Letters: Yes, Ubud was quaint city

I have lived here for almost 20 years and have seen what was once a lovely quiet and quaint place has turned into a “sophisticated” tourist nightmare.

As much I want Ubud to be nominated as the best city I object to this designation.

Come and visit our market, with its open garbage heaps. Take a walk on the sidewalks, but keep your eyes downcast in case you fall in the many gaping holes.

Watch young women with small children stand in front of restaurants late at night begging for money. Look at underage children without helmets, and carrying younger ones behind them on the motorbikes.

I have yet to see a policeman stop them.

Last year a gaping hole appeared near the market. It took months for the authorities to repair it and it created traffic problems.

Not too long ago the “royal family” of Ubud staged a huge cremation when one of their members passed away.

The platform for the deceased was made very large. In fact it was too large to pass through the main street. They ordered all trees on the main street, which had just reached maturity, to be cut.

The traffic is becoming impossible to cope with. I can go on and on. If this is the best city in Asia, I shudder to think what cities of lower ranks must be like.


A.J. Maes
Ubud, Bali