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Known as Bali’s cultural capital, Ubud is located in the mountainous highlands and has become a beacon for budget-seeking backpackers. The town is best known for its local art village, traditional culture, nature walks, and relaxing yoga retreats. If you want to be at one with nature, Ubud is the place to visit. Surrounded by lush jungle, wonderful waterfalls, and plenty of picturesque rice terraces, you can experience the region’s best attractions without breaking the bank.

One of Ubud's first vegan restaurants and a pioneer in establishing the jungle-front town's reputation as a trendy sanctuary for veg-heads. Alchemy proves that by eating raw plant-based foods, you're not limited to simple salads. The restaurant's creative chefs craft raw versions of favorite meals including pizza, quiche, burgers, and a scrumptious range of desserts.

A 1-stop-shop for Bali’s most iconic tourist attractions. The upper level is a coffee plantation, specializing in Luwak coffee, made from coffee beans discarded in the droppings of civet cats. Visitors can see the coffee-making process from plant to roasting to sampling a range of hot beverages. The café area looks out over an Instagrammer’s playground, with giant swings soaring over traditional rice terraces, large stone sculptures, and even a zipline course.

Ubud's jungle-like greenery, deep valleys, trickling rivers, and wooden chalets are best admired from Campuhan Ridge Walk, a 1.7-kilometer-long (1-mile) trail. The walk is inclusive for all fitness levels, with the most difficult section being the steep southern steps up the Wos river valley to the start of the ridge. The trail winds above two jungle-filled valleys as the East and West Wos rivers rush towards their confluence with the Cerik River, below the beginning of the trail.

Taking up hiking can be an exciting time for you and any of your hiking partners that you might want to take along for the trip. As a beginner, you will of course want to think carefully about the hike you choose, as well as the equipment you bring along and the partners you elect to go with. These decisions will be among the most essential when it comes down to your health and safety during the hike.

Check out our hand-picked list of things to do in Langkawi, Malaysia.

A restaurant worthy of The Ritz-Carlton name. Diners at The Beach Grill are welcomed near the hotel lobby and shuttled down the garden-draped path to the hotel’s private beach area. Choose between a cozy lounge seating at the bar with a deck extending over the ocean, or book a more formal table at the indoor restaurant. You’ll be treated to a mouthwatering meal while the sun softly sets over the Strait of Malacca.

Mastering essential photography composition techniques is a crucial step in transitioning from wannabe to serious artist. Knowing how to effortlessly arrange a scene to capture the perfect frame separates the pro photographer from the amateur. Practice these photography composition tips when you next press the shutter trigger, and in no time, you’ll be impressing friends and family (and Instagram followers) with your engaging images.

Expert advice for following a plant-based diet, plus improving your health and animal welfare.

We had no idea what our lives had in store for us until we took our first city break together and realized the passion we shared for travel. Fast forward 5 years and 16 countries… we have camped in the Borneo rainforest in Malaysia, climbed an active volcano in Sumatra, swam with sharks in Sri Lanka, and explored temples in Chiang Mai. We don’t regret following the road of travel, if anything, we regret not taking this path sooner!

Alice has 10 years' travel experience having visited 25 countries across Asia, Europe, North, Central, and South America. The environment, sustainability, and living a compassionate life are matters close to Alice's heart. Her ethical principles are best exampled through her 15-year vegan lifestyle, zero-waste mindset, and efforts to make ethical consumer choices that support local and eco-friendly brands.

People started to look for ways to pass the time when the world began to shut down and shelter in place at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. They baked sourdough bread, tried indoor workouts and pulled old board games out of storage. At first, it seemed like staying at home was a chance to relax, but it quickly became tiring to remain inside.