Favourite Places - Ubud, Bali

From somewhere close to home and now to the other side of the world. Ubud in Bali is a place I often visit again and again in my mind.

My honeymoon in 2014 was to Hong Kong and Bali and it was fantastic, (once I had gotten over the worst jet lag I had ever had), but even then, it was a wonderful trip.

When we arrived in Bali, the queue to get in was enormous, and quite honestly I wondered if we’d ever leave the airport, but we did eventually get through customs after paying our entrance fee. I don’t think I actually believed I was finally there - I had longed to visit for years, heightened even more by seeing it on screen in Eat, Pray, Love. I could see myself as Julia Roberts, cycling around, loving it, I imagined myself there and the reality did not disappoint.

My new husband, Chris and I stayed in the most wonderful hotel, in the raised rice fields just outside of Ubud. We arrived there late in the afternoon and the sounds of the forest were all around us. The room was dimly lit and on the bed towels shaped as swans and a single red rose welcomed us in. It was, to me, paradise.

We ventured into Ubud the next day, the people we had already met were so friendly and they made us feel so welcome. The taxi driver was so pleased to discuss English football with Chris as I just absorbed all I could looking out of the window. Temples, statues, all ages on motorcycles whizzed by and before we knew it we were in the centre of Ubud.

Ubud is of course a wash with visitors, all looking for that sense of calm and enlightenment, after all its many temples install that need in you. They are highly decorative, exposed to the air, rich in colour but not polished. Their aged beauty, very beautiful and inspiring.

The market is a riot of colour, full of handmade Indonesian treasures and fruit and vegetable baskets full to overflowing. Continuing down the main street, shops showcasing high quality works of art sit in amongst cafes and salons of traditional therapies, all hum to a calm bhudist tune.

At the bottom of the road, the Ubud Monkey Temple lets you get up close and personal with its monkey inhabitants. These light fingered locals are very canny, they will take what they can, I saw one take a water bottle from a man’s backpack and unscrew the lid and take a drink. They know that we want to see them and they take you for all you’ve got, if they can. Still it was a joy to see a mother nursing her new baby and watch it climb through the trees. The elders looked down on you from their perches on the temple walls, surveying their kingdom.

Ubud was hot, humid, full of smells that weren’t familiar and people from all over the world. I felt so comfortable here, inspired by the plants, trees, buildings and all within. I didn’t want to leave but we were going to head back to our hotel and select on the day. I can say it was the most beautiful taxi rank, right outside of a large red brick temple adorned with magical carvings.

This place will be with me forever and the piece of work I created some time later is a physical reminder of all memories I have of it.

Favourite Places - Bradgate Park

Since lockdown started it has been a real time of reflection for me and getting my priorities in order. Like so many of us who feel very lucky to not be on the frontline and don’t want to complain about having to stay home, I can’t help but really, really miss my family and friends. Zoom is great and a godsend really, but I am missing physically sharing space with people. Alas, we all know why we are doing it and it is so important to finish this process properly. We must Stay Safe and Stay at Home.

In the meantime, I am reflecting on my favourite places that inspire me greatly. Being from Leicester originally and like most people who grew up in and around the city, Bradgate Park felt like it was an extension of your own back garden. As soon as you enter the iron gates you can believe that its roots lie in medieval times. You are surrounded by ancient trees such as oaks and monkey puzzles, wander off the path that flows along side the river Lin and ramble through the bracken, climb the hills and rocks that the deer roam freely through also, to the top where you will pay your respects at the war memorial and stand side by side with Old John.

As a child, Old John, a folly was a source of many a fanciful tail, Its unique beer tankard shape looked down on high over all the county. Climbing to it has been a joy that both brings you closer to nature and to those who you are climbing with. When I was really unwell with anxiety and depression, I craved being in Bradgate Park. It feels like home, the breeze flows through you, calms your mind and inspires me beyond belief. They opened up the folly a couple of years ago and I finally saw its inside and the view from the top, which I never thought I’d get to see.

Bradgate Park is also well know for being the ancestral home of Lady Jane Grey, the ruins of her home are guarded by peacocks as it sits nestled at the bottom of the hill. You can feel the tudor vibes as you are in the park, you can imagine the hunting and outdoor pursuits that would of taken place. This sense of history is something that you feel proud of and want to protect. The park now is looked after by a trust and it remains the most wonderful place to visit. So, if you are ever driving past Leicester on the M1, take the chance to go and see Bradgate for yourself.

Needles to say, I have created a few pieces of work based on Bradgate Park. The four Digital Prints were sold in the Park’s Shop, which was a proud moment for me and the mini paper cutout was a piece I made as a gift for my cousin in Singapore. A little bit of home and a reminder of all the happy days we all spent there together over the years.