I had a pretty good night sleep. I woke up a few times but the bed was comfortable and so was the temperature, so no complaints. I got out of bed around 8am and opened the windows to really take a first look at Bali as last night it was dark.

I saw a thermoskan of hot water on the little table in front of my room with instant coffee, tea, sugar, and cups... what a lovely surprise!

I took some rooibos tea with me from the lounge at Schiphol Airport in case I felt like it during the flight, which I hadn't and so I could enjoy it now. I've got more in my suitcase but that's (as you know) not here, so this was perfect.

A friendly guy called Lupus told me I could buy bottles of water at the swimming pool a few steps down from my room, which I did. We chatted for a bit and I told him that my suitcase was missing and that I just had to go shopping especially to get flip-flops and something more summery to wear.

A bit later as I was journaling whilst enjoying my cup of tea he came back to my room and told me he could borrow me a pair of flip-flops and a sarong if I wanted, which I accepted gratefully. The flip-flops fitted perfectly and I was so happy I didn't have to wear my knitted dress which was far too warm for this weather.

I took it very easy and just before midday I left to explore Ubud. The streets here are filled with traffic and lined with little shops with all sorts of offerings, mainly clothes, shoes, souvenirs, food, massages, and beauty treatments, but also supermarkets, minimarkets, phone and electronics stores... Especially the fabrics and the arts and craft are stunning and so it didn't take long before I was lured into a shop and bought a lovely sundress, which I kept on straight away. It was hot and sweaty even in the borrowed sarong, so this was much better and I continued my way to the center of Ubud.

I walked for a couple of kilometers, mainly downhill, so I already thought about renting a scooter somewhere down there so I wouldn't have to walk all the way back up. But first I explored Ubud in all its glory... I wouldn't say all nooks and crannies but many, and there was plenty to see, including the famous 'Ubud Market'.

I had some lunch, delicious grilled fish with salad, in a small restaurant off the beaten track and hired a scooter from a place in the Ubud Market area and made my way back. It was late afternoon and already getting a bit dark so despite plans to get some groceries I decided to stay in and have an early night so I can leave early also tomorrow.

Tomorrow I'm planning to visit the renowned Tegallalang Rice Terrases and the Sangeh Monkey Forest, which according to my brother is much quieter and thus nicer than the monkey forest closer to Ubud, and maybe the Campuhan Ridge Walk if the time and weather allows. We'll see, there's a lot of rain forecasted but maybe I'm lucky.

Today in any case was a wonderful day! 🙏❤️

Geschreven door Bulkjesoppad