How lucky am I to have the enchanting Monkey Forest a mere 10 mins walk from Rumah Jepun.

Monkey see, monkey do

There are over 600 monkeys in the sacred forest and they all belong to one of four troops, that can often be seen chasing each other as they weave their way past camera laden tourists

Its’ feeding time for this baby long-tailed macaque

Want a snack little fella

Let’s take a tour through the leafy forest

Walk through tree lined pathways – its rare not to see any monkeys here

According to Ubud’s Sacred Forest’s website there are 115 separate species of tree in the forest, some of them are holy trees and many of them have medicinal properties.

Walking through the many tree lined pathways you get to see the different parts of the forest

A large tree in the middle of the walkways

There are many impressive trees.

The one in the cemetery has a hole right the way through it

A tree you can see through!

This stump has lots of interestingly shaped mushrooms growing on it

Mushrooms growing on the tree

I like this tree

Old twisted tree

But by far my favourite tree is the one that you walk through…

Massive tree straddling the path

The downward growing limbs of this Banyan are seriously huge

Downward growing limbs blocking the sky

Here it is from another viewpoint.  The base of the steps are guarded by two naga (snakes)

Tree covered steps

You can almost swing, Tarzan like, from the strong hanging branches

A dripping tree

Wander down some more steps to where the Komodo dragon statues lurk

Komodo dragon statues

Meander alongside a stream that trickles over ancient mossy boulders

Walk along the boulder filled stream

Come back up to the cemetery where dappled sunlight dances over the gravestones

How many monkeys can you spot among the gravestones?

then go up a different set of steps towards the main temple

Beautiful shaded pathways

I challenge you to walk carrying offerings on your head.  Balinese women do this all the time, often not even using a single hand to steady the baskets

Marvel at how Balinese women balance the offerings on their heads

They have just come from the main temple within the forest

Stunningly beautiful temple entrance inside the forest

Once again there are two naga (snakes) entwined at the base on the steps, they are woven around the giant turtle.

Elsewhere yet another monkey looks like he’s either yawning or shouting out to friends, “hey come and look at this tourist taking a picture of my tail”.

A monkey yawning or calling out to friends?

my, what a long tail you have!