So it seems to me we might be a little bit uptight back in the states. I say this because no zoo in the states is going to let you eat breakfast with the orangutans or take mud baths with the elephants. (we haven't done that. - yet.) In the states we don't have the opportunity to roam around in beautiful jungles with wild monkeys roaming in large troops. So of course we had to check it out.
Ever since I was little I always loved monkeys, the orangutans in The Jungle Book, Curious George, we even had a book where a stuffed gorilla comes to life and takes the little girl out for a night in the city ( I don't remember what it was called.) I always thought they were so cool and it would probably make a great pet. So I was pretty excited to go to The Monkey Forest.
The Monkey Forest is absolutely beautiful and one of the best things to do in Ubud. Within the forest there are several temples used for prayer and meditation among other things. (There is a cremation temple and a graveyard- the graveyard is used to hold bodies before cremation and once every 5 years they have a mass cremation ceremony) Unfortunately, you are not allowed into the temples unless you are appropriately dressed an have already gotten permission. (another day perhaps.)
The monkeys were definitely running the zoo. They scared people into giving them water bottles or just moving out of their way, but they were also very cute and friendly- but don't look them in the eye as it's taken as a sign of aggression. I did not get to make a monkey friend and take him home with me, but they are my favorite Bali pet so far.
Looks beautiful!