The Funky Site

Ubud is a village near the centre of Bali, and is commonly referred to as the cultural centre of Bali. Surrounded by lush rice paddies, it's also conveniently close to the Mother Temple at Basikeh, and includes many options for days out including walks, cycle rides, traditional dancing, and the intriguing Monkey Forest.

Also in Ubud near the centre of Bali is the Monkey Forest. It's inhabited by a large colony of long tailed Macaque monkeys, who instead of being shy are all used to the daily visits from tourists. They are more than happy to climb around the visitors and will take any food that you have with you, so beware! Within the Monkey Forest are a couple of temples, the Temple of Death and the temple of ?????. They're well worth a visit early in the morning, as the sunlight streaming through the trees creates an extraordinary atmosphere.

When I first visited Bali, we stayed in a little town on the north shore called Lovina. The apartments we stayed in were set in lovely landscapes gardens, with a superb pool with bar, and just metres from the beach. Lovina is much quieter compared to the southern resorts, but still makes a good base for exploring the island. Kuta on the other hand is package holiday heaven - large, white sandy beaches, good surf, and with no shortage of restaurants, bars and clubs open till the early hours. The Tanah Lot temple is only a 45 minute journey from Kuta, and is well worth seeing for its dramatic setting on the edge of the sea.