Sacred Monkey Forest

 We're back in Ubud for a couple of nights, and, short of something to do, decided to visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary.

Regular readers will be aware that we've got something of a hate/hate relationship with the vicious furry bandits, but nevertheless, we stumped up the entrance fee and prepared to do battle.

Far more distracting than imminent monkey attack though, were the array of statues dotted around the entrance:

Moving swiftly on, we entered the forest proper.

First up was a useful list of guidelines for how to behave in a monkey encounter.  (Pointless really, I don't think they can read.....)

Thus, fully prepared we set off into the forest.

It was a really lovely place (if a tad humid) . Quite jungle-like in places.

And stuffed full of monkeys.

Monkeys of all shapes and sizes.

Thankfully  they seemed far more interested in fighting each other than attacking us. (Maybe they HAD read the guidelines....)

There are a couple of temples in the forest. 

(Monkey infested. Obviously. )

And, intriguingly  a cemetery. My first thought was that it was for deceased monkeys, but I was way off the mark.

In fact, it's where the local villagers bury their dead until the next mass cremation. Which is held every 5 years....... 

As JB pointed out, a horrible job for the unlucky chap that has to dig them up, but at least he only works one day in every 5 years.

Eagle eyed readers will, by now, be wondering why there are no pictures of either forest or monkeys.

Here's some foresty-type pics  but I refuse to give the thieving simian louts any publicity.

Oh, go on then......