Bali

As I battled past the crowds on the streets of Kuta I wondered why people come to this place. Argumentative and badly mannered locals go for the hard sell, pushing leaflets in your face, while girls still in their mid teens offer you massages. From what I’d read Ubud seemed a nicer, more pleasant version of Kuta. I’d even heard it described as more ‘authentic’. The moment my foot stepped off the bus and the sellers started pushing and shoving to get to us I felt disillusioned again. Every 20 metres someone tries to sell us a taxi journey, a massage, or some souvenirs. There is a distinct lack of authenticity in Ubud. The town seems built on this false idea of the spiritual East, selling yoga courses and spiritual healing sessions for $100...