Bali’s breath of zesty air

November 6th, 2007

By Susan Kurosawa

AT a cool elevation just 45 minutes by road north of Denpasar and the holiday coast of Bali, Ubud conforms to the classic hill-station template of clean and crisp air, gentle pace and deep green views.

Ubud has been a haven for foreign artists and creative castaways since the 1930s, when it must have seemed like Shangri-la.

Ubud has also been a travellers’ getaway since (at least) the 1970s but the hippie flower-power atmosphere has been replaced with a smarter vibe and cafes are as likely to serve excellent espresso and wines by the glass as they are mango juice and herbal teas.

Today, the main streets are a jumble of shops that may not be all that different to their coastal counterparts in Kuta or Seminyak but the methodical fossicker will be rewarded with good antiques and hand-made finds, especially wood carvings.

Best annual event: The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (September/October each year), founded by Australian expatriate Janet De Neefe, is a lively litfest of panels, workshops, book launches, lunches and performances, many in exquisite garden or temple settings. This year’s attendees included 2006 Man Booker prize winner Kiran Desai and Australia’s Richard Flanagan. www.ubudwritersfestival.com.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/travel

Entry Filed under: Bali Tourism News

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