Our first morning in Bali we woke up around 4am. Jet lag will easily do that to you. It did however, allow us to witness a glorious sunrise over the rice fields that were just across a river from our cabana. It was an epic way to start our visit.

One of the most important celebrations in Bali is Galungan. Beginning March 27 this year, the festival symbolizes the victory of virtue (dharma) over evil (adharma). Hear the mysterious clangs of gamelan music; see women and girls in elaborate dress; and don’t miss the Barong Dance, in which young boys parade around as a dragonlike creature to fill the village with holiness. Photo by Mast Irham/EPA/Corbis. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue.

The most fun I've had on a bike for ages! Coasting on a bike gently down the Bali hills, sun on my face, wind gently blowing my hair, through rice fields and small villages all the way to Bob's place for a mouth watering Balinese meal. From the time we met Sandi, I just got the feeling this is going to be a great day...read more

Outside of Ubud in the still-quiet country, the father of a friend wades through a sea of green, taking care of his family's ricefields. He is the last of his line to work in the sawah, or rice paddies. His son has graduated college and works on a cruiseship, and knows nothing of rice farming.

The best way to discover Ubud's tiny villages!! Sometimes when the road would climb up, I'd have to walk my cycle but for the most part the route is level with some ups and downs. I saw tons of random old ladies sifting through rice, beautiful small temples, children running around playing and many rice terraces. At the end, our guide (2 brothers) at Jegeg Cycling took us to their house and fed us home cooked food which was the best I've ever had in Ubud.

While in Ubud, I saw many wonderful dance performances--there is a different one each night of the week. The best however, was Semara Ratih--it was amazing and mesmerizing. It clearly stood out above the others in its refinement. So if you are in Ubud, Semara Ratih performs each Tuesday at 7:30, it is a must see. I know this sounds like a commercial, but it really was incredible.

Staying in this villa amongst the paddy fields was the highlight of my stay in Ubud, Bali. The villa is clean, comfortable, spacious and hosts a swimming pool that is a delight in the hot, sticky Bali weather. You can even get $10 massages in the villa hut on site. I was in the middle of a private massage when I started to hear the pitter patter of rain drops - what a sublime experience.

What was supposed to be a solo trip turned into a serendipitous rendevous with one of my dear college friends and creative collaborators, who happened to be in the Philippines right as I was planning to tour Bali, and then Manila. He ended up joining me for an adventure in Bali. During the trip, we discovered this very affordable family-owned bed and breakfast in the heart of Ubud, where our room was open to and surrounded by nature (not for the squeamish jetsetter- I found a mouse on my towel one night, and bugs and howling cats were aplenty). Nevertheless, the place was a serene retreat. Our hosts made us feel at home, and the traditional decor was gorgeous, as you can see.

Every morning, before the day has truly begun, Balinese women come to the market shrine in the center of Ubud, Bali. They light incense and leave their offerings, origami folded banana frawns bearing crackers and cookies and flower petals for the gods. By midmorning the offerings have accumulating into towering stacks of “Canang Sari”. I love spending times in the Ubud central market, but because of tourism you have to get up with the sun to experience the market that the locals frequent. Get to the market as early as 5:30-6 am eat a breakfast of small pastries and spicy Babi Guling (roast pig). By 8:30 am the locals' market is already dispersed and the tourist market – filled with gilded sarongs and carved masks has taken its place.

This bridge connects Bamboo Village to the Green School, south of Ubud, Bali. We embarked on a six month surf trip around Asia, but our first stop was to visit friends who were teachers here at this International School. They put up our weary feet, helped us extend our Indonesian visas, hooked us up with their car (and driver), and fed us well. The Green School, and the neighboring Bamboo Village is made of 100% bamboo, harvested from about a mile away.

After strolling the streets of Ubud (perhaps on a shopping spree), it's kind of amazing when you realize you're just a hop, skip and a jump from the Wild Side, with the Sacred Monkey Forest just at the edge of town. Buy bananas if you're brave, but be prepared to be jumped on if you do. The monkeys are friendly, but aren't afraid to climb you like a tree, especially if you've got food. Speaking of trees, the forest itself is pretty impressive, with 115 species of trees, some of them of spiritual importance to the Balinese.

Clear Café may specialize in raw and vegan food, but you won’t find dream catchers or hemp tablecloths here. Instead, you’ll see marble-and-stone tabletops, driftwood sculptures, and a small courtyard pool. Notable menu items include black pepper tuna and raw zucchini linguine. Jalan Hanoman No. 8, Ubud, 62/(0) 36-1889-4437. Photo courtesy of Clear Cafe. This appeared in the January/February 2013 issue.

After taking classes for a month, I am deemed worthy enough to perform the traditional Balinese Welcome Dance in front of a gathering of friends. After adequately performing a dance that any eight year old Balinese girl could do, the following act comes out. This dance, the Baris Dance, is the performance of warriors. Tense, regal, and quick to action, the dancer must embody the life and values of the traditional warrior. The sudden stomps and whirls show off the elaborate costume. There is no gender or age restriction, and this Baris Dance is performed by a fourteen year old girl.

Rejang dancers make haste to catch up with the procession going to Goa Gajah, the sacred Elephant Caves outside of Ubud, Bali. They will be one of the many ritual performances that celebrate the temple's odalan, or anniversary.

After weeks of exhilarating, yet exhausting travel through Indonesia, I recommend pampering yourself at the end of the journey at a place like Maya Ubud. The resort is set seamlessly among the lush jungles and rice terraced slopes of Bali, near the town of Ubud. Maya Ubud's tranquil grounds accompany the massages and poolside lounging perfectly, so all your aches and pains melt away. Although it is tough to pry away from the beautiful gardens and multiple infinity pools, Ubud offers many attractions just minutes away. Ubud is the scene of gorgeous hindu temples, Balinese dance performances, walks through the mind blowing rice terraces and dynamite cuisine. If that's not enough, the nearby rivers and volcano allow you to indulge in more intense activities, such as white water rafting and predawn treks to the volcanic summit.

Little boys dressed in the traditional Balinese clothing, pakian adat, race around before a temple procession. Two future men of the village practice their levitating skills as the sun sets and the gamelan gathers.

On our way to see Ubud Palace (and check if the nearby suckling pig joint was open), my travel companion and I were surprised by a tropical afternoon rainstorm. We were able to duck into a cafe as the rain started coming down in full force, but not before I ran quickly into the muddy center of a soccer field to get this shot of a beautiful narrow path just off of Monkey Forest Road. Indonesia has a plethora of beautiful and very narrow "gangs," or alleyways— too small for many cars —that are flanked on both sides by bamboo, concrete walls and lush vegetation. This one was my favorite because of its seemingly rare "fourth wall" sideview.

A stay in Ubud, Bali's cultural center, wouldn't be complete without dropping by Naughty Nuri's for a rack of ribs, smoking hot off the grill. Casual, open air dining with more pork than you can shake a rib at, burgers and steak as well. Located on Jalan Sanggingan, a bit north of Ubud center, Nuri's is a "local's joint" often crowded with travelers from around the globe who enjoy succelent, finger-lickin' slabs of pork ribs, sauced to perfection, washed down with an icy martini or pitcher of cold Bin Tang beer. Easy on the wallet, Nuri's is a great spot to chat up a local Balinese artist, an ex-pat or three, or practice your Balinese under the attentive eye of Nuri and hubby Brian (the "naughty" in Nuri's...). Nothing fancy here. Tasty food, friendly folks and a lively atmosphere keep 'em coming back for more.

You are transported up a volcano not far from Ubud by minivan, and then you (mountain) bike downhill with a guide. You pass tiny villages, ricefields, temples. All at your own pace, and you can stop wherever you want, to speak to locals, visit a school, purchase a snack... You likely won't see other tourists, and the guides are excellent about explaining everyday Balinese life - that's what you're surrounded by. I've been to Indonesia several times, but this was one of the best experiences!

along side the woman making the daily offerings there was also a section where these women were making different balinese spice dishes... used as a garnish for everything and anything.... be warned... it's VERY spicy!!!!!!!

In doing research about the threatened agricultural economy in Bali, I came across Bapak Gendil. The grandfather of one of my friends, I had meant to interview him about his family's ricefields. When I arrived, however, he was busy making hands. Bapak Gendil, like many Balinese, is not just a farmer. He is also an artist. In this case, he is the third generation of woodcarvers, and wooden hands are his family's specialty.