Pretty Monkey

An ugly female monkey is very depressed. Even now in her teenage age, none of male monkeys want to come even close with her. On the contrary, her age-friends already own a mate, yet few of them already have a child. Facing this bitter truth, that female monkey decided to meditate in order that the deity may forgive her and bestow her with a beautiful face. Then, the monkey meditates on the top of the highest Durian tree. She sits silently along the day, not even eating or drinking.

On the afternoon, her body is fried by the extreme sunlight, and rushed by a cold wind at night. However hard and very torching, she holds out persistently. Her close friend that feels pity asks her to end the meditation, but she refuses it. After a month in meditation, finally her body is getting skinny. The sense of being hungry doesn’t tease her. The ripe smell of durian also doesn’t taunt her to stay on her meditation. Her persistently invites pity from the Gods in heaven. In that case, the heaven delegates a deity downward to earth and meet the monkey. “Stop your meditation,” said Wisnu the deity in front of the monkey. “What ever you wish, we will fulfill it,” he said again. The monkey then stops her meditation, and conveys her wish,” I want a gift of a pretty face.” Dewa Wisnu was a little bit surprised by the monkey’s wish. However, he already promises to fulfill anything that she wishes. Later on, Wisnu gave her a jewelry. “Take this jewelry and bring it to Batur Lake. You should dive for seven times on that lake, not more and not less,” said Dewa Wisnu and suddenly vanish from the sight. The monkey is happy indeed, and suddenly rushes to Batur Lake even though it is far in the distance. After her arrival at that lake, she starts diving. She almost cancelled her plan because the frosty water. Sooner she glimpse at the water and see her ugly face, she decided to dive within. Once she dives, she watches over her face into the water. A change is appears. Then she dives twice, three times, four times, until for seven times. Once she looks at her face, the monkey is really surprised. Her face is turns as pretty as the angel. However, she is unsatisfied yet from what that she really is. There is a tiny part of her face that imperfect yet, which is her nose that is still flat. “I must dive once again, so my face will perfectly beautiful,” she said within her heart. When she is going to execute it, suddenly she was reminded of Dewa Wisnu’s advice. She hesitates in mind. But then, she decides,” Nothing will happen if I dive once again.” Without mind hesitation she dives once again. Soon after she dives and flushes from the water, she stares for her face on the water surface. How surprise was the monkey for seeing her face that is as ugly and scary as before. (Retold by: Gung Man)

Balineselife
After School Activities

After school time does not mean free time for some schoolboys or schoolgirls in Bali. Those who are from ‘the haves’ family may take advantage of their time by playing games or taking some courses to help some main subjects at school. But some other schoolboys are not so lucky as their friends mentioned above. They must help their parents to get additional income by taking activities they can do in accordance with their ages.
A child on the photograph sells canangsari (offerings) for pemedek (devotees) who were attending the mass praying at Besakih Temple last yearly ceremony. He was patient enough to wait for his canangsari while day dreaming at the outer yard of the temple. (BTN/029)