The Ubud Monkey Forest is a park near downtown Ubud, in Bali. It hosts a population of over 1,200 Macaque monkeys and three Balinese Hindu temples. It has been here since 1350.We’re ready! Show me the monkeys!A water fountain? Or a bath for a monkey.Monkey families!Monkey smiling? There are instructions posted throughout the park warning visitors from smiling at or even making direct eye contact with the monkeys.Monkey forest worker and friend.Just another day in the Monkey Forest!The main temple is dedicated to Shiva.The temple is surrounded by dozens of grotesque statues, depicting demons who protect the temple.Many are more creepy than scary.Barong is on guard, naturally.Monkey see…Monkey do.Monkey snooze.More monkey friends.More temple guardians.Mama monkey yawn incoming in three…Two…One!There is a cremation temple in the Monkey Forest as well. Individual cremation ceremonies are expensive, so if a deceased Balinese doesn’t receive the personal ceremony, their body is temporarily buried in a cemetary, and then every five years, all of the bodies are dug up for a large public cremation on a specific day.The cremation temple felt like a suitably quiet place, awaiting the next 5 year cycle.We enjoyed our monkey visit! Bye bye monkeys!
