Almost every of my friends called me lucky for having the opportunity to live in Ubud, Bali. Most of them wish they could join me. Their idea of living in Ubud is a heavenly place to spend your time; surrounded by green rice field, artistic shops and cafes, and get along with the very well-mixed culture lifestyle. They might be right, and maybe, I am lucky to have this opportunity; living in a 'romantic place' with someone I love. Nonetheless, there are many challenges I have to deal with, just to be fitted in. Ubud is so different with Bali's other tourism areas such Kuta or Sanur. Ubud is definitely different with Jakarta, the city that I've spent my life for almost five years. And Ubud is, of course, very different with Padang, the hometown where I was born. Plus, it's different when you are just visiting with when you are actually living there. So, I'm slowly adjusting myself to this town, the people, and the culture. During the progress, I've learned so many things that could be useful for newbie like me who has no friends or family live nearby. I'm writing this as tips for my friends who intend to move to Ubud by themselves as I consider these to be very important once you want to make your dream fits into the reality. These tips are challenges too, to give the idea that living in Ubud is not as easy and beautiful as you might think is. It's fun, for sure, but it needs efforts to make it work.
1. Getting to know the people around you
In a small place like Ubud, it is very important for you to get along well with the local people in your neighborhood. It's not just about trying to be friendly as a newcomer, but also, like it or not, soon or later you will deal with them in most of your daily activities, such as running some errands, asking them how to deal with snakes, etc until they welcome you and will later invite you to some social events. Smile a lot and don't be afraid to start a simple conversation. Most of them will ask you a bunch of questions once you start talking with them, like whether you live alone or with someone, where you come from, what you do for living, whether you're married or not, and so on. For me who live with my boyfriend, their most popular question is "Are you the wife?" To answer that, I just smile and direct them to another topic. You have nothing to worry about getting along with your neighborhood because Ubud people is known for their hospitality and kindness. As long as you don't get into a trouble like taking someone else's lover :P
2. Some 'aliens' in the garden
What I mean with 'aliens' in here is the animals who live in the area long before you are there. They sometimes come and go, but most of them dwell just as close as your bedroom or garden. Some of the most seen or heard include gecko, jumping frog, big black ants, garden spider, big black spiders, bugs, insects, termites, wasps, rats, and some other mysterious creatures who make noises at night. In my experience, I've already found four big black spiders in both bathrooms in the house, in my first week living here. Now, that doesn't stop there. In my second week, I counted that I already found ten big spiders, and we don't understand why, but they always appeared in the bathrooms, especially the main bathroom which I use a lot. When I was gardening (read: helping my boyfriend gardening), I met many other 'aliens' too. I was scared for the first time, but I love the garden more so I decided to deal with them and started to have fun by taking their pictures. Yesterday when I walked home by myself from The Fly Cafe, I saw a brown snake about 60 cm long, just across the gate's house. My twin sister suggested that I should make my own documentary movie about "Animals around the Garden". I think it could be a brilliant idea!
3. Banten/Offerings
It's not Balinese house if you can't find offerings in the corner of the garden or in front of the porch. Although my boyfriend and I are not Hindu, but we're still trying our best to respect and practice some daily traditions of Balinese Hindu. This of course, includes, having offerings or banten in Balinese language. You'll find them in all over Bali, except for some areas with muslims or christians as the majority, such as Bedugul. For my house, the landlady or the maid will come to put banten in some special big events such as Galungan or before Nyepi. Once a month, the landlady will come to put some amounts of banten and pray. Our house also has a small pure (temple) called padme. There are many kinds of banten as Wayan or Yan Srik, the girl who works in the house, explained to me. And some are offered to gods and some to evils. What you have to respect most is the one that given to gods. Banten for evils are usually placed in the street.
4. Bali Kebaya/Traditional Clothes
Having at least two Bali Kebaya is considered important as you'll wear them in many occasions later. Bali Kebaya looks similar to Javanese, but they are indeed, different. You can easily buy them for around Rp 150,000 to Rp 1,000,000 and match them with beautiful sarong or batik. If you can't find the size, like me, I prefer making them with the local tailor. It only costs you around Rp 50,000 to make one, which doesn't include the material. As a new year's gift, my boyfriend made me a beautiful pale orange-kebaya. We bought a flowery fabric and a batik flowery sarong and handed them to the tailor nearby. It takes 2 weeks or so to make them done. I'm looking to buy another one for my Melukat later. Kebaya is worn in religious, cultural or important local events. But most Balinese women and girls actually use it for their daily activities. For me, wearing kebaya is not only making you beautiful, but also sexy!
5. Melukat
Melukat is a purifying ceremony in a holy spring which usually held in every full moon. This is a symbol of becoming a Balinese. It's not about religion, but it's more about culture and society. As I haven't done my Melukat yet, I can't tell you more about this. But I'm expecting to do it soon and once I've done it, I'll share with you all.
6. Bike/Motorbike
Now, this is one of the most important thing to have if you live in Bali; to have your own motorbike or bike. As almost no visible public transportation available in here, except for private taxi which costs your twice as much as Jakarta's taxi, riding your own motorbike or bike is needed, especially if you live by yourself or you have not made a new friend in the town yet. Renting a motorbike or bike is only effective when you're visiting. Otherwise, you'll stuck at home all day long and private taxis are only available in the center of town. I already bought my flowery bike two weeks after I moved in. Once I tried walking from the cafe where I had lunch to my house; I was thinking, the weather is fine and unlike Jakarta, no one will try to annoy you when you're walking down the street; but turned out, it took me 45 minutes to reach my house and I was sweating like crazy although it wasn't too hot that day. Then I decided, first I have to buy a bike, then I'll have to learn how to drive a motorbike before having my own, because you can't bike all day long with the road condition which only makes you loose your breath. It's a good exercise though!
7. Beers
As my boyfriend is a foreigner (who has been living in Indonesia for 10 years and speaks fluent Indonesian), I hang out with his friends, which most of them are expats who work here or retired and chose to spend the rest of their lives in Ubud. This means, I have to adjust to their habit of talking all night long over beers. I rarely drink beers while I was living in Jakarta. Most of the time, we hung out with friends and drank coffee. In some occasions, we drank wine, but never beers. But now, I'm getting used to drink two to five bottles of beer in one sit. Most bule prefers Bintang, but I prefer San Miguel or Carlsberg.
8. Healthy food
If you prefer to eat organic food, this is just the right place for you. Ubud has its own organic markets for you to buy vegetables, fruits, and spices. Some restaurants are also specialized in organic food in their menu. And Ubud has many restaurants and cafe dedicated to vegetarians. For those who don't like vegetables, you'll learn to like them eventually.
9. Porks
It might be a trouble for muslims who decided to stay in Ubud when it comes to dine out. Most of Balinese food has pork in it, so does the western and chinese food sold in here. Some restaurants are known for their pork menu, such as the famous pork ribs in Naughty Nury's and Babi Guling Ibu Oka (which both are not my favorite, I prefer to have pork ribs in a small warung of my friend, Morgan).
10. Dogs
Street dogs are big issue in Bali. They are everywhere just like you see street cats in Jakarta. Most of them are friendly, but some are not. Rabies is now becoming a big concern in Bali as the government has begun to treat them seriously. Sleeping at night is incomplete when you haven't heard dogs barking or howling outside the fence. If you are not familiar with this, you might have a serious sleeping disturbance.
11. Sunglasses, Sunblock & Jacket
You need to have at least sunglasses and sunblock to accompany you when you're riding or walking down the road. The weather during the day can be so hot, it can burn your skin. But as the sun is set, you also need a jacket that warm enough to be worn during riding at night, because the weather can be cool and sometimes windy.
12. Flat shoes/sandals
Ubud is no place for high heels or stiletto. For those who feels comfortable to wear them, I suggest you to change with your flip flop or flat shoes. It's not an option whether you claim yourself a very feminine woman, just like me. The road can be tricky and sometimes you need to walk through the rice field to go to someone's house. And this is the time when you'll need a comfy running shoes. Don't worry, you can still wear a feminine simple dress or skirt during the day.
13. Fancy dinner
Sometimes it's good to dine out in a fancy restaurant and put your fine dress with some friends just to get rid of the boredom. There are lots of choices of good fancy restaurant in the town. Some of them even come with a friendly price!
14. Cultural events
It's important for you to know what is going on in the town. You need to learn when the society is performing a very important event, such as a ceremony. If it is allowed, it will be very nice for you to attend and get along with the people and neighbors. Other events are important too, such as jazz performance, someone's birthday, and so on. Make yourself familiar with the culture and of course, make yourself to be recognized by the society too.
15. Learn to cook
Because you can't dine out everyday for the rest of your life living in Ubud, it is good too to have a cooking skill. You can start with a simple one such as toasting bread, making vegetable noodle, cooking fried rice and so on.
16. Swimming, Yoga, and Hash Hash Harrier
During weekend, and sometimes weekday, there are lots of activities offered for you to spend time. You can go swimming in the a guest house or villa which has swimming pool, or do yoga and meditation in Yoga Barn. Also, the most interesting activity is to do hash which usually held every Saturday by the committee. Hash is an international fun sport activity performed by a group of expats and local. The venue is changed every week and the challenges are too. You can meet a lot of interesting people there and make friends with them. Your first hash will be your mother-hash. Since my first hash was done in Ubud, so if there's someone asking me where my mother-hash is, I'll answer them with Ubud. You can do hash in most of every country around the world.
17. Mystical things, belief, and superstition
This is, I think, the most challenge thing if you live in Bali. The society lives with so many beliefs and superstition. There are many magical things happened that cannot be explained logically. You must be aware of that and respect it. People believe that most ghosts dwell in the river and trees. My friend claimed that he saw a fireball flying across the sky during a night before Nyepi (Hindu Day of Silence). No one can argue with this and you're just gonna have to deal with that and learn to avoid it.
18. Be artistic
Bali is known for the people's artistic skills. Arts and literatures are part of their daily lives. Not only local, many expats who live here are too, artists. During my visit to Ubud and until now, I've met so many famous and talented writers, poets, musicians, painters, woodcarvers, glasscarvers, and many more. You'll be surrounded by arts and artists, and perhaps someday, you'll be one of them too.
19. Do's and dont's
Once you've decided to move to Ubud, you have to research about what to do and what not to do in there. You can easily do this by talking with local people or searching through internet. People in Ubud are proud of their culture and they do anything to make it work. You have to know why a tree is wrapped in Balinese sarong, why they put banten in certain places. What to wear and what things you should not do when you're visiting a pure (temple).
20. Be cool
Last but not least, just try to be cool and be yourself. If something goes wrong, you always have the time to fix it. For me myself, I'm adjusting slowly but hopefully sure. You're a newbie anyway, at least you have three months probation before you become an Ubud people! :)
