Our family had an amazing 4 days staying at Surya’s homestay just outside of Ubud. As first time visitors to Bali we wish we would have skipped the chaos of Kuta altogether and spent our full week in Tampaksiring. The homestay is as beautiful as described and the company is even better. Aji was an incredibly kind host, just being around him is medicine for your soul. His sons, Surya and Ida, provided engaging conversation allowing us to better understand the traditions and politics of the Balinese people. We enjoyed walking to the market, touring the nearby temples, and visiting the rice fields without the need of a driver or scooter. We spent one morning at a nearby cooking class which was fantastic. There are not many tourists in town and we always got a smile and kind hello from the villagers, especially the children. Our only disappointing experiences are a reflection on Bali itself, not this beautiful homestay. The traffic is terrible... it took us almost 3 hrs to drive 54km from Tampaksiring to our final hotel near the airport. Lastly, the amount of garbage everywhere around the island, and the apparent indifference towards it, is truly heartbreaking.