Hello Monkey! - Sangeh Monkey Forest, Bali

I have been staying in Bali for three months. I found that there is something that we always seen even in temple, cliff, forest and sometimes beach, well that is Monkey! Since there are a lot of monkeys in Bali, so I decided to visit one of the monkey forest. Because Ubud is too mainstream, so I started my solo trip to visit the far one which is Sangeh Monkey Forest. It's about 40km and took me 2 hours from Uluwatu to Sangeh by motorbike.It was my first trip to Sangeh and I had a great experience along the way. Actually I'm not planned to visit Sangeh previously, I just known a place name Sangeh a night before I started the trip. There was heavy traffic jam in Denpasar before reach Badung. In the way from Badung to Sangeh (13km before reach the monkey forest), suddenly gastritis attacked me. It made me hesitated whether should I continue my trip or go back. If I go back, it would take a very far way and long time because of heavy traffic jam in Denpasar but I was not sure that I'd be able to continue the trip with this condition. Fortunately, I found Alfamart. So, I get in to Alfamart and buy a medicine for gastritis. When I came out, I saw a beautiful field across the street. So, I paused my trip for a while, I sat at the outside and enjoyed the beautiful scenery while waiting the medicine react. I continued the rest 13km trip after a half hour. One thing I realize is the more far I went from the city, the more natural I felt in the last 13km to monkey forest. Not only scenery but also the air - no pollution - not hot - cool and fresh - It was great! 

Finally I arrived at Sangeh Monkey Forest. There is entrance fee Rp10.000/person for domestic tourist (included parking fee).

 

The first monkey statue you would see when you come in. When I visited there, there was a couple took pre-wedding photo in Hindu style. The view great and rejuvenating.

This is the Pura (temple) inside the forest but visitor are not permitted to get in. I took this photo from outside.

 







When I came in, there was a guide following me. There will be a guide always following every visitor. My guide fed the monkey with some vegetables, it's a code to monkey to climb in to my shoulder. I was kinda shocked but It was great. My first experience - monkey finished its food in my shoulder. 

He captured a photo of me and monkey. He offered me the photo with Rp 20.000.

After print out the photo, The guide showed me tour around the forest. What a rejuvenating rainforest. He told me these are a kind of Pala tree.

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There are a lot of monkey statues around the forest. 















 





Hello Monkey! There are about 700 monkeys in the forest. If you come here, you may see more monkey at the outside than inside the forest. Maybe there are a lot of food at outside. There are a lot of "Don't touch the monkey" signs as monkey is one of wild animals. So, better be careful:)










 











While end of the tour, there is a "Lanang Wadon" tree nearby the exit gate. 'Lanang' means male and 'Wadon' means female in Balinese language. Actually the tree looks like a female hugs a male. Front side - There is a thing inside looks like male vital organ.That's why it's called 'Lanang'. Behind side - There is a hole inside looks like female vital organ. So, It's called 'Wadon'. Actually this is Pohon Pule.













End of the tour, I took a selfie with my monkey forest's guide. Ahh.. I forgot to ask his name. Anyway, he is a nice guide. He showed me around and helped me took a lot of photos.





Fee: 
Entrance fee (included parking fee): Rp 10.000/person 
Photo with frame: Rp 20.000/photo
Toilet: Rp 2.000/person

How to get in?

• Self drive - rental motorbike/car. Using 'waze' to get in Sangeh Monkey Forest.
• Rental car with driver.
• No Trans sarbagita direct to Sangeh but you can take trans sarbagita to Denpasar and then take a cab to Sangeh Monkey Forest. It's about 20km from Denpasar to Sangeh. 

What's around?
There are many shops selling some souvenirs and drinks. 
Don't forget to bargain at least until 3/4 of the price! 

Note for girls: Do not visit here during periods (menstrual taboos)!

Actually, I was not travel alone but with my lovely pig 
"小胖". 

Actually there was a small accident in my way to Sangeh. Gratefully, I'm okay. Thanks God for blessing me always:) Buddha Bless me:)

Pura Taman Ayun

Next?
There is a famous Pura Taman Ayun (Hindu Temple) situated in a beautiful park with ponds and trees, near to Mengwi Village. It's about 12km (20 minutes) from Sangeh Monkey Forest.