a fish bowl, complete with fish!
Smaller items include a variety of beverage glasses, candle holders, ashtrays, and perfume bottles with stoppers.

Furniture Making in Bali and Fun Finished Pieces

The beautiful decorative carving on the furniture produced in Bali is done by hand with simple (non-electric) tools.
Here are 2 carvers working outside of furniture stores.

And samples of finished products.
A coffee table with a beautifully carved insert of fish and turtles (designed to fit plate glass over the top for protection).
And a chair with built-in storage.
This 4 poster bed may be from Lombok, a near-by island. They use inlaid shells for deocoration, and I see some across the top of the posts.
This cabinet is definitely in the Lombok style.
This is a tree root carved to create a table. Just set plate glass on top.
An "apple" woven from rattan.
Burl-wood bowls.
Java-style "sofa", carved and painted.

A Field Trip - to Buy Orchids

I joined a trip up a mountain yesterday to buy orchids at the source, Bedugul. So of course, I had to take some photos of the stalls and people.

Fashions ("Drupadi Collection) for sale next to a small Muslim restaurant specializing in meatballs (bakso) and soup (soto).

Spices, packed and ready to go - including Vanilla bean.

A woman carrying her bananas on her head.

An especially tempting fruit & vegetable display.

Assorted wind chimes and mobiles.

Adorable little girls (and they know it, too!)

A mischievous little boy playing with the orchids.

And the view coming back down the mountain, taken from a car FULL of plants - at least 20 orchids of 2 different types, lime trees, and celery plants. I had 3-4 orchids and 2 celery plants between my feet because we ran out of space!