After morning yoga and breakfast, we will learn the Balinese art of making offerings.  Made from bamboo leaves and filled with flowers and treats to appease the gods. The afternoon can be spend in Ubud shopping, exploring the local architecture, or walking the Campuhan Ridge. That evening we will travel to Tirta Empul, the water temple.  Well known for it's healing properties, the water temple is fed from the natural springs of Bali.  The temple is open for a cleansing ritual, if you wish to participate.  It is a great way to release anything that is not serving you, and is a perfect way to begin your week in Bali!

After breakfast and morning yoga, we will travel to a local Balinese market to learn about local foods, spices, and daily life in a Balinese home.  We will visit a rice field to learn about the life cycle of rice, and the effects on local farming and economy.  Afterwards, we will have a cooking class at a local Balinese home, learn some new kitchen skills, chop, mince, and cook all in the traditional Balinese way (here's a hint, there's no food processor).  We will have lessons in how they make coconut oil for cooking in the home, the traditions they are raised with, and enjoy our prepared food as our lunch (insight:  we make over 11 different dishes and sauces during the 2 hour class).  Afternoon are free to grab a massage, or explore Ubud on your own.  Evening meditation is available at The Ark after dinner.

Essentially a completely unplanned day.  After yoga and breakfast, you decide how your day will be.  We will help facilitate.  We can schedule you a day for spa treatments, arrange transport to the black sand beach to lay around and drink mimosas, go snorkeling with turtles and manta rays, or simply leave you alone pool side with a good book.  Whatever you pleasure.  That night we will celebrate New Years Eve, Bali style.  

The evening of Day 3 we will spend in Ubud for the New Years celebration.  Guided by the Hindu Calendar, this is the beginning of year 1945.  It is a big party in the streets.  The neighboring villages spend weeks making tall (like 20-30 feet tall) paper marche monsters.  On New Years Eve, the Ugoh-Ugoh are paraded into the Ubud center where they chase away all the demons and do battle.  It is a way of starting the new year without the demons of the past. 

On New Years day, Nyepi, it is The Day of Silence, the whole island is shut down.  No Planes or boats in or out, no electricity, no internet, just silence.  There will be no going out.  This day will be spent at The Ark.  We will do yoga, we will have meditation, Reiki sessions for those interested in this healing art.  Use this as an opportunity to go inward, to journal, to connect.  It is a brilliant opportunity to disconnect from the rest of the world, reconnect with yourself, and with each other!  Nyepi is a life-changing day!!!

This mornings yoga will be centered around aligning the 7 chakras of the body.  We will talk about what these 7 chakras are, how to identify blocks, and how to release any blocks you may be carrying.  

After lunch we will spend the afternoon hiking and exploring several waterfalls (weather dependant), we will visit my favorites are Kanto Lampo and Tukad Cepung, both seen largely on Instagram.  You will be amazed at the natural beauty of these waterfalls.  These hikes will require the ability to climb steps, but are a great way to get your own energy moving and flowing.  There is nothing like the experience of seeing a waterfall inside a cave, its magical.

On Day 5, we will be going to all the "must see" places in Bali, all the standard things you must see.  The Tegalalang Rice Fields and the Bali Swing, the Goa Goa Elephant Cave Temple, tour the Coffee Plantation for some Kopi Luwak (cat poop coffee, anyone). Finish off our day in Ubud to explore the art market or the monkey forest, whatever is more your style.  Our day will end at Tanah Lot Temple on the western coast for one of the most incredible sunsets you can imagine, we will attend a traditional temple Kacek fire dance, that tells the story of the love of Rama and Shinta, and the white monkey, Hanuman.  It is deeply moving and fun theatrical experience.

For our last morning, before hitting the road, a sound healer will come join us for a morning Sound and Theta Healing meditation class.  Sound healing will set your soul for your peaceful journey home.  One last breakfast and then our drivers will be taking you to the next step on your journey, be it the airport, a beach bungalow, or a boat to a new adventure.