Ubud Local Customs

The topography of Ubud and the surrounding villages is blessed with scenic paddies, grassy hills, and gushing streams. You could marvel at all these if you take a walk (or a bicycle tour) around Ubud and these surrounding villages.

And keep an eye for surprises along the way - like naked (and/or semi-naked) men and women bathing in the streams and ponds. Yes, NAKED (and/or SEMI-NAKED) MEN AND WOMEN!

And why not? As tradition has it, the Balinese believe that they are invisible when bathing.

Just be sensitive to this local custom and please respect them - AVOID TAKING SNAPS OF THEM BATHING IN THE NUDE!

In Bali the temple is only used for particular ceremonies and festivals, sometimes only once in the 210 day cycle, when the temple's birthday (odalan) ceremony is held.
During these festivals people come from all of the surrounding villages to partisipate in the celebration.
Men come by the buss and truck loads. Any means of transportation that they can find.

Offerings are made fresh every morning and set out on steps, on the ground, and most everywhere. These offerings to the evil spirits are simply made - small squares of banana leaf holding a few grains of rice, a flower, salt and a pinch of chilli pepper Every 15 days, a day called kajeng kliwon according to the Balinese calendar, special offerings are made to the evil spirits as a kind of mini exorcism of any harmful presence.
This temple statue has an offering sitting on its head.

The streets of the villages are decorated with bamboo poles known as penjor, in preparation for a temple festival.
When we drove in from the airport I saw these poles decorated and wondered what they were for.

How do these women carry everything on their heads?
They carry large offerings to the temples on their heads.
They cut the rice and carry big bales, on their heads
They go to market and they carry everything home on their heads.
There were two women that we met on the path from Ubud, one had a rug rolled up on her head.
The other had a basket full of food plus a live duck.

In Bali it is common for men to touch eachother in very familiar ways. It is very normal to see male friends holding hands, walking down the street arm-in-arm or with their arms around eachothers shoulders. It is also commonly seen that friends often greet eachother by cupping the others genitals! This may seem surprising to many Westerners but its just a friendly hello!

In contrast, it is considered bad form for people of the opposite gender to touch eachother in loving or familiar ways such as these. Public displays of affection between male & female couples, even if married, are generally frowned upon.

Did you see the bamboo that arched out from the road side ...with some leaves and decorations attached to its tip. It is caled Panjor , also an offering to gods and it symbolises the Holy Mount Agung ....some are adorn with colourful lights at night !

You cant miss it coz its everywhere !!

Well they come in a small tray the size of the palm and are filled with fresh and bright colour flowers , and is often accompanied by an incense ,,you can see them everywhere you go ...especially on the road pavements in front of all the shops ...so watch your steps...!