Bali: Part One: Ubud

Ubud is Bali's creative hub.The streets here and the villages encircling the town are over-spilling with intricate crafts and handiworks. Each village has a unique speciality ranging from wood carving,silver work and kite making to basket weaving.The town was itself very busy yet it was possible to find sanctuary and peace inside Ubud palace and the beautiful Saraswati water temple.I could have spent hours here snapping away at all the beautiful, trailing orchids,stone carvings and huge lotus pond which was just starting to bloom with pink flowers. In the evening the town really came alive with traditional kecak fire dances.Also just north of the town were the famed Tegallalang rice terraces which hug the valley in undulating curves...a real treat for the eyes!