I followed a narrow trail near the summit and found myself surrounded by a small group. They were busily chattering, nibbling on fruit, and grooming each other. I pulled out my sketchbook and started drawing them. They're awfully shy about eye contact, so I used the sidelong glance technique that had worked earlier with gorillas (see previous post).
One of the juveniles perched behind me, watching over my shoulder, commenting on my technique to his compatriots. All of the sudden he leaped onto my shoulder. I held my breath. He watched every move of my hands, and then started grooming my neck and reaching down my shirt with his little cold fingers.
He dug into my pockets and found a couple pieces of a cracker. Then his friends came over. The guy on my shoulder must have wanted to mark me as his own, because he sent a little jet of pee down my neck.When they realized I didn't have any more food they scampered off and left me with their memorable aroma.
20 comments:
Oh, to be peed on by a monkey instead of chained to a computer at work....
My god! These creatures look scary!
But I guess they are not that dangerous...if a monkey dares to jump on their shoulder.
Happy thanksgiving then!
Cute story there. Many more await of that I am certain. Glad yer back safe and sound. :)
Can't wait to hear more stories from your trip. Keep the beard, it gives off that "adventuring artist" vibe.
Good to see your back. Wow, you really had a monkey on your back. Loved the video and the sketches.
Best Jason
I must say, that beard suits you rather well! I'm guessing Jeanette does not agree...
Jeanette says the beard made me look even more like the monkey.
Glad to see you back safe and sound James. You got off lightly, one of those little blighters once dumped something worse on me.
That's so funny. Sorry to laugh at your predicament. Great sketches and a memorable experience. I have a similar story that involves monkeys and the vinyl roof of a car...not a good mix
Could it be family, you both have a nice beard grow, hehehe.
Nice sketches, and welcome back.
I lovethe new beard...it suits you!
Welcome home! Nice beard.
Is the moral of the story...
No matter what sort of monkey is looking over your shoulder, just keep on drawing.
I'm with the other commenters - keep the beard, it gives you a proper rustic "artist" look.
At least the monkeys didn't pee on the art itself. Or would that be such a bad thing? You make a mark, they make a mark, it's so delightfully primal. And you could pull out the stained sketches at parties! Or maybe not. See, this is why I don't host parties...
(I am reminded of Dr. Stephen Maturin climbing Gibraltar in Patrick O'Brian's books. I'll have to thumb back through the books to find that scene, and see if monkeys were mentioned.)
Now you know what to fill your brushpen with!
And yea, that beard is amazing.
Yes, good beard! And great story (as is your sketch in the previous entry). Talk about a thorough immersion experience. :-)
Fantastic! I hope Pixar does an ape film so we can observe these guys. Some friends of mine went to Bali where they said the forests were teaming with monkeys. Sounds like a hairy situation.
Hey, Jim, glad you're back safely, nice beard!
Amazing!
I have just finished a book about Gibralter and was wondering if you managed to see/find out about the "cave city" built by the Brits actually INSIDE the rock?
"An entire Northern Irish village was built in one very big tunnel: it had a Roman Catholic Church,a pub and a fish and chip shop."
-Outposts by Simon Winchester.
Thanks, everybody, for your encouragement about the beard....but old habits die hard.
Rachael, I didn't have much time there, so I didn't get into the British caves, but I did hike the Mediterranean Steps down the sheer east face of the rock and saw some of the Neolithic caves, including some of the last strongholds where the Neanderthals held out against the H. sapiens.
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