This little 5 night side trip to Ubud was to be the calm before the storm of Sanur.
An aussie friend was marrying a local Balinese girl in Tabanan in just over a weeks time and people were to start streaming in from all corners of the globe to witness the event.
We knew it was going to be a hectic 11 nights to come in Sanur so we decided to have some R & R in Ubud beforehand.
Rather than give a blow by blow account of all our happenings in 'Slumberville', I'll try and keep it report-like.
For starters, Slumberville it ain't. Hard to believe that this place didn't even have street lights 25 years ago.
During the day, Ubud is a snarl of traffic all the way down Jalan Raya Ubud. The EatPrayLove/shopping tour buses are there in force clogging things up and causing mayhem. This street (which amazingly still doesn't have traffic lights) would easily rival Jalan Legian on a saturday night.
To say that Ubud has become a magnet for daytrippers would be an understatement. We didn't even step inside the markets this time around once we saw the throng milling around outside.
Our stay at the lovely Tegal Sari was as expected. This was our second time here, so not too many surprises.
Our newer super deluxe room #22 on the first floor exceeded expectations and had the same sort of views over the ricefields.
They had already harvested this time around so our previous sweeping green vista of 2009 was replaced with brown muddy paddocks busy with ducks and ricefarmers.
Staff as usual were ultra friendly and when we did have problems with hot water supply/blocked toilet etc, they were onto it straight away.
There was a bit of construction going on but it was at reasonable hours and not too bad. The workers were always very pleasant and would say hello.
Typically, this is how my day would unfold the entire time I was in Ubud.
Get up at 7am and read my book (John Grisham's 'The Confession') until wife got up at 9am.
Eat a cooked breakfast on our balcony followed by their famous TS banana pancakes.
Read a bit more while wife put her face on.
Read a bit more while wife did her hair.
Watch the rogue monkey ransack the balcony at #24.
Walk the streets with wife shopping until about noon.
Back to Tegal Sari for a dip in the pool (and a quick read) where everyday we would ask reception to order us Pizza Bagus with a large Bintang (with ice bucket) to be delivered poolside.
A quick read on our balcony daybed (and maybe a nap) before going to our prebooked massage/facial/manicure/pedicure at 4pm sharp.
Watch sunset on our balcony with a scotch/baileys before getting ready to go out for dinner.
RESTAURANTS
Being a bit of a foodie, this is that part of the holiday where I get my way and 'she who must be obeyed' simple goes along. By the end of it all my wife was pleading for a simple mie goreng.
For full, more detailed reports on all of these restaurants, go to Tr!pAdvisor and search under Skiggy.
THE POND
Very nice food. Don't go there for lunch as it caters for tour buses up from the south. Crab cake and avocado salad and Crispy duck were excellent.
Rp 375,000
BRIDGES BALI
Excellent international food. Lovely romantic setting next to the Tjampuhan bridge overlooking the river opposite Murni's in western Ubud. The pan seared scallops, maple glazed confit duck, French cheese platter and cinnamon creme brulee were all superb. Highly recommended. Well done Claude and Nicola.
Rp 1,100,000
CAFE DES ARTISTES
Always a firm favourite for rich Belgian cuisine.
Pate des Ardennes, onion soup and Steak with Roquefort sauce were all excellent.
Rp 440,000
GAYA
My first visit to this rather isolated little place at Sayan was the only place that didn't meet expectations. The setting, ambience and service were all excellent, but the food didn't quite reach the heights I was expecting, perhaps I chose poorly. Still good though.
Rp 530,000
CINTA GRILL
Another firm favourite. Crab cake appetiser and Baby back pork ribs were all very good as expected.
Rp 310,000
Exchange rates at the moneychangers hovered around the 9000 mark for the aussie dollar.
If you're reading this and thinking of a few nights up in Ubud, do it quickly. Ubud is transforming at a rate of knots and is getting more busy. Daytime is frantic, but evenings are still great after the hoards have gone.
See you in Sanur.