Hetal Chirag
Your Bali trip would be incomplete if you do not explore the serene rice fields of Bali. And if you are an adventure lover like us, you have to go for an ATV ride. On our way to Ubud Monkey Forest, we took a little detour and went for a fun ATV ride through the rice terraces.
Our ATV ride really began when we took a turn form the main road and entered the rice fields. As soon as you catch a first glimpse of the rice terraces, it feels like you are witnessing something straight out of a fantasy story book. Lush green hills covered with layered rice terraces provided a stunning panoramic view that was unlike anything we had ever seen.
Our guide was very friendly and laidback so he didn’t mind us pushing the limits of the ATVs. After taking us through lush green paddy fields and steep mountain trails, he took as to a river which was a lot of fun. On our way back, we drove through a small village where friendly local people, especially the children, kept waving and smiling at us as we passed by.
After our ATV ride, we went to say hello to friendly monkeys at the Ubud Monkey Forest. As you stroll through the jungle it feels like you have entered a dream world with moss-covered ancient sculptures and hanging roots from tall banyan trees. You can also say hello to monkeys swinging from one place to another while exploring the lush green forest.
Feeding tiny bananas to the monkeys was also a fun experience. You just have to hold a banana in one hand and stand still. Monkeys will literally climb on your body and take the banana from you. Did you know that Ubud Monkey Forest is home to around 700 monkeys and more than 180 species of trees? This unique forest also contains three ancient Hindu temples dating back to 13th Century.
When we were in Bali, we also visited spectacular sunsets at Uluwatu Temple as well as Pura Tanaha Lot. If you are planning a trip to Bali, make sure you go for at least a week or so.
