I rose at 7 am, eager to explore Monkey Forest and indulge in a massage in Ubud. Glimpsing through the window, I was greeted by another day of splendid weather. Keen to start the day, I swiftly prepared, and within 10 minutes, I was heading to the parking lot. Accelerating smoothly, I navigated the tranquil, empty roads of Ubud, a welcome contrast to the bustling streets of Kuta. My destination: the center of Ubud and then northward to a charming village known for its picturesque rice fields.
Rice fields around Ubud
Despite 15 minutes of driving, my destination remained elusive. However, the scenic route led me through numerous enchanting rice fields. Opting to seize the moment, I paused to capture some photographs, explored the surroundings, and eventually decided to head back to Ubud.
Opting for breakfast in Ubud, I discovered a small mall hosting a bakery. I ordered green tea and some bread, which turned out to be quite tasty with a delightful sugar coating. As I leisurely sat, enjoying the moment, my attention shifted to a group of girls offering prayers at a nearby shrine. The atmosphere hinted at a forthcoming significant ceremony due to the shift of the moon to a dark phase. Deciding to skip a temple visit for the day, I contemplated saving that experience for tomorrow to diversify my encounters.
Following breakfast, I headed to the post office to dispatch a few items. Among them was a CD containing fantastic Indonesian Heavy Metal, a birthday gift for a friend back in the Netherlands. The process took around 15 minutes, and I paid approximately 120,000 IDR for the shipping.
More Rice Fields at Suly Resort & Spa
Back at the resort, still feeling a bit fatigued, I opted to retrieve my laptop from the room and utilize the wifi in the lobby area. In appreciation of the staff’s cleaning efforts, I left some Rupiah bills on the bed as a token of gratitude. Their kindness and hospitality deserved acknowledgment.
A few moments later, upon returning to the hotel building, the cleaning staff member (whose name I had forgotten) intercepted me in front of the elevator. “Mr. Maarten, we found money in your room,” he informed me. “It’s for you, my friend, a thank you for cleaning,” I responded. Gratefully, he thanked me and assured me that he would share it with his colleagues. I hadn’t anticipated that he would mention the money at all.
Upon reaching the top of the fourth floor, I facepalmed in realization. I discovered the rice fields behind the elevator, and I had already been staying here for two days. There was also a balcony on the other side that had escaped my notice. The view was breathtaking. Subsequently, when I exited my room, I took some pictures from the ground floor next to the elevator.
I took a leisurely walk around the resort and opted to capture some images of the swimming pool. Suly Resort & Spa genuinely proved to be an oasis of comfort. Ultimately, I made the choice to prolong my stay here. Being centrally situated in Bali, Ubud allowed me to travel effortlessly by moped to nearly any destination on the island.
Kayma Spa in Ubud
Forgot to mention, I ended up breaking my glasses. While I was strolling around the resort, they slipped from my t-shirt (it had already dropped over 200 times until now). Unfortunately, before I could react, they hit the ground, emitting a soft ‘crack.’ ‘Oh no,’ I thought. Now, I had to reach out to my insurance, adding the broken Armana watch to the list of things to address. I can almost hear you asking, ‘Why carry all the expensive stuff with you?’ Well, I’m a flashpacker, and I need my bling bling for parties and nights out, haha.
In the afternoon, I visited a spa in Ubud center (Suly Resort is located 1 kilometer from Ubud center). When I could not find the spa I wanted, I decided to look around for another one. It was a bit more expensive, but also way more professional. Kayma Spa was located on the northern road of the Monkey Forest. I chose the Balinese massage. After payment, I had to pick one of three massage oils, received a drink, and had to wait until I was called. The massage was amazing, so relaxing. Such soft hands this girl had, incredible. The hour seemed like two relaxing hours. The music was soothing, and the window provided a view of a rice field. I think I almost fell asleep four times because I became so relaxed. I can recommend this to anyone, go to this spa! You won’t regret it.
Monkey Forest in Ubud
Stepping outside, I felt invigorated yet a bit weary. A colleague back home had described the Monkey Forest as average, and I took his word for it. I had encountered plenty of mischievous macaque monkeys before, and the idea of a whole forest of them didn’t sound too appealing. However, I didn’t want to miss out on anything, especially since it was located within Ubud. I didn’t want to be the guy who visited Ubud but skipped the Monkey Forest, so I decided to go there after the massage.
I paid an entrance fee of 30,000 IDR and strolled around. Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the lush forest more than the monkeys, given the numerous (mostly negative) experiences I’d had with them during my two months of travel in Asia. Memories of encounters, like the one at the waterfall in Langkawi, still lingered in my mind. After about 30 minutes of exploring, I decided it was time to leave.
Suly Resort & Spa Never Stops Amazing You
Upon my return to the resort, as I walked through the hotel corridor toward the elevator, the cleaning guy and his colleagues intercepted me for a conversation. They brought to my attention an issue with the air conditioning in my new room—it wasn’t functioning properly, shutting down automatically after 20 minutes. While the air conditioning was indeed cooling the room, it wasn’t as effective as the one in my previous accommodation.
I hesitated to change rooms once more, not wanting to be perceived as a demanding guest. Politely, I conveyed to the guys that I would manage without the air conditioning. They seemed appreciative of my understanding and assured me that it wasn’t an inconvenience; they were willing to assist. To make an informed decision, I expressed my desire to check out the new room and assess the Wi-Fi reception, considering the excellent reception I currently enjoyed. The guy agreed and promised to bring me a key within the next 10 minutes.
After ten minutes, he returned, but instead of a key, two engineers accompanied him. He explained that they were there to fix the air conditioning. In response, I agreed to vacate the room for the next 30 minutes and opted to have a late lunch at the restaurant. Expressing my gratitude to the cleaning staff, who were now joined by five employees in my room, and the engineers in advance, I couldn’t help but think, “Only in Indonesia would they fix air conditioning with so many people,” secretly pleased with the prompt attention. It brought back memories of a few days ago when four Balinese locals, riding on their mopeds, arrived in front of my restaurant patio. I was having lunch, and my amazement led me to stop eating, staring at them with an open mouth in disbelief. They had brought my new laptop to me in Amed during a torrential downpour.
Of Repairs and Gratitude: A Day of Fixes and Appreciation in Ubud
At the restaurant, I placed an order, and the girl serving me informed me ten minutes later that the air conditioning had been fixed. I expressed my gratitude, then proceeded to browse the internet on my laptop. For lunch, I had ordered fish and chips along with a refreshing banana milkshake. It was delightful.
In the evening, I dedicated time to working on articles, watched “Forrest Gump” on TV, and relaxed in my room. I took a brief nap around 8 pm and woke up around 10. Swiftly, I drove to a store in Ubud and purchased some snacks, including chocolate for the reception staff as a token of appreciation. I held great regard for these people.
Subsequently, I continued working on articles and addressed a website issue. Having recently acquired a new laptop, I needed to transfer all the photos from my old laptop, which unfortunately led to errors in the program’s links due to incorrect file directories. Eventually, I retired to bed around 2 am.
