In Reply to: best monkey forest posted by skiggy on Saturday, 31. May 2003 at 20:48 Bali Time:
is where I went. Some Do's and some Don'ts:
I went to Alas Kedaton - part of the Hanoman Temple (hindust god in monkey form)
Got to the "monkey Forest" place. Driver paid to park. We bought tickets to go in the "monkey forest". As soon as we were trying to go in, a young lady said she would be our guide. I said, no way, I do not need a guide ( thanks to info on the forum) We walked towards the "MF" and there were many "street vendors" on both sides trying to sell us all kinds of stuff. I needed to go to the "men's room", saw it to the right and had to pay to use it. Most places charge to use the toilet, but not much. When u gotta go, u gotta go,
We had bananas and papaya. As soon as we entered the "forest", monkeys ran toward us and tried to get the bananas. They were aggresive. The first time I panicked, but soon learned all they wanted was food. Seems they are not normally fed, or just big eaters like me? One monkey was so aggresive that he did not quit till he got 2 bananas, one in each hand, darn looked just like me!!
The setup is like this: you walk around a large rectangle path. By the time I was halfway the path, I had run out of fruit. The friendly monkeys were all there, but no more fruit. Next time I shall take more fruit and not "lose" or give it before i get halfway. You do not really go thru any "FOREST", its a predetermined path. You can see the forest pass the concret wall. You are separated from the forest by this 4 foot (more or less) wall. You can see all those bats hanging in the trees!! creepy!!
The mother monkeys with the babies are past the halfway point. A mother monkey ( no , not my mother) came to me. The baby fell down, ouch and she got mad at me. she sort of came at me making noises, but quicky got down and picked her baby up and ran away. I do not blame her for trying to protect her baby. I thought she was a good mother, but i had to go to the "toilet" again!!
There was a man selling sunflower seeds, not bad price, but i rather give fruit than seeds. I bought a few packages, low priced.
What would I do different?
1. take more fruit, bananas, papaya ( cut in small pieces)
2. Keep my fruit guarded from the first group of monkeys, till i get
to the second half of the "path"
3. Not panick when those aggresive try to "steal" i mean, get my fruit.
4. try not to take any thing with me that the monkeys would take away from me. Watch, jewelry anything of value that they can grab and run away. They did not take anything except the fruit.
5. I would buy more fruit, its never enough, but i would buy it at matahari or at the side vendors way before I get to the monkey forest . There are a few side street vendors on your way to the monkeys , but not in the "PARK" itself.
6. I would walk faster past the first part of the path. Feels like carrying a jug of water with a hole in it. the contents go out fast if one does not walk fast.
You do not have to walk the "path" you can just wander anywhere in the rectangle or u can just watch other ppl give out fruit.
As you walk around, u will notice that the monkeys are really in groups or familes. Normally one big male and a few females, some with babies, or sometime with younger males. The group leader, the big male is the one who is normally more aggresive. Just guard your fruits ( I did not say nuts)
After u finish walking the path, you walk back to ur car, and this is again passing all those vendors. U can stay and see all those ppl feeding the monkeys.
U can leave all fruits in the car, walk the path to get used to the monkeys and then go back to ur car and get ur fruits. Just make sure that the ticket takers know u are coming back in and make sure they will not charge u to re enter again. Ask the first time u go in. Tell them u are wary of the monkeys and want to get used to them
Would i go again?? YES, even thou its not a real forest. It's more to the temple of Hindu, which dedicated to Hanoman, the guardian or Rama the Great King.
Also pay attention, since it's inside the temple area, there are some you should notice:
1. wear polite clothes, t-shirt is ok, with long pants, or knee-length pants.
2. woman who in their period is not allowed to entry.