Ubud
Ubud is a highland town on the Indonesian island of Bali, located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. One of Bali’s major arts and culture centres. Ubud Indonesia, has developed a vibrant tourism industry with its copious shops, artisans and galleries. Ubud Bali ArchitectureUbud, Indonesia has a population of approximately 8,000 people, though these days the burgeoning town is becoming difficult to distinguish from the growing patchwork of villages that surround it.
The main street is Jalan Raya Ubud (Jalan Raya means main road), which runs east-west through the center of town. Two long roads, Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman, extend south from Jalan Raya Ubud. Puri Saren Agung is a large palace located at the intersection of Monkey Forest and Jalan Raya Ubud roads. Monkey Forest UbudThe home of Tjokorda Gede Agung Sukawati (1910-1978), the last “king” of Ubud Indonesia, is now occupied by his descendants and dance performances held in its courtyard. The home was also one of Ubud’s first hotels, dating back to the 1930s.
The Ubud Monkey Forest is a sacred nature reserve located near the southern end of Jalan Monkey Forest. The habitat houses a temple and approximately 340 crab-eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) monkeys. Ubud tourism focuses on art, culture, yoga and nature. In contrast to the main tourist area in southern Bali, the Ubud Indonesia area boasts forests, rivers, cooler temperatures and less congestion although traffic has increased dramatically in the past decade. The Moon of Pejeng, in nearby Pejeng, is the largest single-cast bronze kettledrum in the world, dating from circa 300BC. It is a popular destination for tourists interested in local culture, as is the 11th century Goa Gajah, or ‘Elephant Cave’, temple complex.
Bali Destination
The Bali holiday destination is renowned for its diverse and sophisticated art forms, such as painting, sculpture, woodcarving, handcrafts, and performing arts. Balinese percussion orchestra music, known as gamelan, is highly developed and varied. Balinese performing arts often portray stories from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana but with heavy Balinese influence. Famous Balinese dances include pendet, legong, baris, topeng, barong, gong keybar, and kecak (the monkey dance). The Bali holiday destination prides itself with one of the most diverse and innovative performing arts cultures in the world, with paid performances at thousands of temple festivals, private ceremonies, or public shows.
The Hindu New Year, Nyepi, is celebrated in the spring by a day of silence. On this day everyone stays at home Celebrations are held for many occasions such as a tooth-filing (coming-of-age ritual), cremation or odalan (temple festival). One of the most important concepts that Balinese ceremonies have in common is that of désa kala patra, which refers to how ritual performances must be appropriate in both the specific and general social context. Many of the ceremonial art forms such as wayang kulit and topeng are highly improvisatory, providing flexibility for the performer to adapt the performance to the current situation. Many celebrations call for a loud, boisterous atmosphere with lots of activity and the resulting aesthetic, ramé, is distinctively Balinese. Oftentimes two or more gamelan ensembles will be performing well within earshot, and sometimes compete with each other in order to be heard. Likewise, the audience members of the Bali holiday destination talk amongst themselves, get up and walk around, or even cheer on the performance, which adds to the many layers of activity and the liveliness typical of ramé.and tourists must remain in their hotels. But the day before the large, colourful sculptures of ogoh-ogoh monsters are paraded and finally burned in the evening to drive away evil spirits. Other festivals throughout the year are specified by the Balinese pawukon calendrical system.
Kaja and kelod are the Balinese equivalents of North and South, which refer to ones orientation between the island’s largest mountain Gunung Agung (kaja), and the sea (kelod). In addition to spatial orientation, kaja and kelod have the connotation of good and evil; gods and ancestors are believed to live on the mountain whereas demons live in the sea. Buildings such as temples and residential homes are spatially oriented by having the most sacred spaces closest to the mountain and the unclean places nearest to the sea.
Most temples have an inner courtyard and an outer courtyard which are arranged with the inner courtyard furthest kaja. These spaces serve as performance venues since most Balinese rituals are accompanied by any combination of music, dance and drama. The performances that take place in the inner courtyard are classified as wali, the most sacred rituals which are offerings exclusively for the gods, while the outer courtyard is where bebali ceremonies are held, which are intended for gods and people. Lastly, performances meant solely for the entertainment of humans take place outside the walls of the temple and are called bali-balihan. This three-tiered system of classification was standardized in 1971 by a committee of Balinese officials and artists in order to better protect the sanctity of the oldest and most sacred Balinese rituals from being performed for a paying audience. ourism, Bali’s chief industry, has provided the island with a foreign audience that is eager to pay for entertainment, thus creating new performance opportunities and more demand for performers. The impact of tourism is controversial since before it became integrated into the economy, the Balinese performing arts did not exist as a capitalist venture, and were not performed for entertainment outside of their respective ritual context. Since the 1930s sacred rituals such as the barong dance have been performed both in their original context, as well as exclusively for paying tourists. This has led to new versions of many of these performances which have developed according to the preferences of foreign audiences; some villages have a barong mask specifically for non-ritual performances as well as an older mask which is only used for sacred performances. The Balinese eat with their right hand, as the left is impure, a common belief throughout Indonesia. The Balinese do not hand or receive things with their left hand and would not wave at anyone with their left hand.
Viceroy Bali Travel Advices :
Welcome to Viceroy Bali! We are delighted to host you at our luxurious retreat in Ubud. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit, please review the following travel advice and new entry requirements for Indonesia:
As of February 14, 2024, please be aware of the following updates for international travelers:
- Visa-Free Access: Citizens of most ASEAN countries can enter Indonesia visa-free for short stays of up to 30 days. These countries include:
Brunei
Cambodia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
East-Timor - Visa on Arrival (VOA): For travelers from countries not eligible for visa-free entry, a Visa on Arrival (VOA) is available. The VOA costs IDR 500,000 (approximately USD 35) and is valid for 30 days, with the option to extend for an additional 30 days. Payment for the VOA can be made in advance or upon arrival at the airport.
Apply your VOA through here imigrasi.go.id - Bali Tourist Tax: A new tourist tax of IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 10) applies to all international visitors arriving in Bali. This tax supports the preservation of Bali’s unique cultural heritage and promotes responsible tourism. Please ensure you have proof of payment for this tax upon arrival.
Visa Application Guidelines : https://molina.imigrasi.go.id/ - Online Customs Declaration: The traditional paper customs declaration form has been replaced by an electronic version. Travelers must complete the online Indonesian customs declaration form via the Electronic Custom Declaration (ECD) portal within 3 days (72 hours) before departure. A QR code will be provided upon completion, which must be scanned upon arrival at customs.
Link : https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/ - Vaccine Requirements: Effective June 2023, travelers are no longer required to present proof of COVID-19 vaccinations to enter Indonesia. There is also no need for PCR tests or quarantine for unvaccinated travelers
2. Essential Travel Documents
- Passport: Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your intended date of arrival and has at least two blank pages.
- Return or Onward Ticket: Proof of a return or onward flight within the validity dates of your visa is required.
- Completed Electronic Custom Declaration: Present the QR code received after completing the online customs declaration form to the customs officer.
- Bali Tourism Fee Receipt: If you are traveling to Bali, please retain proof of payment for the new tourist tax.
3. Preparing for Your Stay
- Reservation Confirmation: Confirm all booking details with our reservations team. If you have any special requests or require assistance, please contact us in advance.
- Local Currency: While many establishments accept credit cards, it’s advisable to carry some Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) for small transactions.
- Transport and Arrival: We offer airport transfers to and from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS). For a seamless experience, arrange your airport transfer with our concierge team.
- Authorized Currency Exchange: Viceroy Bali is now an authorised currency exchange partner, providing you with a convenient and secure option for currency exchange during your stay.
We look forward to welcoming you to Viceroy Bali and ensuring a memorable stay. For any further questions or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our team.
Safe travels and see you soon!
