In Reply to: Monkeys in Ubud posted by lollypoppy on Friday, 14. January 2011 at 04:57 Bali Time:
... I think it'd be about an hour & a half from Sanur to Ubud. Get a driver for half a day (Rp400K up) or for a whole day (double) if you want to do other stuff.
The Monkey Forest in Ubud is at the end of Monkey Forest Rd (now there's a surprise). The monkeys can be quite aggressive & little thieves. So remove glasses, hats etc before entering. You can buy bananas before entering. The banana sellers at the entrance have long sticks to chase the monkeys away. In all my trips to Ubud I've never gone in there as monkeys can carry rabies & besides I can't see without my specs which they could take.
As for food, you can't go past Tropical Bale just out of Ubud & almost opposite Neka Art Museum. DO wander around Neka. Tropical Bale is set back from the road in a rice field. Yummo food with a very reasonably priced set meal for lunch (go with a main & dessert as the entrees are underwhelming).
Alternatively, you could do a drive through Tegalalang & eat at Kampung Cafe. Tegalalang starts about 6 ks out of Ubud & stretches to Kintimani with homeware shops en route. Great views & Kampung Cafe has very good Indonesian food in a spectacular setting. Different & cheaper stuff from on the coastal tourist centres.
There is a natural monkey forest on the roadside travelling from Bedugul towards Munduk. A day trip to Munduk via Pacung (stopping off at Pacung Indah for morning tea or brekky) is a lovely outing with stunning scenery. Candi Kuning markets have pashminas, spices & fruit. I always buy a pashmina or 2 there, masses of vanilla bean pods (which freeze well), peppercorns etc. The fresh strawberries are soo good.