It’s no wonder that tourists flock to Bali, and in particular the jungle paradise of Ubud. The Monkey Forest Sanctuary gives visitors a once in a lifetime experience where nature and civilization collides. Monkeys climb over visitors and sometimes attempt to pickpocket them in search of food. Walk along Jl. Monkey Forest and visitors will find massage parlors, souvenir shops, and quaint eateries. Try some fresh tropical fruit smoothies, coffee (a lot of coffee is exported from Indonesia) and local dishes. The range of shops from high end luxury to pure Balinese artistry will have something for everyone. We were quite drawn to the teak wood home goods store and a honey store. Head towards the Ubud Art Market and there will be more handcrafted goodies for sale, including the famous Bali rattan bags, where a good price ranges from $10 to $20 US dollars. Not far off is the Ubud Palace and Museum Puri Lakisan, both of which give a good glimpse and Balinese culture. Overall, the main streets felt safe and the locals are looking to make a sale but not overly aggressive. If anything, it’s the monkeys one needs to watch out for. Walking on Jl. Monkey Forest, a local stopped us, I thought because I trekked too close to the sanctuary, but instead it was a friendly warning to put my newly purchased wooden spoons away, in case a monkey steals it. Bali has that cool laid-back vibe that appeals to so many tourists. Those in search of the mysticism of the Balinese jungle are sure to find a bit of it in tamed Ubud.