In sacred temple ceremonies and dance performances, the Balinese evoke the spirit to join the celebration of Dharma over Adharma and interact with the many worlds and spirits so all can receive the blessings of the Supreme Lord. This is to restore balance and harmony for all.

Ubud literally means ‘medicine’ in Balinese, and it has been renowned as a place of healing energies for centuries. You can now experience some traditional methods of massage and natural treatments for the body that have been redefined for the visitor. Ubud has many massage spas available in and around town.

Ubud has earned its reputation as the village of art and culture. Rich in tradition and religious activities, the aura of Ubud attracts a continuing flow of visitors.

On spending Time in Ubud

One of the delights about Bali is its wonderful availability of spas and here in Ubud we recommend you try Ubud Bodyworks Healing Centre for a place for good massages and spa treatments.

Cultural learning

Ubud offers courses on batik painting, introductory gamelan or Balinese dance. There are also many art galleries, and some of the artists are more than happy to organize private painting classes. Every evening dance performances are presented at various venues in Ubud. Tickets can be purchased at Narasoma or from other authorized ticket sellers.

Tips

• If you are bringing US $100 bills to Bali, be sure that the issue date on the bill is 2003 or later. Bills older than this will be virtually impossible to exchange for Indonesian Rupiah. Any damaged or worn bills will also likely be rejected by money changers. $100 bills command a better exchange rate than smaller denomination bills.
• Look both ways when crossing a one-way street as motor bikes are still allowed to go both ways on a one-way street.
• Bargaining means finding a balanced price where all parties are satisfied. You shouldn't, however, expect to pay the same price that a Balinese would pay for an item. You don't want to be outrageously overcharged but it is bad manners to wring every last Rupiah from a vendor who is poorer than you will ever be. Haggling is not a blood sport.

• The monkeys in the Monkey Forest are really cute, but be aware that they collect sunglasses and digital cameras. You're much better off giving them the ‘Official Bananas’ that are available at the entrance.
  Visit: www.MonkeyForestUbud.com
• Please respect Balinese culture and dress accordingly. It is important when entering a temple or attending a ceremony to wear clothes that cover the knees and shoulders. Bring a sash for around your waist. Women are not allowed in temples while menstruating. Photography is not always permitted during certain ceremonies.
• Temple dress, pakian adat, can be bought at local markets or specialty shops; prices vary by quality.
• Always be clean and washed before any spiritual activity.
• Smoking is not permitted in temples or other holy places.
• If you do your own laundry, underwear should always be hung at a level below your head. This is especially true near house shrines and holy places. To do otherwise may cause offence.
• Traditional Balinese village healers may not be what you expect and your experience may not be entirely positive unless the healer has had extensive experience with westerners and has excellent recommendations from many western clients. We do not recommend this form of treatment.
• If you become very ill during your stay in Bali, there are some western-friendly clinics such as BIMC and SOS.
• Useful information on health matters and other topics of interest to tourists can be found in the Bali Advertiser, a free semi-monthly newspaper for tourists and expats.
• For treatment of minor medical problems, contact one of several local clinics and doctors.
• Avoid food purchased from road-side food vendors! Often their standards of hygiene are low and they use lots of M.S.G. or dangerous preservatives that are banned in the west.