I turned Sara’s monkey dare into a 1/2 day trip to Ubud in central Bali. First, I had lunch at Bu Oka, a renowned food stall for Babi Guling (suckling pig).

My culinary hero, Anthony Bourdain, chomped on the special for his Travel Channel show “No Reservations” just as I did.

I can’t say it was love at first bite, however I really liked the way different bits of the pig are presented together. In the photo, you can see there’s quite a bit of meat, some green veggies, and rice. The shiny flat bit is crispy skin, though you can feel/taste a bit of fat on the underside. Underneath, and to the left, you can just make out a bit of yellow. I’m not sure what it was – fried pig’s ear or something. It was crunchy, and didn’t do much for me. There was also a bit of black sausage which was really tender and spicy.

After lunch, I fed the monkeys, and watched them chase each other around the sanctuary, go swimming, and generally lounge about. It was very entertaining to see how our ancestors behave up close and personal.

Lastly, I bought some souvenirs at the Ubud Art Market. Supposedly you can get everything cheaper there than in Kuta, however I’d later realize my opening offers were too high, and I’d ended up paying a few dollars more than if I had bought the same items at the western-style mall in Kuta Square. Live and learn!

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Bonus Video: Monkey Goes For A Swim