capital.

With lush landscapes, exotic culture, Hindu temples and mischievous monkeys guaranteed to steal your stuff, Ubud delivers the experiential vacation you may have read about in Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling book “Eat, Pray, Love.” An artistic town and hippie hangout in the heart of Bali’s terraced rice fields, Ubud is a go-to spot for most travelers. Ubud is Bali’s cultural capital and promises a laid-back vibe, yoga retreats, spiritual healers, affordable guesthouses, romantic restaurants and traditional dances. While there are a wealth of things to do in Ubud, here are some of my top activities.

1) Go Rafting:

While there are many companies offering rafting trips in the Ubud area, Fantasi Rafting is one of the only outfitters that begins beneath an impressive 100-foot waterfall along the Ayung River. Paddle through dense tropical rain forests, and volcano-sculpted terrain through an active bat cave. Flying blindly above you, squeaking and tweeting wildly , these webbed rodents set the backdrop for a good ol’ fashioned Indiana Jones adventure. Even if you’ve rafted before, this 1.5 hour family-friendly adventure is certainly worth the $68 price tag (the tour package also includes transportation and lunch). The scenery is awesome, the guides are fun, and the class 2/3 rapids offer a fast-paced thrill ride for paddlers. It’s a must-do!

2) Get Pampered:

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You can’t go wrong with an ultra relaxing hour-long Balinese massage for the whopping price of … wait for it … $16! Unbelievable, but true. Ubud is home to the luxury-for-less spa experience. You can expect high quality therapists in clean and tranquil settings, at alarmingly affordable prices. Spend your vacation getting pampered at one of the town’s many spas. I checked out Bali Botanical Day Spa, located off the main road near the Museum Neka, which offers 2.5 hour Ayurvedic massages for less than $45 USD. Book a 45 min. Pondecheri foot massage ($11), a 1 hour Hand Spa treatment ($11) or an Herbal Facial treatment ($18) with one of the many therapists. Go forth and detox! For a more complete list of body treatments offered at Bali Botanical Day Spa, visit www.balibotanica.com.

3) Get Gluttonous with Meat and Martinis:

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Be sure to experience the legendary BBQ pork ribs and martinis at Naughty Nuri’s, a well-known street side eatery along Jl. Raya Sanggingan Road. This iconic joint serves up succulent barbecue spare ribs and possibly the world’s meanest martini (even Travel Channel star Anthony Bourdain gave it a shout out). A generous pouring of your choosing (either vodka or gin), this adult beverage is so strong, it’s sure to make even the most hardcore cocktail connoisseur pucker. With outdoor communal seating next to a smoking grill, this down-and-dirty barbecue joint is a great place to fuel up and mingle with fellow travelers.

4) Learn to Cook:

For wannabe chefs, the best souvenir of all is to take home the art of Indonesian cuisine. Mozaic, the world-renown gastronomy restaurant offering gourmet six-course tasting menus, also offers cooking workshops. Classes include: Gourmet World Cuisine, Spa & Health Cuisine, and Asian Ingredients in Western Cuisine. On site, students will learn cooking techniques, help design a set menu and apply the rules of Yin and Yang to create unusual, yet balanced cuisine. Half and full day courses typically cost from $70-100 USD.

5) Monkey-Around in a Sacred Monkey Forest:

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If you’re a fan of playful primates in lush jungle settings, take a stroll through Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, one of Ubud’s most famous tourist attractions. Meandering around a series of trails, past temples and stone statues of dinosaur-sized Komodo dragons, you’ll spot cute long-tailed macaques. Funny little creatures with expressive faces and white mustaches, these photogenic monkeys swing from trees, climb atop tourists and are all around entertaining. Fearless, sociable and sometimes shameless little thieves (it’s best to leave your valuables and snacks at home), these monkeys can turn nasty if they’re taunted with food, so play it safe and don’t tease the animals.

6) Stay at the Bamboo Hotel, Bambu Indah:

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Bambu Indah, a luxury boutique hotel located above the Ayung River just outside of central Ubud, offers agricultural savvy, eco-conscious accommodations made from black bamboo from the forests of Java. Owned by celebrity jewelry designer John Hardy, these antique teak Javanese homes boast organic gardens and spectacular views of the local rice paddies. Bambu Indah is a beautiful, extremely unique hotel experience and not to be missed.

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