12/3/2004: Thai monkey banquet
 

http://cellar.org/2004/monkeyfest.jpg

Last year at this time we had a monkey drinking a can of Pepsi at some sort of Thai festival. Here's a better shot of what's going on every year.

Welcome to Lopburi, Thailand, where you will want to be if you are a fan of monkeys. One section of the town, a few blocks of area around a certain temple, is overrun with very friendly macaque monkeys.

http://cellar.org/2004/monkeyfest2.jpg

So friendly, in fact, that they tend to not only live around humans, but climb all over them too. They are in fact a major part of the economy in Lopburi, population 3000, and once a year the town holds a massive banquet for them. It's become so popular now that there's an admission fee to come see the monkeys eat.

People pay money to see monkeys eat? Damn, where's P. T. Barnum when I need him?

At most zoos, people pay money to watch monkeys sleep.

here you pay and you get your ears humped by a macaque, that's what I call value for money.

Now that you mention it, it looks like they are humping through that woman's head. Which may explain the glassy smile.:3_eyes:

When I read this thread title, I thought I was going to see people eating monkeys. "Chilled monkey brains..."

i was a little afraid to check this out too, for that reason :)

That's next month, they're fattening them up here. ;)
I wonder if they're related to the country singer that did the song about the truckers on their CB's. You know, T.J. Macaque. :Flush:

i wonder how the monkies remember to come back every year? its not like the thai people send them a newsletter saying on it the date and time that they will be laying out the spread.

At my home town, at 3 pm every day we have a pelican feed, and with out fail at 5 mins to 3 the pelicans gather, waiting for their free fresh fish.

I have a hard enough time getting up by 7.30 and i have a wall clock, a watch and an alarm!

I was thinking exactly the same thing. The banquet scence from Indiana Jones still creeps me out.

You know, now that I look closely at the picture of the two macaques on the guy's head, I realize what they're doing...they're grooming him. Looking for lice, like they do on each other.

Wonder if they found any?

I don't think that's a guy... not that there's anything wrong with that :)

And where the hell have *you* been for the past four months? (good to have you back!)

These primates deserve good treatment. I've heard they are a vital tool in the research for the AIDS vaccine and treatment. They are one of the most popular monkeys kept as pets, also.
I'd like to see them partying with a big bowl of peanuts and a keg of beer...... ;)

Well, if you come to Philly during Superbowl week, you're %90 there. ;)