Since we roamed the forest hills on foot and unprotected most of the time, I'm actually quite relieved to have not seen to many of the more dangerous specimens up close. ;) But we were almost constantly surrounded by packs of monkeys (hence the many fuzzy faces in slideshow below). Most of the time these lovely beasts seemed more like squirrels than threatening neighbors - ogling at mealtimes and scavenging snacks off unattended plates or out of backpacks.
However we were warned by Amer (our most gracious doctor/host/guide) to keep an eye on the trees to check we're never too outnumbered. For, while a handful of monkeys might keep their distance, a huge pack of exuberant males could take us down with ease if caught alone! Monkey bites are a very common reason for hospital check ins there (get your rabies!). Jane actually had a scary run-in when a male singled her out between Dad and I on our walk. The monkey started pounding his fists on the pavement, running at her chest all the while with piercing stare into her face. Somehow Dad and I reacted with a guttural "AKHHH!" and stomped back at him. The monkey faltered back into the bushes. It was so fast ... and I don't know how my body knew to threaten back ... but my sister was not assaulted (hooray!) and perhaps I had a close encounter with another species with whom I share some behavioral heritage. :)
While everyone was hard at work, we set about roaming the hills, swimming in the pool, dodging thunderstorms and having extremely interesting encounters at the ayurvedic spa. If you've never had an ayurvedic body massage let me tell you - you must! It's so interesting. How I understand it, the prime objective is to slather the body with this dark herbal oil makes you smell like you're merging with the forested earth itself. To put it bluntly, you strip nude, don a stretchy disposable loincloth, and lay on a huge carved wooden table to be oiled like a fish about to be broiled. My masseuse seemed to be carving contour lines out of my body - pushing, tapping and poking in a gentle rhythmic flow as I slid back and forth on the greased table.
After an hour rubbing, she wiped my feet clean and guided me to a small wooden cabinet on the bathroom floor. She opened the carved doors to reveal a stool sitting in a gush of steam. With her help, I lowered my slippery body into the small wooden box, the doors closed around my legs and torso and then my neck - I couldn't help but laugh - I was a floating head in a cupboard! Haha it was perfect! My body sat in steam for twenty minutes to soak in the herbal goodness, then I was helped out, bathed and dressed for a new day to begin.
Then we heard Dad give a gracious speech to the visiting students, professors and practitioners (youtube below), heard another hour or so's worth of thanking and gift-giving and finally (!) got to enjoy another wonderful feast in the courtyard.
Luckily the monkeys were asleep by then...I'm not sure I could've battled them in my fancy dress. ;)