17th February 1992 Day 212

The Diary
Another free breakfast - this appears to be the norm in Bali. Despite offers from all and sundry we decline to book on another dance trip. We ventured to the monkey forest where Beth purchased a couple of bags of peanuts. unfortunately, the normally quite docile monkeys got a bit excited by this and couldn't wait for their food. They just jumped on Beth, stole the bags and opened them with their mouths. There were monkeys everywhere - I wonder why they don't venture out of this small wood. I spent ages trying to get a good shot of a monkey's face but he wouldn't play ball.

Around the corner we came across our first temple. We couldn't go in without a sash but a quick bit of haggling with a little old lady got us one each at the bargain price of 1,500rp per sash. in we went and took a few photos. As we were coming out I started talking to a local and asked him about the temple. He was very friendly and started showing us around the forest, down to the big banyan tree and to other small temples including some graves.

His name was Wayan (the first born) and he was the brother of one of the lads that worked at the Ibunda Inn. He was also a bit of a painter and showed us to his house. It soon became obvious that he did this often i.e. befriended some tourists, showed them around and tried to sell them a painting. Beth obliged and bought a very small painting.

Later on we walked to the local at museum, up a long hill where I couldn't tell whether they were building a new road or ruining the old one. We saw lots of strange Balinese art - strange colours, no perspective, loads of detail and images crammed in - and some by European artists - usually Balinese nudes. We then wandered back down the hill to the Spanish artist Blanco's estate. In real life he was as completely hatstand, egotistical, megalomaniacal and stupid as his picture in the museum suggested. Oh and he was a complete pervert. I couldn't be bothered to argue with him and I was waiting for Beth to rise to the bait but she didn't. We decided he stopped talking to us when he got bored with us - but that was a long time after I became bored with him. Still, he must be ding something right, there can't be too many people in Bali with a Merc in the garage.


Dinner was a great pizza in the cafe opposite the Ibunda Inn.


2012
Jaden did a school project about Ubud and the Monkey Forest last year.