Monkey Forest - Monday June 23

Monkey Forest - Monday June 23

This morning we head for the Monkey Forest. Not surprisingly, it is at the end of Monkey Forest Road and we pay a small admission fee at the kiosk to enter the forest sanctuary. Hundreds of Macaque Monkeys frolic within, many females with babies clinging to them. A paved walkway winds through the park and the monkeys hang from the trees, lounge on the pavement and sit on the low stone wall lining the path. The monkeys seem to have the visitors trained and they snatch banana's and sweet potatoes from outstretched hands. Most of the monkeys are polite, but some are aggressive, jumping onto peoples shoulders and heads. Some of the monkeys are lustful and with no inhibitions the scene is not for the prudish. Just a block away is the bustle of Ubud but within this park is a thriving jungle, the canopy of trees a playground for the monkeys. We meander the path towards the Monkey Forest Temple and before entering the outdoor temple, sarongs are wrapped around our waists, in respect for the gods. I take many pictures within the temple and we circle back to the exit. Art is ahead when John spies a stone stairway leading down to a gorge below. I follow John who has discovered an amazing grotto. Vines drip from huge ficus trees and sunlight streams through the canopy above. We cross an arched cement bridge with carved guardian figures flanking it's ends. A formal reflecting pool is home to a monstrous catfish and and we walk a narrow riverside path winding above the river below. A mossy stairway descends to a shaded grotto guarded by two immense Komodo Dragon carvings. The dragons, encrusted with moss are guardians to a small spring and the ground is wet and slippery beneath my feet. We all feel the magic of this place and linger for the better part of an hour.

Art and John have massage appointments at 1:30 P.M. but I to return to our bungalow for a solitary afternoon and to catch up on this blog. In the late afternoon we walk to Tabra's, send e-mail, check for messages from Alisha and post my blog. Every other Monday night the Yoga Barn serves a buffet dinner and shows a movie. The buffet is served in the lower garden and the movie is shown in an upstairs, open air yoga room. Ex-patriots and yoga practitioners attend this event. The movie tonight is a documentary on yoga and we find a mat on the floor and settle down to watch. A few minutes into the movie I look over and see that Tabra is dozing, my sentiments exactly, and we leave as quietly as possible so as not to unduly disturb the remaining audience.