Use the links above to see more photos.

Perhaps some of what gives the Balinese their friendly, open, relaxed disposition is their close connection to the spirit world. Spirits are a part of everyday life. They are an ongoing presence and they require constant attention. Here in Bali they are unceasingly catered to and appeased.

Everyday you will find canang sari on the sidewalk outside shops, homes, hotels, restaurants, and offices. You'll find them on buses, beaches, bridges and balconies - in short, everywhere. They are small baskets of offerings to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa and they contain flowers, rice and burning incense sticks all neatly packaged in a small palm basket.

Although Hindu is the main religion of Bali it's really just a veneer covering intrinsic animistic beliefs. Making these offerings is a ritual performed to ask the good spirits for assistance while at the same time appeasing the bad spirits. This is the way to find harmony in life.

But this also means if you're walking the sidewalks of Ubud you must be careful and at least occasionally look downward so you don't end up with a stick of burning incense caught between your flip-flop and your foot as happened to me.