Ubud, the mystic and artistic heart of Bali, offers an ever-changing parade of beautiful people in search of “om.”
stay: The Mansion—a converted estate with many pools and gardens, little villas and free breakfast—is a good, mid-range option. For a little more luxury (and a lot more cash), the Bambu Indah eco-concept resort is made from antique Javanese bridal homes and modern bamboo structures amidst organic gardens and brilliant views over rice fields and rivers. Bambu Indah, Banjar Baung, Desa Sayan, Ubud, +62-361-977922, http://bambuindah.com
see (and be seen): Head to Kafe in downtown Ubud for free Wi-Fi, organic beet salad, a lime-and-ginger sipper that’ll clear your toxins and give you dragon energy—and the best people watching in town. Kafe, Jl. Hanoman #44B, Padang Tegal, Ubud, +62-361-7803802, www.balispirit.com/kafe
shop: Buy a beautiful, bohemian gypsy skirt from Paul Ropp, a sexy swimsuit from Blue Glue or a shiny new accessory from Canadian jeweler John Hardy’s flagship store—these sparkling pieces are made by a team of artisans whose ancestors are said to be the goldsmiths to the royal courts of Bali. John Hardy, +62-361-469888, www.johnhardy.ca
stretch: Visit the Yoga Barn complex—the epicentre of yoga in Ubud—for classes, a cool restaurant, Monday night movies, retreats and mystic speakers, or head to Radiantly Alive for flying yoga—the usual postures, only upside down. Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio, Jl. Jembawan No. 3, Padang Tegal Kaja, Ubud, +62-361-978055, http://radiantlyalive.com
spa: Soothe your muscles with a Bodyworks Bali massage, followed by ginger tea and papaya in one of the compound’s peaceful pavilions ($18 for one hour). For anti-aging treatments that turn back time, nothing beats the luxurious, riverside spa at Maya Ubud Resort, nestled between lush rice fields and the Petanu river valley. Jl. Gunung Sari Peliatan, Ubud, +62-361-977888, www.mayaubud.com
savour: Breakfast on live food, green juice, smoothies, elixirs and raw chocolate at Alchemy, Bali’s first totally raw vegan café and juice bar. Clear for lunch, where you leave your shoes at the door in exchange for a “shoe check” ticket. For dinner it’s Bridges under the Campuhan bridge—snag a romantic, jungle-side table and dive into the lemon-scented pavlova dessert. Bridges, Jl. Campuhan, Ubud, +62-361-970095, www.bridgesbali.com
Add ancient temples and hot jungle nights, and Ubud will show you the yoga journey of a lifetime. —Pia Shandel
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