We heard the squeals of excitement moments before a furry blur darted across the summit of Mount Batur in front of us. Seconds later the rest of the troupe appeared, a mixed group of gnarly, wizened elders, mohawk sporting babies and everything in between. The macaques scurried around, inspecting discarded banana skins and hoovering up […]
Indonesia
Death And Monkeys: Highlights of Ubud Monkey Forest
The eager tourist patiently held the banana above his head. He didn’t have to wait long before one of the hungry monkeys started to climb up his legs and body. It finally adopted the quintessential photogenic pose on top of his head. As his friend darted around snapping pictures, the monkey suffered a moment of […]
Romance In Bali: An Evening With Mandarinfish
Hovering silently in the dusky gloom we watched for signs of movement. We finally spotted our target as she prowled in and around the coral reef searching for an unsuspecting victim. Dressed to impress in electric blue and orange, this mandarinfish was sure to capture the attention of any virile young bachelor. We could see […]
Bali: Shit Coffee And Other Indonesian Specialities
With its keen nose, the luwak sniffed the plant, carefully selecting the finest coffee cherries for consumption. Over the next 24 hours, the digestive enzymes worked on the cherries and when nature finally took its course, a keen eyed farmer was on hand to scoop up the little brown treasures the luwak left behind. After […]
Ubud: Bali’s Cultural Capital?
With a petrol soaked whoosh the fire in the centre of the courtyard came to life. The dragon appeared, illuminated by the red glow of the roaring flames, and began to rustle and gyrate around the bonfire. A bloodcurdling roar split the air as the barefooted dragon charged through the fire, kicking up a hail […]
Balinese Offerings: Giving to Gods and Distracting Demons in Bali
Take a walk in Bali and you’ll soon find yourself stepping around the colourful Balinese offerings laid out on nearly every street. These tiny handmade baskets, known as canang sari, are filled with flowers and topped with a stick of incense. They are freshly prepared on a daily basis and carefully positioned around temples, homes […]