Why Ubud?

If you have never been to Ubud, but you have seen the film Eat, Pray, Love you might think you know what to expect. Sorry. A bit like it, but not a lot. No dogs or scooters; traffic-free roads on which to cycle; Javier Bardem around the corner. I don’t think so. But since the film, large numbers of solo women travellers have come to town, so the Julia Roberts effect has certainly kicked in.

This is far more like it. In other words Ubud is what you want it to be. It is all of the things listed here and more. It's filthy. It's beautiful. It's an environmental disaster. It's spiritual. It's what you choose to see, and what you choose to become concerned about. The rice fields are disappearing for yet more tourist accommodation and amenities (such as 'spiritual' yoga schools and imported Starbucks) but the place is hanging on to a magic that we can only hope will transcend the rapid changes.

We choose to see the magic, and the time spent really getting to know Ubud and the surrounding villages, learning the language and helping where we are needed answers the question we have been frequently asked (usually in an incredulous tone) ‘What are you going to do for six months?’
I just hope Starbucks is using local coffee. We'll stick to the local cafes and warungs.