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My Inward Journey In Ubud
As part of my 100-day Southeast Asian adventure in early 2025, I started my journey by spending a month on the Island of the Gods, Bali, where I split my time equally between Canggu, Ubud, and Uluwatu.
Knowing the kind of person I am, I usually try to design my travels around social connection, adventure, and cultural exploration.
I was convinced I’d thrive in the heart of Canggu’s social buzz and the hidden gem vibes of Uluwatu.
From what I had gathered, Ubud has the reputation of being Bali’s most spiritual, connected, and peaceful hub, attracting travellers from all around the world who want to find themselves.
Though I seldom cross paths with experiences like that, they’ve never been something I seek out deliberately.
I thought I’d enjoy Ubud and have a relaxed time in the lush jungle away from the social buzz of Canggu, but I had no idea how Ubud would change me.
I hoped to deeply connect with Ubud’s natural, cultural, and adventurous side.
Little did I know, I would happily fall for Ubud’s magnetic charm and find a piece of myself I hadn’t realised was missing.
After spending some time in Ubud, my appreciation for culture has deepened. Not just Balinese culture, but the role culture plays in shaping who we are and how it connects us to our identities.
It happened subtly, somewhere between raindrops on the lush trees and the distant hum of gamelan music drifting through the streets.
It happened gently, somewhere between the scent of incense and the offerings left quietly on my doorstep each morning.
It happened energetically, somewhere between the spiritual conversations with locals and the fever spirit of the Kecak dances under an open sky.
One morning, I found myself deep in conversation with a local. We spoke about how Hinduism in Bali and Hinduism in my motherland, India, are at once so familiar and so beautifully different.
The rituals, the stories, the prayers. Rooted in the same spirit, yet interpreted and lived out in ways that reflect the soul of each place.
It made me realise just how expansive culture can be. How it bends, breathes, and blossoms uniquely wherever it’s planted.
There’s something powerful about how Balinese people cherish their culture alongside growing tourism. Their connection to their land, each other, rituals, faith, traditions, and even to visitors like me, is something I’m still trying to fully grasp.
Culture is a tool for expression, history, values, priorities, ideas, community, and identity. It forms when people come together, creating something bigger than the individual. Culture isn’t static. It’s a living, breathing force that takes on a form of its own. It binds communities and carries meaning across generations.
I’ve always been proud of where I come from, but Ubud stirred something in me - something I didn’t even realize needed stirring. I’ve experienced numerous cultures worldwide, but Ubud made it all click. It helped me see my own roots through a clearer lens and I’m truly humbled by that.
I don’t know if this shift is a result of my travels, age, or both. But lately, this feeling has been sitting with me, and I felt it was time to honour the place that sparked it.
Perhaps the places we visit don’t just change us. Perhaps they return us to parts of ourselves we had forgotten.
If you go, remember to slow down.
Ubud isn’t a place you conquer.
It’s a place you surrender to.
I wonder what part of yourself Ubud might stir awake.
And maybe, when you visit, Ubud will whisper something to you too.
Tours & Experiences To Book In Ubud
If you're feeling called to experience the spirit of Ubud for yourself, here are a few resources to help you plan your adventure. Ubud is filled with activities worth exploring for personal growth, adventure, and transformation. Explore some of these activities below, offered by my partners at GetYourGuide.
Booking Your Flight To Ubud, Bali
Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali is well-connected with many international destinations, making it a convenient entry point for your Balinese adventure.
If you haven't booked your trip to Ubud yet, use our Skyscanner widget below to get an idea of flight prices for the dates you’ve got in mind. If you spot a great deal, you could lock in your tickets to Bali today.
