Devi's Place

I feel compelled to share but at the same time, I don't want to have this place over run with tourists!

After breakfast with two beautiful 'runny' eggs, unlike the ones at Aromas at Brisbane International, I headed up for Ubud.

The Ubud Writer's Festival is on and the place is heaving with tourists.  Perhaps, that is only part of it.  Maybe the town of Ubud is growing, which it is and certainly seems to change more each time I am here.

Devi's Place is where I decided to spend my time.  Just outside of Ubud.

What a magnificent place it is.  Even more than I expected or hoped for.  My home,  for the next two nights in their Bamboo Cottage.  Set amongst rice fields, with a pool that is shared but only by a quiet couple that live here some of the time, a lush garden, friendly owners and staff.  I thought I had died and gone to live in a rice field in heaven!

Janny, informed me that past guests had complained about the noise of the geckos and insects!  She also added they make a sound like 'gecko gecko' I thought she was a little mad!

Balinese geckos definitely sound differernt from Australian ghekos and when I came home - they were definitely saying to me gek ho gek ho, I was also greeted by a frog, who hid in a corner and thought I couldn't see him.

The design of the Bamboo cottage is simple, stylish and clever.  Although some of it is open to the wild, you can also lock it out in the comfort of you bedroom and bathroom.

Reluctantly, I dragged myself out of the villa and headed for Ubud.

Fortunately it wasn't too hot and drizzling with rain.  Just as the rain started to get a little heavier, I came across The Blanco Renaissance Museum.  This being my third visit to Bali, it was time to discover, Don Antonio Blanco's legacy. A Spanish artist who lived in Ubud.

Beautiful grounds, exotic birds and a magnificent house.

A spiral staircase leads to the rooftop, which is adorned with gold statues of Balinese Dancers, the view is extraordinary,  looking over Ubud's, tropical rainforest and rice fields. The gallery is very flamboyant like the artist himself.

Braving the rain, I headed into Ubud proper.  The rain was getting heavier and my trouser legs were soaking up the water, time for a beer break and get in out of the rain.  The River View Cafe is down a little path, I sat down in a Bale that over hangs the river and sipped on a Bintang.

A little shopping at the Ubud Market as they were shutting up shop for the evening and aimlessly wandering around I came across a little warung, with not a tourist in sight.  Here I dined on Nasi Campur, one of my favourite Balinese dishes of rice, chicken, tofu, gado gado.  As I sat quietly watching the women prepare beautiful, colourful offerings for tomorrow, the rain eased up and it was time to head back to my villa.

As luck would have it, a driver standing on the corner asked me if I would like a lift.  It turned out to be Nick, who drove me around for 10 days when I was in Bali last.  Such a lovely surprise for both of us and a well earned job for him, his first for the day.  If you ever need a lift in Ubud - he is the man to use. He is lovely, speaks excellent English and nothing is too much trouble for him.  He can be contacted on 08523 7545885, if you are calling from Ubud.