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Monkey Party

In Lopburi monkeys are a part of culture. Once a year on the last weekend of November, a party is held in their honor. It is a major attraction for both locals and foreign visitors. Friends and I went to crash...err.. witness the party. We expected to pay an entrance fee but for some reason unknown to us we were not charged. The party venue is Wat Prang Samyod, a Khmer temple near the train station.

We arrived at midday which is perhaps the height of the party. These prangs are teeming with macaques.


Primates rule these massive stone steeples

A few humans amongst the honored guests

Farang legs, backdrop of mom and baby

I followed this duo which moved too much I could not take a shot of them eating what looked like purple cotton candy

Dessert, anyone?

Tables are replenished for dining part II

Second round menu

Soon this spread would look like remains of a strafing. There is no Table Manners 101 on their transcript.
Reinforcement coming up at 3 P.M. Party on, cheeky ancestors!

MyWorld Tuesday is brought to you by Klaus and the MyWorld team Wren, Sandy, Sylvia, Louise & Fishing Guy
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Comments

Rajesh said…
Fascinating place with so many monkeys around. I loved the structure of the temple.
8 December 2009 at 05:17
Sylvia K said…
How fascinating indeed! The temple is beautiful! So many monkeys! And the desserts look delicious! I'd find myself wanting to be a monkey for one of those treats! What a fun and colorful post and photos. Thanks for taking us along!

Have a great week!

Sylvia
8 December 2009 at 05:56
VioletSky said…
The food table looks very festive and pretty.
I was reading about this in the travel section of the newspaper on the weekend, but there were no pictures.
8 December 2009 at 06:01
Snap said…
How wonderful! Beautiful architecture that makes up the home for the monkeys. Fascinating! Thanks!
8 December 2009 at 06:12
Carver said…
What an interesting post and great shots both of the moneys as well as the buildings and food.
8 December 2009 at 06:54
eileeninmd said…
It is cool to see all the monkeys around. Great post with great colorful photos.
8 December 2009 at 07:24
Indrani said…
I read about the monkey festival in papers here.
I wished I was at Lopburi then. :)
8 December 2009 at 07:39
Photo Cache said…
I have seen this on more than one occasion on tv and it is such a fascinating event. How cool that you were there to witness it and share with us.
8 December 2009 at 07:54
Ebie said…
Thank you for taking us along to your world. I have never seen so many monkeys! The small monkey on a piggy back ride looks so cute!

I have seen a show with the Thai fruit carving. They are so beautiful and exquisite!
8 December 2009 at 13:02
Anonymous said…
I've never seen anything like this as you probably know from one of your earlier posts. That Temple is beautiful and all those monkey's and the food...wow...I'd love to go and see that. Thanks for sharing this. You da bomb...do ya wanna banana?
8 December 2009 at 15:16
Hazel said…
Banana moy, Thom lol! Fly to Thailand and witness this next year :)
8 December 2009 at 16:12
Anya said…
Your world is beautiful Hazel :-)
I hope I can visit once in my life.
I love monkeys
(they are family of me .... LOL)
8 December 2009 at 19:58
Anonymous said…
Such vibrant colours. I think you are very brave, I'm unnerved around monkeys I think it's because they are so close to being human.
8 December 2009 at 20:49
Jewel said…
The khmer wat is beautiful! And so many monkeys, wow! And the food is so colorful!!

Food for the monkeys or the visitors? hehe
9 December 2009 at 03:40
Hazel said…
Anya, come over. It only seems far when the plane is flying for hours. Once you land it's fun fun fun :)

mogrenewed, sometimes I feel the same way. But they were so busy eating they had no time to be really inquisitive towards people

Jewel, the food is for the monkeys :)
9 December 2009 at 07:10
JonaBQ said…
oh i thought these food were for the people hehe. so it's really a day for monkeys =)

Let me invite you also to my new meme, With Love Wednesday. Thanks!
9 December 2009 at 12:46
SandyCarlson said…
I would love to be at that party.
10 December 2009 at 09:52
Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said…
Interesting festival.

Did you celebrate your King's birthday? Next year, you come to Auckland, we celebrate it here too.

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-world-tuesday-raising-funds-to.html
11 December 2009 at 17:17
Faythe said…
I love your photographs!
You have such an interesting site :)

Thanks for stopping over at my blog, too!

Faythe :)
13 December 2009 at 13:18
Anonymous said…
Wonderful post and beautiful pictures.
15 December 2009 at 08:25
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