Such a poser!
Somewhere in Bukit Sari lies this quiet monkey sanctuary, the Sangeh Monkey Forest, which is home to grey long-tailed macaques. This 6-acre sanctuary is a fertile forestland with giant nutmeg trees and is also home to the 17th century Pura Bukit Sari (some locals know it as call Pura Pucak Sari). It is said that this monkey forest, among the many in Bali, is one of the first to open as an attraction.
Looking around, I could hardly see believe how beautiful and quiet this place is. To add shock to that was the handful of tourist found on the grounds. Its not boasted on the tourist brochures, which is great, as this place is rather out of the way to any other tourist attractions from what I’ve observed. I’ve been to Bali many times but have only heard of this place just recently and that from a local too.
To the right of the parking lot are rows of neatly built shops selling souvenirs, drinks and snacks - it’s the largest I’ve seen at any tourist attraction point. Of course there are guides if you to choose to hire one but its truly unnecessary as its easy to manoeuvre around the grounds, unless you’re afraid of the monkeys.
*Monkeys here are wild. I’m not exaggerating about this.
To the right of the parking lot are rows of neatly built shops selling souvenirs, drinks and snacks - it’s the largest I’ve seen at any tourist attraction point. Of course there are guides if you to choose to hire one but its truly unnecessary as its easy to manoeuvre around the grounds, unless you’re afraid of the monkeys.
*Monkeys here are wild. I’m not exaggerating about this.
One of the many guard statues that line the way to Pura Bukit Sari.
As I made way to the temple, I noticed the many groups of monkeys lazing around. Unlike the other temples, the monkeys here don’t seem to be curious about you or what you have. The bag-unzipping-stealing-your-water-bottle-and-snack monkeys are used to flocks of tourist and know exactly what to do to get food from you. The monkeys here are relatively unnerved by visitors but can get aggressive if provoked of course.
*In Uluwatu, I’ve seen a monkey snatch a little girls spectacles right off her nose and would returned for not one but a whole bunch of bananas. Extortion I say – monkey style.
*In Uluwatu, I’ve seen a monkey snatch a little girls spectacles right off her nose and would returned for not one but a whole bunch of bananas. Extortion I say – monkey style.
A long stone paved brick lane adorned by guard statues leads the way to the main temple – Pura Bukit Sari. Monkeys playing about, birds chirping and the cool breeze was just perfect on a beautiful sunny day like this one. As much as the monkeys seem unfazed by the presents of humans I found one that seem to know exactly what’s going on. As he sat on the edge of the temple wall, as if on cue from the clicks of my camera, he gave me different poses and facial expressions.
*This is the only monkey that was cool as a cucumber when I made eye contact. Most of these monkeys, if you hold eye contact with them for long, be prepared to see some sharp teeth and perhaps sprint towards the exit.
The path to the right from the main temple leads further into the forest onto the other temples located within its grounds.
*This is the only monkey that was cool as a cucumber when I made eye contact. Most of these monkeys, if you hold eye contact with them for long, be prepared to see some sharp teeth and perhaps sprint towards the exit.
The path to the right from the main temple leads further into the forest onto the other temples located within its grounds.
It certainly is refreshing to visit a monkey forest with monkeys that don’t harass you! But I have to admit, I got hissed at a few times for trying to get close to a baby monkey for a photograph, also for point a camera at a monkey from a distance to take a photo.
Entrance fee: 5,000 IDR (in 2014)
Hours: Daily, 07:30h – 18:00h
Location: Sangeh Village – 20km north of Denpasar (approx. 30 minutes drive from main Denpasar)
View the gallery for more photographs.
Entrance fee: 5,000 IDR (in 2014)
Hours: Daily, 07:30h – 18:00h
Location: Sangeh Village – 20km north of Denpasar (approx. 30 minutes drive from main Denpasar)
View the gallery for more photographs.
RSS Feed