/countries/show/indonesia/2.rss en-us Trapped in between the Indian and Pacific oceans, the archipelagic country of Indonesia is a home to tropical rainforests, pristine beaches, and people with rich customs and colourful traditions. Indonesia is truly an ideal place for getaway trips and holiday vacations. It caters to travelers wanting to splurge on lush hotels or indulge in stunning beach resorts, and it’s also a great place for those who want to do it the “Lonely Planet” kind of way. The best way to discover the soul of Indonesia is probably to visit one of its many islands shunned from urban development, such as Sumba Island, famed for its Pasola Festival (aka: Pasola War Festival). At Sumba Island’s Pasola Festival, war rituals from ancient times are celebrated. The festival got its name after the word “Sola,” which means “long wooden stick”. It is the weapon used during the Pasola Festival of Sumba Island, and the violent displays can sometimes shock certain tourists. The Pasola Festival is an important tradition because Sumbanese people believe it symbolizes agricultural prosperity. It consists of Sumbanese men in two different groups that ride horses throwing wooden spears at each other. The group that has lesser injuries is the winning group. Their beliefs suggest that bloodshed is an important offering to Mother Nature, and they also believe that those who perished have not been true to their fasting month. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:18:41 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/pasola-festival http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/pasola-festival To climb to the top of an active volcano and peer inside its crater might seem like something best left to daredevil types, but scores of ordinary visitors have done just that at Mount Bromo in Indonesia. Situated on a vast plain in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, Mount Bromo is both one of the island's most active and most frequently visited volcanoes, known for its stunning scenery. And to witness Bromo’s volcanic landscape at its most magnificent, a climb at sunrise is an unforgettable experience. There are a few ways to appreciate dawn over Bromo, but it’s up for debate which vista yields the most breathtaking views. At 2,392 metres, Mount Bromo isn’t Java’s tallest mountain. Nearby Mount Semeru, at 3,676m wins that title. Many opt to watch the sun rise from Mount Penanjakan, which at 2,770m, reveals excellent views of three of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park’s most well-known peaks rising from the early-morning mist: Semeru, Bromo, and Batok. And it’s definitely the easiest route to capture the views, as Mount Penanjakan’s paved road allows jeeps and tour buses to make the climb. But still, others prefer to take the more challenging trek up Mount Bromo’s slopes by foot, and the reward is the incredible views of the brightening earth from atop the crater rim. The town of Cemoro Lawang provides the best starting point for the hike up Mount Bromo. From there, it’s a 3km journey in chilly temperatures beginning at least an hour before sunrise in order to catch the sun’s first rays from the volcano’s peak. Trekkers convene along the trail, venturing down a steep road in the darkness to a flat plain of grey volcanic sand: the aptly named Sea of Sand. As Bromo’s peak grows closer and the path steepens, enterprising locals greet the weary, offering rides on sturdy-looking ponies to help them conquer the initial rocky incline. The scent of sulphur drifts about with the wind as the trail winds upward between boulders, finally meeting a steep set of steps built into the side of the mountain to the summit. At the top of the steps, the magnificent view from Mount Bromo’s summit makes it all worth the effort. Below, clouds sit on the valley floor, concealing the footprint trails of the sunrise trekkers. The sky brightens and the sun’s first rays reach out from behind the peaks in the east. The shadows shift around the caldera, casting a changing rainbow of pastel colours on the unworldly moonscape around Bromo. Looking into Bromo’s massive 700-metre-wide crater, the views aren’t any less impressive. A narrow path circles the crater’s rim, from where plumes of sulphur gas billow continuously from chasms deep in the crater floor; or at times of greater activity, expel dark grey volcanic smoke and ash. Mt. Bromo’s eruptions have been recorded many times over the past few centuries, and the mountain isn’t slowing down anytime soon. After several years of dormancy, Bromo began spewing volcanic ash over the landscape once again in November 2010, forcing visitors to stay at a safer distance for the ensuing months until the mountain returned to its slumber. But no matter where you choose to take your views from, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park provides a magical vantage point to witness the forces of nature at work. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 02:48:55 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-bromo http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-bromo The temple Pura Ulu Watu sits perched on a cliff top on the Bukit peninsula of Bali, with the blue waters of the Indian Ocean crashing against the rocks far below. Peering down over the cliff drop, looking out over the endless expanse of ocean in front of you and the lush green forest behind you, it feels like you’re on the edge of the earth. Within the grounds, ancient stone walls, archways, and statues are draped in traditional Balinese black-and-white checkered cloth. Behind one archway, an inner courtyard reveals tables covered with offerings of fresh fruit and flowers. It’s a popular tourist spot, but despite the crowds, it’s peaceful. The jaw-dropping view and sense of religious serenity that hangs over the area leaves it feeling very un-touristy. But while Ulu Watu is a stunning sight, perhaps it is most famous for its monkey inhabitants. The entire property is filled with monkeys – all of whom love to play with tourists by stealing items like hats and sunglasses (note: don’t wear any accessories that can’t be replaced). Ulu Watu is a directional temple, dedicated to the spirits of the sea. Its full name, Pura Luhur Uluwatu, translates to “temple” (Pura) “something of divine origin” (Luhur), “land’s end” (ulu), and “rock” (watu). Ulu Watu is one of the oldest temples in Bali, and was first founded in the 10th century by Empu Kuturan, a Javanese Hindu priest. It is believed that in the 15th century, a pilgrim Hindu priest named Dhang Hyang Dwi Jendra (who was also the creator of the temple Tanah Lot) chose Ulu Watu as his final earthly resting spot. The site is considered the pilgrim’s holy tomb, as it’s believed that in a flash of light, Dwi Jendra achieved "moksa", or oneness with god, while meditating at the temple. A statue of a priest inside the inner temple is said to represent Dwi Jendra, with another statue representing the boat on which he travelled to Ulu Watu. Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:45:06 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/uluwatu-temple http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/uluwatu-temple Located in southern Asia, the mystical island of Bali is only one of more than 17,000 islands making up the largest archipelago in the world, Indonesia. Bali offers a unique cultural experience along with a gorgeous tropical climate making the island the most popular vacation destination in Indonesia. Within this unique culture comes tradition much different than that in North America. Hinduism is the main religion practiced on Bali and it’s common place for visitors to see an abundance of offerings, known as banten, placed several times daily along the roadside and streets to honor the Hindu gods. The offerings are made up of palm leaves, flowers, fruit, rice and incense. In North America, New Year’s celebrations take the form of boisterous activities while on Bali, the New Year is met with a Day of Silence known as Nyepi Day. Held on the day after the spring equinox, usually in March, the Nyepi Day of Silence takes places from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. the following morning. In the three days prior to Nyepi Day (known as Melasti or Mekiyis), Balinese streets are filled with giant paper-mache and bamboo sculpted monsters which ward off evil spirits. Proudly constructed by local Balinese youth, these larger-than-life creatures known as ogoh-ogohs are reconstructed from classic Balinese folklore as effigies to the Hindu Gods. Featuring bright colors, huge fangs, large bulging eyes, and out of control hair, they symbolize the evil spirits that must be removed from the island in order to maintain peace and harmony on Bali for the New Year ahead. On the day prior to Nyepi Day, Tawur Kesanga, the island is exorcised from these evil looking ogoh-oghos. In Hindu tradition at sunset, a procession carries the ogoh-ogoh through the main part of the village where evil spirits are said to gather. Accompanied by a haunting combination of clanging cymbals, gongs, and drums, this loud clashing and clattering noise helps to scare away any evil demons that may be lurking about. Upon reaching the nearest beach, the ogoh-ogohs are set ablaze much to the delight of onlookers as the celebratory exorcism takes place. The following morning brings Nyepi Day. Folklore states that if the island of Bali remains quiet and dark throughout Nyepi, it will fool any lurking demons into thinking that no one is home on the island of Bali and that they should visit elsewhere. The idea is to avoid the attention of the evil gods, meaning good luck and peace for the Balinese New Year to come. For tourists, Nyepi Day means a day of 24-hour prohibition and restricted activities as no one is allowed to leave their resort or accommodations, nor go to the beach. All restaurants, stores, and businesses throughout the island are closed on Nyepi Day. Vacationers are asked to kindly respect this Balinese tradition and to cooperate by returning to their rooms in the early evening and by drawing their curtains tight so as not to let any light escape to attract wandering spirits. Residents of Bali are required to remain in their homes and observe the basic laws of Nyepi Day: no driving, no working, no eating, no noise-making, no visible lights, and no entertainment or love-making. The Balinese people display kindness and genuine sincerity to their visitors making it easy to comply and respect this most honored annual tradition of Nyepi Day. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:00:58 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/nyepi-bali http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/nyepi-bali The seaside temple of Pura Tanah Lot is probably the most famous and most photographed place in Bali. Every hotel offers sunset tours out to the temple, and every visitor has seen photos of it before they’ve even visited. There’s really only one reason for its iconic status: it’s beautiful. Of course, such a popular tourist attraction is bound to fall victim to commercialization, and at Tanah Lot, a flea market of vendors and warung (food stalls) greets you as soon as you enter the property. It’s a bit jarring at first to hear the calls of salespeople and to see the swarms of tourists, especially when you consider that Pura Tanah Lot is one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the country. But don’t let the chaos deter you. A trip to Bali isn’t complete without seeing this famous site firsthand. The Tanah Lot temple sits on a rock a few metres away from land, and when the tide is in, it becomes its own island, with steps that look like they disappear deep into the sea. But when the tide recedes, visitors can walk across the ocean floor to the base of the temple (but not inside – the temple is only open to practicing Balinese Hindus). At the base of Tanah Lot, visitors can enter a small cave with a sacred spring and receive a traditional good will blessing, done with a sprinkle of water and a dab of rice to the forehead. At dusk, when the sky turns shades of pink and orange and casts rays of light that look too pretty to be real, you can see why a Tanah Lot sunset is the most photographed scene in Bali. Sadly, much of the structure had to be rebuilt, after thousands of years of erosion and earthquakes had all but destroyed the temple and the rock it sits on. Today, approximately one-third of the rock is artificial. Some might see this as a disappointment, but it would have been more of a disappointment if nothing had been done and the erosion had washed it out to sea. History of the Tanah Lot temple places it as being built sometime around the 16th century. The story says that a saint named Dang Hyang Dwi Jendra, who had dedicated his life to spreading Hinduism, was the creator of the temple. It’s believed he settled in the village of Beraban, near the current site of Tanah Lot, and began to preach. Nearby, he found a large rock along the coast, in the shape of a bird, and chose that as his spot for meditation. The villagers embraced Dang Hyang Dwi Jendra’s teachings, and, by abandoning their prior beliefs, they angered the village’s priest, Bendesa Beraban Sakti, who tried to run the new man out of the village. When confronted, Dang Hyang Dwi Jendra responded by pushing his meditative rock out into the sea. He created sea snakes from his scarf to guard the new island; it’s still said that those snakes live in caves underneath the temple, guarding the god of the sea. The island was named “Tengah Lot,” meaning “land in the minds of the sea.” Wed, 19 May 2010 15:11:26 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/tanah-lot http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/tanah-lot Far removed from the bustle of Denpasar and the beach parties of Kuta, the volcano Mount Batur sits in northern Bali, large and looming, and tempting travelers to conquer its steep slopes. Mount Batur is home to the popular “sunrise climb” – an early morning trek that brings you to the volcano’s summit just in time to watch the first few rays of sunshine slip over the horizon. It’s an intermediate-level hike, and doesn’t require anything more than some decent stamina and a pair of sturdy hiking boots. The Mount Batur sunrise climb to the top starts at 3:30 am when, in the darkness of night, guided only by flashlight, you begin the ascent. It starts easy enough along a dirt path, but quickly turns steep, as you pick your way over slippery sand and loose rocks, the chill of early morning draped over you. Climbing Mount Batur takes about two hours and once at the top, you’re greeted at a small hut, where tour guides offer coffee and pastries for breakfast (to be followed later by eggs cooked in the volcano’s steam vents). You pick a spot along the mountain’s edge, and settle in for your bird’s eye view of a Balinese sunrise. The sky slowly shifts from black to deep blue, to pink and orange, as the sun rises up over the valley and reveals Lake Batur and the villages below, and the towering Mount Agung next to you. Once the sun is fully raised in the sky, the tour guides begin the second portion of the Mount Batur hike, taking you along ridges where you can get up close and personal with the volcano’s craters. Mount Batur last erupted in 2000, with eruptions averaging every 10 to 20 years (although there were a few periods where eruptions came almost annually). It is considered Bali’s most active volcano, and one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. While its eruptions are frequent, they’re generally classified as mildly explosive, and only occasionally emit lava. Mount Batur is what volcanologists refer to as a “double caldera”, meaning it is one crater inside another crater. From atop the mountain, you can see the walls of the larger caldera spanning all around, 14 km across and 7.5 km wide. It looks like Mount Batur rises up from a valley, when really it is a volcano rising up from the crater of another, prehistoric volcano. It is considered to be one of the best examples of a caldera volcano in the world. Guides will take you across the top of Batur volcano, where you can peer into some of the safer craters. No, you won’t see bubbling lava or billows of dark smoke, but rather, chunks of black rock and puffs of steam that look harmless and make it easy to forget that you’re standing on an explosive piece of land. To witness Mount Batur at sunrise is to experience one of the most endearing displays of the earths eternal awakening. Wed, 12 May 2010 15:55:38 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-batur http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/mount-batur The Gili Islands is a cluster of three small islands off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia; which plainly put—is a hedonistic diving paradise. The name Gili Islands is a somewhat redundant name as "Gili" means "small island." But between Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, the aura here is anything but small, drawing beach bums and backpackers alike to its popular parties and reggae-induced relaxation. No matter which island you stay at, Gili diving is phenomenal. Scuba enthusiasts swoon over Gili diving for its impressive array of vibrant reef life, excellent visibility, and mobs of hawksbill turtles! The appeal doesn't stop at unforgettable diving; the Gili Islands offer a slower change of pace for those on tour through the Bali and Lombok area. In the absence of motorized vehicles, a pleasant spin on a bike or ride in a local cidomo (horse-drawn cart) around the island circuit will lead you to countless vacant beaches, savory shore-side BBQ's, and plenty of inviting hooch huts. For the Gili Islands, which are only a few kilometers in size, it would seem that each small stretch of white sandy beach is the portal to an array of abundant sea life. Imperceptible from its demur demeanor, Gili diving can have substantial currents in some areas, and thus many of the dives here are drift dives. There are a variety of dive topographies to choose from, including ridges, canyons, walls, slopes, and even bio rock structures, each of which enchant all who venture there. A Gili diving highlight is of course the hawksbill turtles, which has afforded Gili Islands the title of "turtle capital of the world." Halik reef is a nice easy dive, and here you can stay around 15–18 meters and enjoy a multitude of turtle encounters. Shark Point is a little bit of a deeper dive, around 25–30 meters, but here you will not only find the much-loved hawksbill turtles, but also a healthy stock of other high profile sea creatures such as black and white reef tip sharks, blue ribbon eels, rays and cuttlefish. No Gili diving trip would be complete without a visit to Hanns Reef, a very popular muck dive site where we had the pleasure of viewing some of the rare and camouflaged creatures of the sea. Many beginner divers love the thrill of the larger pelagic creatures, but serious respect should be given to the smaller and lesser spotted life forms found here, such as the pygmy sea horse, frog fish, flying gurnards and tiny saddled tobies. Although not as easy to spot, the wave of excitement that knocks you over when you see a tiny pygmy seahorse clinging almost indecipherable from a coral fan is something worth taking the extra time to look for. After a long day of Gili diving, grab a hut along the beach or throw down a brew at a communal dinner table, and kick back and relax to some live reggae. At the sight of stars over the island, you will (without a doubt) agree that you are in some rare area where the heavens and earth have merged. The beautiful Gili diving, paired with luminescent stars that, it seems, you can almost reach out and touch, makes anything seem possible here. Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:54:31 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/gili-diving http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/gili-diving Lurking below the undulating waters of Tulamben Bay, lies Liberty Wreck, a World War Two cargo ship that was stationed off the coast of Lombok. After being disabled by a Japanese torpedo early on January 11, 1942, USAT Liberty headed to a harbour in North Bali. Unfortunately it never made it there after taking on to much water, and instead was intentionally beached in Tulamben. Twenty years later the eruption of Mount Agung rolled the Liberty off its resting place on the beach and sunk her approximately 40 meters off shore, where she still rests today. Skillfully lead by our dive instructor from Aqua Marine, we waded out from Tulamben beach and submersed ourselves into the warm alluring waters of the Indo Pacific to explore the Liberty Wreck. Aqua Marine, a small dive company located in Kuta, is one of a few shops solely dedicated to dive trips, diving all of Bali. As we slowly waded deeper into the waters, an overwhelming rush of excitement washed over us. Liberty Wreck is known as one of the safest wrecks in the world to dive, but also offers an amazing array of marine life, a rare combination. As we navigated towards the looming wreck, our small group of three divers was was a dream. With so much to see, being in a small group allowed us to easily swarm together to scope out intriguing aquatic finds. Sprawling over 120 meters in length, Liberty Wreck pulsed with curious marine life as we approached from the the stern. Despite our excited behaviour the welcoming committee of fish didn't seem to notice in the slightest. In fact the reception was quite sociable, swarming around us to greet us more closely. Trailed by Wrasse, Batfish, and a slew of Surgeon fish we began to explore the wreck more closely. After only a few meters of our arrival, we met up with a bashful group of Garden Eels, poking out of their sandy homes by about 20cm. Swaying to the current, they displayed their familiar hypnotic dance. Drifting further down the wreck a fuller picture of this amazing phenomenon that lay before us grew. Increasing amounts of details began to appear from under the layers of coral such as portholes, doorways, and deck beams, creating an eerily surreal setting. My eye was interrupted by a school of Big Eyed Jacks, which continued to carry my gaze past the largest Grouper I have ever seen. This enormous fish appeared to weigh over 110kg, and after a slow but fleeting swim by, it disappeared back into the wreck. As we swam towards the bow we came across a couple of great finds such as Lion fish and massive Napoleon fish. Upon circling back to the boom for our 5 meter safety stop we were swarmed by Unicorn Fish, Sweetlips, Surgeon Fish and Angle Fish. Floating towards the surface the thrill of what we had just experienced didn't dissipate, but instead resounded richly in our minds. Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:39:07 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/tulamben-wreck-dive http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/tulamben-wreck-dive Diving with mantas is a special moment when people are able to commune with the birds of the sea. Some might fear the idea of being anywhere near a giant manta ray; but to the open minded and adventuresome it's a moment they will surely remember for life. Bali, Indonesia is home to an abundance of rich marine and coral life, including manta rays. Despite their large size (10–25 ft.) manta rays are filter feeders that only eat plankton, which they suck through their gills. A good place to dive with mantas is at a reef cleaning station where they congregate with smaller fish such as wrassess and angelfish who feed off the parasites and dead skin they remove from the mantas. Nusa Penida, an island off the south-east coast of Bali, is a great spot to dive with mantas. Not only is the diving great, but so is the scenery. Along Nusa Penida's rugged coast the soaring height of the cliffs is matched only by the height of the crashing waves. Dotted with coves and several rock archways, the views are fantastic, as long as you can avoid sea sickness. Rolling along the turbulent waters, thrill-seeking divers happily roll off the back of dive boats and plunge into the cool water. At Manta Point, Nusa Penida divers are pushed and pulled repeatedly in the strong surge as the docile manta rays soar overhead. The coral isn't overly spectacular, but that's not the reason for the trip. Diving with mantas is a pleasure all its own. Slow and coyly the mantas begin to glide in above the cleaning station. Their movements are graceful and calm, showing no effects of the surge despite divers being tossed around like a wave in the sea. Harmless and curious at best, manta rays (when given the space) will circle a cleaning station for hours, feeding on plankton and being cleaned by other fish. Divers at Manta Point can typically see anywhere from 3–8 manta rays. Diving with mantas at Manta Point in Nusa Penida is a surreal experience. Floating relatively powerlessly (due to the surge) below these mammoth beings, you gain an appreciation of nature and your small role in the grander scheme of life Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:59:08 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/manta-dive-bali http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/manta-dive-bali Visions of surfers riding gnarly waves fueled my excitement. Forgetting about my nerves I focused on acting the part of these bronzed beach gods, adapting my best laid back surfer attitude. I was in Bali, and I was going to learn how to surf! Bali is a world renowned surf destination in Indonesia offering a large selection of surf locations ranging from beginner spots like Kuta Beach and Sanur, to world class barreling reefbreaks such as Padang Padang and Uluwatu. Going to Bali and not trying to surf, is like going to Paris and not visiting the Louvre. It's unheard of! Shortly after our arrival we began to search out a well regarded surf school in Kuta beach. After some research we choose Pro Surf School, voted best surf school in Bali the past 3 consecutive years. Frank the owner having grown up surfing this very beach, was never too busy to chat with us, offering insight and encouragement, and even taught some of our classes. With no previous skate or snow board experience we opted for five lessons, which we would soon learn meant a ravage beating on our out of shape bodies, from some of the strongest waves we had ever maneuvered. Pounded, pulled, and pushed around, over the next five days we learned to become accustomed to the taste of salt water. On our first day of surf lessons Pro Surf School guaranteed us that we would stand, and sure enough they were right. After a classroom lesson and beach briefing, we entered the waters with our massive surfboards to attempt arching our backs and riding the waves in, and eventually standing. With guidance from our instructors and a well positioned push, we had done the unthinkable, we had caught a wave... or at least the white wash of one. The sense of accomplishment was so great, that we envisioned ourselves carving some heavies by the end of our five days. How naive. Over the course of the next four days we learned about how waves are created, which are good and bad, directions, winds, how to maneuver, some bad habits which seemed necessary in light of aching muscles, and of course the constant in the equation ... falling. Getting up became more and more frequent, but falling was still inevitable and daunting in the face of having to fight the current to get back out to wave territory. By the end of the week we had made great progress, but were still no Kelly Slater by any means. Surfing takes practice and a lot of patience in waiting for the right wave. I have great respect for those who get up everyday and surf, not only for their skill, but also for their ability to become one with the power of the Ocean. Taming the raw force of nature, dancing their boards gracefully along the swells. Fri, 15 May 2009 16:32:42 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/surf-school-bali http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/surf-school-bali The sprawling fertile plains of Kedu in Central Java form a lush and bountiful backdrop to the Temple of Borobudur. Raised up between twin volcanoes Sumbing and Merapi along the undulating north ridge and lined with cool waters from the Progo and Elo rivers to the east, Borobudur is situated in a natural amphitheater of glory. This 9th century Buddhist monument is the world's largest and is made up of over 55,000 cubic metres of volcanic rock, the equivalent of more than a million blocks of carved stone. Comprised of nine platforms, adorned with over 2,600 relief carvings, and over 500 Buddha statues, Borobudur Temple exemplifies the transition over life to the state of Nirvana. Each terrace and accompanying relief stories symbolize the different levels of wisdom that one must go through in life to reach the enlightenment of Buddha, culminating with the grand finale of the spectacular upper terraces. Level one of the three terraces represents man's desires being influenced by negative impulses, level two man's ability to take control of the negative influences and use positive influences, and at the top level a world where man is no longer bound by physical and worldly desires. Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:12:36 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/borobudur http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/borobudur The Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal is unrivaled in mayhem, with over two hundred long tailed macaques monkeying around with visitors daily. The antics unfold in the depths of some of the lushest green forests that Bali is famous for, with ancient sculptures and temples interspersed between trails and the consuming greenery. Drawing upwards of 10,000 visitors during peak visiting months, the Macaques at the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud are well accustomed to humans and are even known to climb up and sit on your shoulder in return for a treat. More mischievous macaques have been known to run off with your sunglasses or watch so be sure to keep your eye on these little monkeys! Fri, 02 May 2008 03:18:52 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/sacred-monkey-forest http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/sacred-monkey-forest