Indonesia’s Ubud ranked among world’s best places

By APD writer Maverick

JAKARTA, July 25 (APD) – Ubud township in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali was ranked among top 15 of world’s best places and number 4 in Asia alike by a prominent travelling magazine in its annual readers’ choice award program this year.

Ubud obtained excellent commendation from readers of Travel+Leisure magazine who had travelled there, leading it to secure a total score of 90.13 and ranked at those levels in the two categories.

In world’s best places category, Ubud was ranked below Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Japan’s Kyoto and Italy’s Florence, left behind Rome and Spain’s Barcelona in lower ranks.

Meanwhile in Asia’s best places category, Ubud’s rank was under Chiang Mai, Kyoto and Vietnam’s Hoi An, above Cambodia’s Siem Reap, Bangkok and Tokyo.

“Those listed in world’s best places category also reflected our readers’ preferences in Asia. Seven of 15 listed in world’s best places came from Asia,” Travel+Leisure editor board noted to comment results of the magazine’s latest readers’ choice program.

Ubud was greatly commended for strong Bali cultural ambience combined with old traditional Bali architecture in every corner of the township, locals’ hospitality, serene and stillness environs that left deep impression in the magazine readers who had travelled to the area branded as ‘the Spirit of Bali’.

“I love everything from Ubud. Ubud would mesmerize anyone who loves arts and tranquility instead of bustling beaches and parties,” a traveler taking part in the magazine’s readers’ choice program said in his account about Ubud.

Ubud has many places resembling harmony, serene, tranquility, featured with beautiful natural landscapes which have long been favored by foreign and domestic visitors.

Among places frequented by visitors longing for types of tours offered by Ubud were Tegalalang and Jatiluwih rice terraces, monkey forest, Campuhan hill, Nyuh Kuning village, Ubud castle and Ayung river rafting activities.

Ubud was picked as a ‘home base’ of the United States then-president Barrack Obama during his family’s recent holiday in Bali before they continued their tour to Java cities.

Hailing the results of Travel+Leisure magazine’s readers’ choice award that put Ubud among best places, Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said on Tuesday that it proves Ubud’s credible status among global recommended destinations.

In Ubud, visitors would be able to observe and experience intense transformation of Balinese life philosophy in daily life, the minister said.

The philosophy is called Tri Hita Karana, the obligations to demonstrate good will and good deeds to the God, nature and others.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)