My Time In Bali

A Report From Uluwatu

Hey everyone, I’m just checking in with nine days left to go on my vacation.

Make No Mistake: This Monkey Will Gouge Your Eyes Out

Uluwatu Temple (Balinese: Pura (Luhur) Uluwatu) is a Balinese Hindu sea temple (Pura Segara) located in Uluwatu (South Kuta, Badung). The temple is regarded as one of the sad kahyangan and is dedicated to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa in his manifestation as Rudra.

The temple (pura in Balinese) is built at the edge (ulu) of a 70-meter-high (230 ft) cliff or rock (watu) projecting into the sea. In folklore, this rock is said to be part of Dewi Danu's petrified barque.

Though a small temple was claimed to have existed earlier, the structure was significantly expanded by a Javanese sage, Empu Kuturan in the 11th Century. Another sage from East Java, Dang Hyang Nirartha is credited for constructing the padmasana shrines and it is said that he attained moksha here, an event called ngeluhur ("to go up") locally. This has resulted in the temple's epithet Luhur.

Some thoughts on visiting Uluwatu Temple:

There are wild monkeys here.

If they want to take something of yours, it’s theirs now and you probably won’t get it back, such as flip-flops, cameras, and sunglasses. They can usually be persuaded into ransoming the items for fruit, nuts, or candies, although this only encourages them to steal more.

They have learned that stealing = food and the more they steal, the more food they get.

If they jump on you, do not swat them off. Oh, they’ll fuck off for a minute but they’ll be back - with all their friends.

Baring your teeth or looking them in the eye is a sign of aggression. So is shouting at them.

Piss a monkey off and he will bite your ass: they do have rabies and the shot is quite expensive.

Don’t fight them. If they take something of yours, just let them have it. The park rangers have food to bribe them and they might return your property in one piece.

Highly recommend you leave all your valuables in the car. My wife nearly had her iPhone 13 taken from her.

Oh, and don’t bring any food - even if it’s in a plastic wrapper: they can smell through the plastic.