Ubud

We stayed at an old Dutch Colonial hotel called Tjumpuhan, which was built in 1928 and home to an artist Walter Spies. It was so evocative because the surroundings were so spiritual with small temples draped in golden cloth, the square palm basket offerings of rice and flowers, in the lush, vibrant green valley. But what made it more special was because Mum and Grandma had stayed here 18 years ago.    

our beautiful room

Mum remembered Ubud even though she said it has changed a LOT, but she was determined to have dinner at little restaurant “just over the bridge” near the Tjumpuhan hotel. So we walked .. down to the bridge, but the bridge wasn’t there! Mum kept saying “it can’t be much further” and we kept walking. After half an hour Mum commented “hmmm, I don’t remember it being this far” and we kept walking. After 40 minutes walking through tiny dark streets Mum exclaimed, “Oh, I think it’s the other way!”. A lovely Balinese man sitting on his porch saw us, and drove us back to the hotel (it was about 3km!), we then turned left – and found the bridge 3 minutes from Tjumpuhan!!!

We did have lunch the next day at the courtyard restaurant (where Mum and Grandma also ate), more mee gorang and gado-gado!