Held annually in Bali’s cultural capital, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is Southeast Asia’s largest gathering of writers, thinkers, artists and performers from across the globe. In 2017, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival will return for its 14th year from 25-29 October, with a five-day program of events exploring this year’s theme, ‘Origins’ Drawn from the Hindu philosophy ‘Sangkan Paraning Dumadi’, ‘Origins’ speaks of our eternal connection to where we have come from, and from where we will again return From refreshingly candid reflections to fiery conversations on some of the world’s most important issues, the Festival fosters our shared sense of responsibility and our capacity to respond to global concerns Taking place across the jungles, valleys and rice paddies of Ubud, the Festival’s five-day program of events spans open-air discussions, hands-on workshops, dynamic live performances, film screenings under the stars, food markets, art exhibitions, cooking demonstrations and much more. Early Bird tickets on sale and first program announcement in late July.

 

Ubud is a town in central Bali and regarded as the cultural centre of the island. It is famous as an arts and crafts hub, and much of the town and nearby villages seems to consist of artists’ workshops and galleries. There are some remarkable architectural and other sights to be found, and a general feeling of well being to be enjoyed, all thanks to the spirit, surroundings, and climate of the place.

While Ubud seems to outsiders like one small town, it is in fact fourteen villages, each run by its own banjar (village committee). Ubud has grown rapidly, and some central parts are creaking under the strain of coping with the number of visitors. That said, most development is sympathetic to the zeitgeist, if not designed specifically in the local style. Growth continues apace, but there are still terraced rice fields along the rivers, and away from the town centre, regular, quiet village life carries on relatively undisturbed.

Getting There

The easiest way to get to Ubud from the Airport and the regions in South Bali is via taxi. Some taxis are metered, but many drivers will want to set a rate before leaving, generally around IDR 300,000.

Getting ORIENTATED

Orienting yourself in Ubud is fairly straightforward. The town sprawls for several kilometres in all directions, with all of the small villages within a five km radius of the central market being loosely referred to as ‘Ubud’. If you choose a reasonably central place to stay, it is easy enough to get around on foot.

Central Ubud has three main streets: Jl Raya Ubud, Jl Monkey Forest and Jl Hanoman. At the intersection of Jl Raya and Jl Monkey Forest are Ubud Market, Ubud Palace, and the main bemo stop — unsurprisingly, there’s also a near-permanent traffic jam here.

Jl Monkey Forest, which runs south through town to the Monkey Forest, is a built-up area, and home to a wide array of accommodation, art galleries, and cafes, as well as a number of local services such as schools, a sports field, pharmacies, and travel agents. Jl Hanoman, which runs parallel to Jl Monkey Forest just to the east, is a bit quieter.

To the immediate west and northwest are the villages of Campuan (Tjampuhan, Campuhan) and Kedewatan, home to some of the most upmarket hotels in the whole of Asia, with views over valleys sculpted by the Ayung and Wos rivers. Directly to the south, past the Monkey Forest and still within a twenty minute walk of the central market, is Padang Tegal which then runs into the southern villages of Nyuh Kuning and Pengosekan, about three km from central Ubud.

Directly to the east is the village of Peliatan, and then Teges and Bedulu, home of the ninth century Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave).

GETTING AROUND

By Local Car:

Most local transport comes in the form of SUVs or minivans that can be hired with a driver for specific trips. Look for the circular yellow “E” logo on the windshield certifying them as Ubud Transport Association members. You can (and should) haggle over the price, and pay less than for the equivalent journey in a metered taxi. A short trip should be not more than Rp 30,000, and drivers will be glad to wait for you for a return fare.

By Motorbike: 

As elsewhere in Bali, motorbike rental is widely available, and you will not be short of options. Riding a motorbike in Bali is not for the faint-hearted though, and unless you have an international motorcycle license, not legal. This option should only be considered if you are an experienced rider in your home country. Expect to pay around IDR 50,000 per day for a late model motorbike in good condition. Look for rental agencies on all the main streets, or ask your hotel to organise one for you.

If you’re not comfortable riding a motorbike yourself, you can always catch a ride on an Ojek, or motorbike taxi.

By Bicycle: 

You can rent bicycles for about IDR 20,000-30,000 per day. The roads in Ubud are not ideal for bike-riding, as there is traffic and no designated bike lane, however a trip through the rice-paddies is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Ubud is quite hilly, so make sure you are prepared for a workout!