Ubud and the Desa Visesa Resort

Ubud

I was so happy to spend a couple days in Ubud and that it was my first stop here in Bali. There’s nothing quite like coming from cold & snowy Montreal to the middle of the jungle. And I mean real jungle!

The winding roads are surrounded by lush tropical forests and on every corner a shop displaying beautiful carvings of buddha statues. The main street of Ubud town was filled with pretty shops, little markets, and tons of restaurants of both traditional, and non-traditional food. The first meal I ate was a tofu stir-fry in ginger sauce with rice and sautéed vegetables. It was definitely a rewarding meal after the 35 hours of travel and meals of granola bars, nuts and seeds.

Desa Visesa

I checked in to the beautiful Desa Visesa for two nights in Ubud, where I was greeted with a refreshing welcome drink, and a “ceremonial service.” This service included a placing rice on my forehead and a bracelet around my wrist. While I still have to go research the meaning behind these acts, they definitely made me feel a sense of welcome. After the ceremony I checked into my villa, where I took the most refreshing and rewarding shower I think I’ve ever had! (much needed after the long travels!) The grounds at the desa visea were surrounded by acres of forests, rice fields, and beautiful fresh flowers. The resort was located a short 5 minute shuttle away from the hustle bustle of Ubud town. It made for the perfect little oasis in the jungle!

Peaceful meditation

I especially enjoyed access to the gym overlooking the rice fields, and yoga on site. The breakfast was filled with fresh & healthy options, included 3 different types of fresh squeezed juice daily, fruits, breads, and salads.

Breakfast

Tegalalang

The first full day in Bali I took a trip to the Tegalalang rice fields. It was so beautiful and definitely a must if your in Ubud! The fields take about 1-2 hours to trek, depending on how much time you need to take photos. (For me this was about 2 hours.) Make sure to bring water too because it can get really hot and sweaty while trekking!

View of Tegalalang

After the rice fields I headed to the vegan cafe Alchemy to sip on some refreshing juice, and eat a giant salad. I topped off the meal with a raw chocolate coconut truffle. The cafe was delicious and filled with tons of healthy vegan & raw food options! I made my own salad at the salad bar filled with lettuce, shredded beets, carrot slaw, raw cashew cheese, and pumpkin seeds. The meal was a bit more expensive than traditional food, however was much cheaper than anything I would be able to get at home!

Ubud highlights:

• Stay at the Desa Visesa

• Tegalalang rice fields

• Monkey forest

• Alchemy cafe

• Yoga barn

• Shopping