Next stop for travel photography – Mandala Desa outside of Ubud. Travel photography comes to life in complete immersion and away from the hustle and bustle of tourist destinations. Mandala Desa is an absolute retreat that allows for you to relax, reset, and create some of the much sought after rice paddy experiences. 

I absolutely love the location and was holding my breath as we pulled into the villa.  The villa is outside of the hustle and bustle of Ubud and each day that we spent away from Mandala Desa, we loved returning and stepping foot back to our tranquil villa. This special spot is for travelers who want to tuck away into the rice paddies and just enjoy being in Bali. Ubud can get quite overwhelming with noisy streets and vendors on every corner  and Mandala Desa is absolutely a gem for a truly peaceful Balinese retreat in the rice paddies. Yet, you are close enough to go to Ubud and enjoy all the local activities. The staff is super friendly and always greet you with a smile and quickly got to know our routine of getting into town for morning yoga classes.  The owner is attentive and gives complete attention to detail to ensure that all guests have their own unique experience, including setting up private Balinese Dance performances on property. 

Fresh and organic vegan food was available and we really enjoyed the local dishes of Gado Gado and Mung Bean & Coconut – Banana soup.  We were known as the ‘rabbits’ by the end of our stay, but couldn’t have been happier with the fresh organic vegetables, salads, brown rice, and fruits that were given to us. We enjoyed every meal whether it was under our own private villa or under the stars by the pool. It is amazing to watch the sun set over the paddies and beautiful swallows sweeping through the fields transition to the evening with stars shining and bats flying!

We stayed in the private villa that is separate from the main building and loved the quietness of the space. It has it’s own lanai with sitting area and private outdoor shower. Showering outdoors underneath a canopy of stars and a calm space is priceless!

We enjoyed the bikes that were on property to use and took a little adventure through the rice paddies. A definite must! You will be immersed in Bali immediately and enjoy the secluded back roads that wind through the paddies near the villa. If you are keen to plant some rice, simply step over the wall leading from the pool right into the rice paddies. Friendly local villa staff welcome you with a smile and perfectly demonstrate how to plant the rice seedlings. You can’t get more local than that!

I hope you enjoy some of these travel photography shots and that they inspire you to reset, recharge, and find a retreat from the day to day!