16/06/2026
Walk # 2: Ubud, Bali
📍 Distance: over 10 hot kms
🕒 Time: a few hours
🏞️ Grade: 2
🌥️ Weather: Sunny, 22-26c, slight breeze
🚶 2
🐕🦺 Various
🛵 546
Welcome back to the SE Asian HQ of the BAHWG. This morning, two excited walkers set off relatively early (but not as early as I would have liked!) to explore Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali. Around the back of our villa, there are a couple of walking trails , or rice field access tracks that lead to proper walking trails. So without further ado, side stepping several chickens and ducks, the intrepid 🤣 duo walked up a slight incline, to the fields. It was a glorious morning, not too hot (yet) with beautiful blue skies. We said our good mornings (selamat pagi) to several scooter riders getting to their fields. The Balinese really are cheerful!
Tomorrow (Wednesday 17th) is Galungan Day, one of the most important dates on the Balinese Hindu calendar. It is a celebration of good triumphing over evil, and also a time when peoples' loved ones spirits return to Earth to visit their family and homes. Lots of small businesses close so that workers can return to their villages. It was really interesting to see the preparations for the celebrations as we walked around, and to witness the penjors (Balinese symbol of prosperity) being constructed and being raised upright. These penjors can be seen all along the streets. Some we saw being carried on scooters.The celebrations last for 10 days after which the spirits are said to return to their heavenly realms. We have been lucky enough to be invited to attend a temple with a local family tomorrow to take part in the celebrations.
All this walking and duck-dodging makes for thirsty work, so along the Sari Organik walk, we stopped for breakfast and a coconut. It was a good people and scooter watching place! After, we followed the track down to JL Ubud, one of the main roads of Ubud. From the calmness of the rice fields to the chaos that is the centre of Ubud. But we were on a mission to get to Casa Luna, where one of the group says offers the best iced coffees they've ever had. So not long after breakfast, we had a coffee and cake stop. Well one has to keep themselves hydrated in this weather!
Further up the street, we turned left onto Jalan Kajeng, which has an open air market. At the end the road narrows into a path, and up a slight incline, we found ourselves on another rice field trail, the Sweet Orange walk. After a while, we turned around and went up another track that brought us out onto Jalan Suweta. About 2kms further up, I stopped in a local shop to buy some cold drinks and snacks, and then we returned to the villa for some well earned refreshment and a swim. Another great walk from the SE Asian BAHWG component! Sampai jumpa 😃
❤️ We are part of the Heart Foundation Walking
👉 Join our walking group here: https://www.heartfoundationwalking.org.au/fundraiser/id-vz7ued/bridgewater-adelaide-hills-walking-group
📱 FB page: Click on 'More' tabs then click on 'Event' tab to locate upcoming walks
⏰ Sun & Tues 08:30am* | Thurs 4:00pm*
‼️ Always check FB for any updates before heading out