Jeffrey Donenfeld

Tag: ubud

Ubud’s Monkey Forest

In the heart of Ubud, Bali, a group of Macaque Monkeys lives in the sacred monkey forest.

More on the Monkey Forest from MonkeyForestUbud.com:

The Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal is owned by the village of Padangtegal. Village members serve on the Sacred Monkey Forest’s governing council (The Padangtegal Wenara Wana Foundation). The Padangtegal Wenara Wana Foundation has historically strived to develop and implement management objectives that will both maintain the sacred integrity of the monkey forest and promote the monkey forest as a sacred site that is open to visitors from around the world.

A few pics from my time there:

First of all, the monkeys like bananas. I arrived in the early morning, and had intended to buy a bunch of bananas and eat them myself as my own breakfast, while I peacefully watched the monkeys. However, as soon as I walked into the forest with my bananas, the monkeys were all over me, and stole all of my bananas before I could eat them myself. Lesson learned.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8616161281/in/set-72157633154879965

The monkeys hang out all day, and are fairly accustomed to human visitors. However sometimes, they need their own space.

In addition to monkeys, the actual grounds of the forest are beautiful – Hilary and I spent the morning exploring the hidden temples, streams, waterfalls, and alcoves hidden all around the forest.

2013-03-14
Relaxing in Ubud, Bali

While exploring Bali, I spent a good amount of time in Ubud. My now good friend Jessica graciously hosted me at her amazingly nice house just north of Ubud, and between her and a bunch of other friends, I had a great time hanging out for a few weeks. A few pics from Ubud.

Tasty dinners at neighbors Anna and Andi’s house.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8616182953/in/set-72157633154879953

Laptopping and swimming at Jessica’s house.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8616181481/in/set-72157633154879953

2013-03-11
Balinese Wedding Prep: Pig Slaughter

Balinese weddings are a big celebration, and part of that celebration is food. During my time staying in Ubud, Bali with Jessica, my neighbors started preparations for a wedding just down the street. A few pics:

Preparation starts in the afternoon, with the selection of two pigs, totaling 100kg. The pigs are hog tied and set out in the community courtyard.

Since no refridgeration is used, preparation of the meal must be perfectly timed to be ready when the meal is scheduled to begin. Because of this, the first step in the preparation starts at about 2AM. We all got up out of bed to start the process. Unfortunately, this was as far as I got in witnessing the preparation. The next day I went surfing in Kuta, and missed the actual wedding ceremony.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8616186469/in/set-72157633154879951

2013-03-10
Preparing for the Silence at Bali’s Tawur Kesanga Festival

My first day in Ubud, Bali was certainly exciting. After flying back from Yogyakarta with Jessica, Cynthia, Anna, and Alisa, we immediately headed into the center of Ubud for the traditional Balinese Tawur Kesanga Festival. A little background..

From Expat.or.id:

The day before Nyepi is known as Tawur Kesanga or Pengerupuk and is the day on which evil spirit are driven away. The villages and neighborhoods are cleaned, food is cooked for 2 days and at dusk people start to bang pots and pans and carry torches through their houses. Then they go outside joining with others to make fearful sounds and sprinkling rice over the alleyways and roads. Demon effgies or huge monsters with bulging eyes made of bamboo, papier-mâché and cloth and known as ogoh-ogoh are carried through the streets in torch-lit parades. These demons represent the mythical giant Bhuta Kala and symbolize evil. This is the one day of the year when cock fghting is permitted because the spilling of blood is necessary for the purpose of purifcation. At the main crossroads offerings are placed on the ground to entice the demons and evil spirits. The offerings, which are sometimes smelly and include blood – small chickens are sacrifced – are for the devils and demons and are always placed on the ground. The offerings for the gods are placed on platforms specially made for this purpose. Once the demons have been lured, the priests then recite curses on them in order to force them to leave the village. Everybody joins in to help by beating pots and tin cans, tooting vehicle horns and making lots of noise. This is called mabuu-buu. Children go around the villages in groups enjoying the fun.

A few pics..

Alisa in the departure lounge in Yogyakarta

The festivities begin with lots of kids carting the figures through town to their staging areas, where they wait for it to get dark..

Darkness falls, and the festivities begin.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8617295470/in/set-72157633154879943

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamfan2/8617294236/in/set-72157633154879943

2013-03-09