Um, That Monkey is Staring at Me...

I'm starting to legitimately fear Indian monkeys. They're all over the place, and they want our food. During outdoor meals, the monkeys watch us intently, usually from tree branches or window sills, plotting their attacks. Most of the time they're just unnervingly present, but once in a while a monkey will actually charge us and run off with something from the table (this morning it was my papaya).

I know this sounds kind of silly and comical, but it really isn't. Many of these monkeys are bigger than me and totally unintimidated by humans. You can run after them with a stick and they'll just side-step you and blink. Sometimes they get annoyed and bare their teeth. They're like unpredictable, hyper-agile people. I don't think I could take one in a fight. I mean, how do you fight a monkey? They're monkeys. They're crazy. They swing from trees. The locals around here try to shoot them. With guns. It's out of control.

I think my biggest issue with monkeys is that they really are human-like. When you lock eyes with one, you feel a certain recognition, a common understanding not unlike what you share with another person. And there are probably really rotten monkeys out there. Monkeys who just don't want to play by the rules of society. Hard-knock monkeys. Can monkeys be homicidal maniacs? I don't see why not. They share some of our genes, don't they? But yet monkeys aren't people, they're animals. It's all very confusing.

Brendan used to think I was overreacting about monkeys just like he thinks I overreact about everything else. He'd chuckle softly at my latest eerie encounter and remind me that all they want is our food, and that we intelligent humans have the upper hand. But lately I've noticed him closing the windows and peeking around corners, looking for the monkey mafia. Today during our hike he did this funny hands-slapping-hips thing as he walked to ward them off. He denies it, but I'm pretty sure he's afraid of them too.

-Sarah

Comments

The funny thing about these is that, if you don't scroll down right away, you usually can't tell which one of you is writing. I went through most of that entry thinking Brendan was trying to decide whether or not he could take a monkey.

Hea there is a show on TV here in the states called Dirty Jobs, well they filmed a segment in afica at a monkey reserve and one monkey was VERY crazy, he bit the camera man and trying to ambush the crew.
Anyway I wanted to wish you both HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The prophet of potential doom here again. Be really careful of monkeys. They can attack and seriously hurt you. They have sharp claw-like hands and teeth and are really quite vicious. Never lock eyes with one, it's a sign of aggression in monkey language. I attended a talk once where the speaker said that human encroachment on their forests have broken up the packs and they've become more aggressive, etc. But even after feeling sorry for them, you still have to be very careful. The really big ones - with black faces - are called Hanuman monkeys. All of us are wary of them even though we feel affectionate toward them.

Don't spank the monkeys.

safe travels & happy new year !!

Hey Sarah & Brendan,
Hope you guys continue to have fun and advenures on your trip and here's wishing you two a Happy New Year !! Btw, maybe the monkeys are upset because they got news of how they were depicted in the Indiana Jones movie, y'know the one shot in India with the heads, and the slicing and dicing, (u know the one) and decided if they didn't want to end up like that they had better learn to defend themselves. Just a thought. *smile*

To defeat the monkey you must be the monkey.

Rent King Kong and learn a few moves.

Don't make eye contact with the monkey. It will perceive it as an agressive threat. I used to work with monkeys. Trust me.

Pray to the monkey gods.