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Information about some of the areas of Bali our tours visit:
Ubud (pronounced
ooh–bud) is a town in central and is famous as a centre of
Balinese culture, dance, music, arts and crafts. Ubud is
surrounded by most of the things that bring people to Bali -
scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft
communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, cheap
accommodation and unique luxury hotels. And it's central
location makes it easy to get from Ubud to the mountains,
beaches, and major towns. Far removed from the drunken
bikini scene in Kuta, Ubud can be described as a magical,
wonderful, cultural center. Above all, it is famous as an
arts and crafts hub. Half (if not more) of the town and
nearby villages seem to consist of artists' workshops and
galleries, mostly retailing cheap reproductions for
tourists. There are some remarkable architectural sights,
artistic gems to be found, and a general feeling of well
being to be enjoyed thanks to the spirit, surroundings and
climate. While Ubud seems to outsiders like one small
town, it is in fact 14 villages, each run by its own banjar.
Due to its location 600 metres above sea level, Ubud enjoys
somewhat cooler temperatures than the coast (sometimes
necessary to bring a pullover for the evening), although the
midday sun can still be scorching, and the humidity usually
relentless.
Legian (prounounced le-ghee-ahn) Stretching north
from Kuta, Legian offers the same easy access to shops and
bars but a slightly more relaxed and less chaotic feeling.
The northern area of Legian bordering Seminyak offers a bit
of an escape from the crowds and is also a popular surf
beach. Legian is crammed full of shops selling everything
from the latest designer surfware to Balinese souvenirs to
take home. This is a shopping destination. Covering the main
shopping area in Legian will not take too long. Legian's
beachfront restaurants are popular spots for sunset and
people watching. The Legian area is very easy to explore on
foot. The shops (and there are a lot of them) still tend to
be simple family owned souvenir places (art and crafts,
t-shirts and the like) where tenacious shoppers can find
hidden treasures and bargaining is the rule.
Pemuteran (pronounced
pa–moo–ta–rahn) situated to the west of Pulaki Temple, is an
ideal place for natural excursion activities such as
trekking, swimming, snorkelling, and diving. This is a small
laid-back village which has become increasingly popular with
visitors in recent years. There are a number of waterfront
resorts and its proximity to Lovina and West Bali National
Park together with the extreme natural beauty of the area,
has fuelled quite rapid growth in tourism infrastructure in
the area. Pemuteran is home to the largest artificial
Biorock reef project in the world and there is a real spirit
of marine conservation effort in this area. The humidity is
less relentless in this area but the mighty sun burns
rapidly, sunscreen is a must.
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