Monkey Magic In Bali

I don't have many rules in life. But if a stern man in a park warden's outfit warns me that it could be dangerous to put nuts or a banana in my pocket, I listen to him. .The danger, as I soon found out, is from the cheeky macaques that make the Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest in Bali their home. .High in the mountains, an hour away from the chattering crowds and swinging nightclubs of Kuta, Ubud is where you'll find swinging and chattering of an altogether different kind. .Around 300 French macaques share the forest with camera-happy tourists and a Hindu cemetery. It is not a zoo. The animals are wild. But quite mild with it. .Tame to the extent that they will often pickpocket tourists who haven't listened to the warden's warnings, there is no mistaking who rules the forest. .Depending on your viewpoint the monkeys are a symbol of the laid-back pace of life in Bali – free and fun-loving – or a menace to society that rivals overzealous street traders and pushy tuk-tuk drivers. .I agree with the former. .The monkeys, like everything else on the “Island of the Gods'' remind visitors how good it is to go back to basics. Yes, there are spas of breathtaking beauty and excellent shopping opportunities. .But you'll also find pleasure in drinking in the sheer beauty of the island. Every eyeful is rich with photo opportunities. Verdant valleys, a volcano that peeks out over the low tropical clouds and glorious sunsets behind elaborate temples and countless statues. .If feeding wild monkeys in a forest temple that looks like a set from an Indiana Jones movie isn't your thing – apparently such people do exist – there are many more reasons to visit Ubud. .Considered Bali's cultural capital, it is home to dozens of galleries, has hundreds of resident artists and is the location for thousands of theatrical displays and shows every year. .Painting, sculpture, music, dance, puppetry, fashion are all practised, often in a carnival fashion, on the side streets and in the rainbow-coloured market. Ubud collects art forms like other resorts pick up sun loungers. Everywhere you look you'll find somebody engaging in art. .You'll also find a great range of accommodation options. For $30 (Dh110) a night you can stay in a beautiful bungalow nestled in a private garden. .Complete with lotus pond, views of cascading paddy fields and a simple Balinese breakfast of spicy honey porridge, ginger-tinged jackfruit and rice cakes, no frills doesn't mean no comforts..At the other end of the scale is the Four Seasons' Sayan resort. Voted the best hotel in Asia 2006 by the American Express travel magazine, it may not exactly be worth the $500 (Dh1,835) a night, but the views of the steep hillside and foaming Ayung River are like most of Bali, a sight not to forget. .If you go... . Take a tuk-tuk: Jump on-board a motorised rickshaw for cheap and cheerful transport around town Go rafting: During the rainy season (November-March) the waters of the Ayung swell, making it a perfect time for rafting Eat rijstafel: This literally means rice table. It is a huge feast that can include as many as 40 different dishes Have a massage: The Balinese massage is famous the world over. Experience the real thing dance the night away: Nobody grooves quite like the Balinese. Paint your face and learn at least one traditional dance move