Endek is a special kind of woven Balinese cloth. In Bali, endek has an important role in everyday life, especially in traditional and religious ceremonies, such as weddings, tooth-filings, cremations, and other important ceremonies. The uniqueness of the endek fabric lies in its diverse motifs. Some motifs are considered sacred and may be used only for religious activities. Others can be worn only by certain people, such as kings and the descendants of nobility.

When you shop at a traditional market, you’re expected to bargain. Everyone does. But there’s a way of doing it. Here are some things you should keep in mind.

Anyone who passes through the center of Ubud knows that there’s plenty of opportunity there for shopping. The entire town seems to be composed of shops — from stalls in the traditional market to smart boutiques lining the streets. There are shops specializing in local crafts, clothes, aromatic oils, sandals, imported bags, Indonesian textiles, jewelry, leather goods, batik sarongs, housewares, local art, books, and many other things for personal use or unusual gifts.

The Monkey Forest Road (or Monkey Forest Street, depending on who’s doing the typing) runs from Puri Ubud, the Ubud palace in the center of town, to a small forest inhabited by monkeys. Both the forest and the monkeys themselves are sacred. Here are some other things to know.

Silver is a beautiful and precious element, symbolic of purity and the moon. In Bali, communities of silversmiths have been producing ritual objects and jewelry for centuries. During the ‘age of kings’ (which lasted into the twentieth century), silversmiths worked largely under the patronage of the royal courts.

If you want to get to know Bali, you should walk through its living land, exploring its villages and rice fields. We make this easy at Komaneka Resorts. We’ve scouted out scenic villages and landscapes and will take you there and back by car with a guide, complete with cold towels, mineral water, and soft drinks. The walks take about two hours.