I had one of the most UH-mazing experiences last Sunday. I had the pleasure of going to Lopburi, Thailand to the annual monkey festival. As I was eating breakfast at my hotel, I overheard a young couple speaking English. I made my way to their table and starting conversing with them. We chatted and decided that we would go to the festival together. Yeah, I was traveling alone, it was not my original plan, but sometimes you gotta do it. We took a songthaew to the center of town and proceeded to the Khmer ruins. We were greeted by monkeys before we entered the gate where the festival was being held. As we are walking around and they are feeding the monkeys peanuts, we noticed a lady with a slingshot. She was there to keep the monkeys away from the buffet that they were arranging for them because the ceremony did not start until 10am. The monkeys came down and they had a feast!! I was able to get some GREAT pics and also some video of them. I am going to TRY and upload the video to this post!!
The monkeys are long-tailed macaques and highly revered in Thai culture. Thai people view monkeys are heroic deity since they saved Sita, the wife of Lord Ram from the clutches of a demon (http://www.fest300.com/festivals/lopburi-monkey-banquet). The monkeys literally run the city wild and free, I was just hoping they would not poop in my hair as they were running along the power lines. I met up with some other guys from my group and we had great time. I have NEVER been this close to a monkey in my life and I am glad that I did not get bit. The festival was great and I highly recommend it to anyone that comes to Thailand. The monkey's are ALWAYS in the town BUT the festival is once a year, the last Sunday in November.
Always learning,
Charmel
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| monkey police (water bottle weapon of choice BUT he did not hit the monkey's) |
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| monkey police (she did not shoot the monkey's with anything) |
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