Monkeys, Monkeys, and More Monkeys

I just got up into the slightly cooler mountain town of Ubud. I couldn't believe the accommodations I got for about $60/night. It's like my own little private sanctuary surrounded by a tall rock wall, with a gate out front and everything. I have my own tiny garden & porch when you first walk in, then big sliding glass doors that open to an air conditioned bungalow, with a giant king-sized bed, satellite TV, all the amenities, and then through a little door in the back, it goes back out into the open air (well, a partial roof with a skylight, and a tall rock wall again), with an open air shower, and tub sunken into the marble floor. It's amazing. Totally Balinese (except the TV and minibar). And so relaxing...

And of course, they have a pool with swim-up bar, an impressive two-story Balinese restaurant, and everything is cordoned off with stone walls, lots of vegetation, etc. for total peace & quiet. Compared to the Hard Rock, it's night and day. The Hard Rock was great for what it was... I'm definitely going to miss the "world's greatest pool"... but I could definitely get used to the Ubud Village Hotel instead.

I just got back from the sacred Monkey Forest. Monkeys in their natural habitat! (And inhabiting a Hindu temple.) There were SO many monkeys, it was crazy... they were everywhere! Fighting amongs themselves, eating (and stealing) fruit from the tourists, feeding their babies, jumping all over the place, up to no good in general...

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me! I'll have to head back there before I leave Ubud and take some pics. (It was only about $1 to get in.)

Couldn't believe the lunch I had today... chicken curry and rice, banana juice, and a giant bottle of mineral water for $2.70, including a generous tip. Also met some nice women from San Francisco and Sacramento (Bali veterans) who told me about an awesome spa right by my hotel where I can get an hour-long professional oil massage for $10. I've never actually had a professional massage, so I think I'm gonna do it.