Uluwatu's Bizarre Simian Spectacle

By Ravichandran D.J Paul DENPASAR (Bali, Indonesia), Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Bali is any traveler's paradise with its natural surroundings and the locals' pious way of life being the key attraction. However, a recent family outing to the Uluwatu temple (Pura Uluwatu) located about 25km south of Denpasar revealed a rather strange attraction - the bizarre antics of Uluwatu monkeys. Pura Uluwatu is an ancient temple built by a renowned Javanese Hindu sage in the 11th century. The temple, a series of small stone buildings perched on a steep cliff, provides a spectacular view of the horizon and the roaring waves of the Indian Ocean below. Our guide, I Wayan Sedana, led us there to watch the sunset and the accompanying kecak dance (monkey dance). An entrance fee of 6000 Rupiah (about RM2.20) is imposed on all visitors and they are required to tie a yellow sash on their waist or wear a purple sarong before entering the temple gate. MONKEY THIEVES We were greeted by the sight of the monkeys, the long tailed macaque to be exact, in the courtyard and it was apparent that they were waiting for visitors to feed them. As we were cautioned earlier by I Wayan on their eccentric behaviour, we did the best to keep a safe distance from these simians but they kept coming close to us. In matter of minutes we saw for ourselves why visitors have to be extra cautious here - they grab anything from bags, caps, cameras and etc. However, more than anything else they have a penchant for grabbing spectacles! And sure enough a foreigner was desperately pleading with a monkey on the roof top of a shrine to return his spectacles but to no avail. In fact, we were amused with the monkey's antics when it sat with its heads high and tried the spectacles on itself!. SEEING WITHOUT SPECTACLES Caretakers are stationed in various points to stop the monkeys from getting too close to the crowd but these cunning monkeys easily find their way and their target. The simians, coming in all sizes with some being really big, kept antagonising the crowd with their mischievous conduct and each time they snatch someone's belonging a pandemonium breaks out. One grabbed an European backpacker's branded sun glasses, another elderly Asian sitting with his group also lost his eyewear when a simian grabbed it from behind in a swift maneuver. And there was a real dangerous scenario, a Korean tourist who was recording the sunset on a tripod at the cliff's edge almost fell over when one monkey jumped on him and snatched his spectacles. All those standing behind the concrete barrier rushed to see if he had fallen off the cliff and thank god he managed to regain his balance but was obviously in a state of shock. A caretaker managed to retrieve his spectacles that was reduced to twisted metal. By sunset, more than a dozen people have lost their eyewear. CUNNING CREATURES Each time they snatch something, the caretakers run after them and offer them a fruit, which I believe is a rambutan, to exchange with the snatched items. Thus, the monkeys have learnt that they can earn their meals by snatching and exchanging them with something to eat. It seems to be a well established modus operandi here. However, for most visitors, especially those without spectacles, the monkeys are still the charming occupants of the temple compound. They keep the visitors occupied with their antics and their silhouette against the setting sun backdrop provides a good photo opportunity. Monkey business aside, Uluwatu is a must see place. As for me and the other visitors, including those who have managed to hold on to their spectacles, the sunset panorama over the Indian Ocean provided a sight to behold. -- BERNAMA