Part 2.Uluwatu Temple:
The next day, we decided to explore the island further, I mean what else could go wrong. Well as it turned out a lot! We decided to test our luck by visiting one of the many temples located on the island, Uluwatu temple to be exact. This beautiful haven is situated on the edge of a cliff. On one side the ocean waves crash against the rugged coastline and on the other, a jungle grows so thick that light barely shines through. In this forest, century old temples, and forest monkeys dwell. Apart from being one of the most beautiful and well-known temples on the island, it’s primary purpose is to keep evil spirits away and to worship. To enter the sacred grounds, locals (believers) dress in long traditional garments and tourist have to wear long purple sarongs with orange belts around their waist.
Take the warning signs seriously:
Upon entering the temple, visitors are advised of monkey’s stealing sunglasses, and other varies objects that are left unattended. They grab everything they see. Put your sunglasses away they’ll take your flip-flops, don’t have your flip flops they’ll steal your bag or something far more valuable. Don’t be fooled by their cute little faces. I never thought I would be one of those visitors who has to fight a monkey off to keep all my belongings. However, this trip did start out bad, and I guess I should have figured that it would continue that way.
Watch Out for the Monkeys:
Walking along, my husband in front of me, not a career in the world, our sunglasses put away, our bag closed and hung in front of me. What we didn’t put away is our phones, and I guess the one monkey that we passed by along the way, really had to make a phone call! Walking behind, I hear a woman scream “watch out,” and before I could react, a massive gray chimp flew by me. Running, it jumped up and grabbed my husband’s phone out of his hand. “She really needed to make that phone call.” The animal looked satisfied! Yanking the phone out of his hand as if finally, she got a brand new Google smartphone to show off to all her girlfriends on the tree. After the initial shock wore off, came the realization that this was going be one hell of a day.
Nothing after that was fun! Not the running after a monkey into a forest full of even more monkey’s. Nor almost getting attacked by the fury little gray mob, or trying to reason with the animal that’s chowing on the phone. Thirty minutes of persuasion, and delicious cookies, we got the monkey to release the phone. Yay, we did it, and at what cost. Tiered from a trip into the forest, sunburned to a crisp from the morning, and dehydrated, all I wanted to do is hope on a plane and fly as far away as possible. But no I had five more days of fun to come.
To be continued…
