For the first time during our travels, our villa shared a courtyard with a Balinese family. When booking, we hadn’t fully realised that this would be the case, but it turned out to be an interesting experience. The family was multi-generational, and the courtyard was quite densely built-up, with space for a family temple as well.

  Photo: Sunrise and the pool at the villa in Ubud

Everyone here was incredibly polite and kind. Aliya became friends with a girl a year older than her, and they often played together. There was also a boy fascinated by kites. On Bali, it’s not uncommon to see kites of all shapes flying high above the ground. We, on the other hand, made friends with Siru and Bimo – Siru being a little dog, and Bimo another dog, just a bit bigger.

Photo: Marcel with Siru

We were served breakfast daily, usually eggs with pancakes. Once, the owner suggested we try a traditional Balinese sweet breakfast. We agreed, and while it was delicious, most of us preferred the pancakes and scrambled eggs.

Photo: Balinese sweet breakfast

During one of our conversations, the owner explained that Balinese people name their children based on their birth order, and the names are the same for both boys and girls. The first child is called Wayan, Putu, or Gede; the second Made or Kadek; the third Nyoman or Komang; and the fourth Ketut. We found this difficult to grasp, given the variety of names in other countries.

The rooms on the second floor had terraces with stunning views of the courtyard and the surrounding area, making for especially beautiful sunsets.

Photo: Me and Marianna

Photo: Sunset at the villa in Ubud

We usually spent our evenings at a nearby restaurant, Mana, which we now count among our favourite restaurants in Bali. The restaurant was unique, set in an open space, which gave the feeling of dining in a garden surrounded by lush greenery.

Photo: Dinner at Mana restaurant in Ubud

There was also a play area for children.

Photo: Slide at Mana restaurant in Ubud

Lastly, here’s a short video from Mana, taken during one of the evenings of live music.