Ubud Things to Do

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We have been in Ubud several times and each time attended a dance performance if possible. Most days of the week there is a performance in the evening, each day different and at a different venue. Tickets may be obtained at the venue, or from street sellers. As long as the latter offer you a ticket with program for the price printed on it, you can trust its veracity.
Always come early, to get a good seat for taking pictures. The rule is that one cannot come in after the program has started, but that rule is not enforced.

We saw the program “Legong of Mahabrata Epic” by group “Sekaa Gong Jaya Swara” in July 2005. At the time it was performed every Sunday starting at 07:30pm. Admission was Rp 50,000.

As is the case with other performances, the program was a compilation of several different dances, with an instrumental prelude, interlude and postlude. The program title referred to the third dance, an episode of the Hindu epic Mahabarata.

For more photos and an overview of the program, see travelogue The Legong of Mahbrata Epic.

Venue: The Ubud Palace courtyard, across the road from the market. At the same place on Sunday afternoon children were having music lessons, which could be witnessed for free.

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We have been in Ubud several times and each time attended a dance performance if possible. Most days of the week there is a performance in the evening, each day different and at a different venue. Tickets may be obtained at the venue, or from street sellers. As long as the latter offer you a ticket with program for the price printed on it, you can trust its veracity.
Always come early, to get a good seat for taking pictures. The rule is that one cannot come in after the program has started, but that rule is not enforced.

We saw the program “Kecak and Fire Dance” by group “Trena Jenggala” in December 2009. At the time it was performed every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday at 07:00pm. Admission Rp 75,000.

The program consisted of three separate performances. Due to the threat of rain shortly before the start, stage and audience were moved from the open air to a pendopo (roofed space with open sides). Oil lamps illuminated the whole performance.
1. The Kecak dance is a Balinese version of the Ramayana epos, a ballet of which can be witnessed at Prambanan. There is no orchestra, the accompaniment being made by male voices a.o. singing 'kecak-kecak-kecak....'. In this version the son of the evil king Rahwana shoots a magic arrow which encircles Rama and Laksamana; the snake is represented by the singers lying down in a circle. The good brothers are rescued by the bird Garuda who eats the snake.
2. The Sanghyang Dedari dance features two virgin dancers who are entranced by a divine spirit entering them. Their eyes are closed during the whole dance, at the end of which they fall to the ground and are brought out of trance by a priest.
3. In Sanghyang Jaran or Fire dance a male dancer disguised as a horse dances around a fire and even on the glowing coals. This was quite spectacular finale of the evening; spectators sitting in front retreated from the heat of the fire.

For more photos see travelogue Kecak and Fire Dance.

Venue: Pura Kloncing, also referred to as Padangtegal Stage. The venue is located on Hanoman street; from the market and Royal Palace about 200 m east, then the same distance south along Hanoman street.

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We have been in Ubud several times and each time attended a dance performance if possible. Most days of the week there is a performance in the evening, each day different and at a different venue. Tickets may be obtained at the venue, or from street sellers. As long as the latter offer you a ticket with program for the price printed on it, you can trust its veracity.
Always come early, to get a good seat for taking pictures. The rule is that one cannot come in after the program has started, but that rule is not enforced.

We saw the program “Joged Dance” by group “Cepuk Wirasa” in January 2010. At the time it was performed every Monday starting at 07:30pm. Admission Rp 80,000.

Actually the program was a compilation of six different dances, the last one being the Joged. Joged is a flirtation dance, popular over most of Indonesia. Female dancers invite male spectators to join them. In Java and Lombok the profession of joged dancer is considered less honorable, the women expect to be handed money and we saw the men drinking beer to pluck up courage. In Ubud, however, the dance is stylish and chaste; just making fun with the clumsy foreigners joining in, both men and women.

At the end of the program the dancers posed for pictures together with spectators.
For more photos and an overview of the program, see travelogue A Joged Dance Performance.

Venue: Lotus Pond palace, also known as Pura Taman Saraswati or the Ubud Water Palace. It is located 100 m west of the market.

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The Sacred Monkey Forest is a good example of humans co-existing with the forest and some of its inhabitants, troops of long-tailed macques. The monkey forest is a cool refuge from the heat of the streets. Along with the mischievous monkeys, there are some magnificent trees to be amazed by. A terrific environment for a relaxing afternoon.

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Early morning while there is a little breeze and before it gets too hot is a perfect time to take a walk through the ricefields around Ubud. There are several walking tracks that do a loop back to Ubud or you can catch a 'taxi' to the distant point and walk back. Most accommodation will have easy to follow maps. Coupled with some terrific views - green like you've never seen - you may be lucky enough to meet local artists who have small studios along he path. Take some water and build up a healthy appetite for lunch at one of Ubud's many terrific restaurants.

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When in Ubud, you must take up the opportunity to see one of the night performances held in various locations. With the beautiful costumes and amazing dancing, Balinese culture comes to life. Often the performances depict parts of the Ramayana but there are usually two or three other acts in a sitting- my favorites being the trance dance and the fire dance. Performances start in the early evening and usually last for about 90 minutes. The cost is between 60,000 and 100,000 rupiah. Really a 'must see' when in Bali. I have also found that performances in the smaller 'theatres' of Ubud are more in line with tradition than some of those at larger ampitheatres in south Bali which appear to be more 'made-for-tourist' than depicting the original story line. Often the performances take place in the grounds of a temple. Ask at your accommodation for details.