It costs 20,000 to get in the forest, and you can buy bananas from vendors throughout. We didn't, because we didn't want to give the monkeys any reason to approach us. It is true that they are not as aggressive here, however, you still have to practice some common sense precautions. Don't go in with anything dangling off your backpack. If you think it's cute, the monkeys will too, and they are clever little things. You'll most likely lose it. They do have staff here, so if you catch a little thief, you can attempt to get your stuff back.
I didn't know that they like sarongs. We hadn't gotten very far in when I saw a monkey across the path and I could tell I was in trouble. They set their eyes on you and unless they get distracted, they're coming for you. This one was a large female and she hurried over to me and reached up and grabbed my sarong with both hands. I really didn't want to be disrobed, and while I was confident about how my sarong was tied for everyday wear, I wasn't sure what a monkey might be capable of. So there I was standing in the middle of the path saying no, no, no, when a green laser shot up the path to where I was standing. The monkey saw it and immediately let go and retreated. I thanked the responsible staff member when I went past him, and that's when he told me that the monkeys like sarongs. This was proven later up at the temple when a tourist pulled a sarong out of her backpack and shook it out in preparation of putting it on. Two monkeys rushed over and began tussling over which one would get would get the prize, with the tourist wailing in bewilderment trying to get them to let go (while the rest of us all stood around taking pictures). 
Aside from the monkeys, the monkey forest has a beautiful temple to explore, all sorts of interesting carvings, and loads of horticultural specimens. They have a very informative website you might want to check out before visiting. Walk past the temple, down the steps towards the toilets, and continue on past the stage for some wonderful valley views. Most of the monkeys are near the entrance gates and the temple, so you won't be bothered by them back here. If you're prepared for a little off-the-path (we weren't), there is more to see deeper in the jungle. There was a near vertical "path" that others were going down, but it wasn't much more than a few roots sticking out of the mud and we weren't wearing the right shoes. Also check out the many whimsical monkey sculptures along the road leading to the forest.After this great adventure, we crossed the street to our bead shop. This tiny little place is crammed with beads and beaded products. There is barely room to move, and it's hot inside! There seemed to be more products and fewer beads this year, but we still managed to find plenty to take home. While we were shopping I could hear the shrieks and shouts and laughter from across the street. The monkey forest sounded like a carnival midway.
We walked back toward main road, stopping for drinks and a snack at Sagitarius. We continued walking, then I bargained for transport when we got to Jaya Cafe. The best offer was 50,000; he wouldn't go down because it was heavy traffic and he would have to make two left turns. Shortly after we got in the car, he got a phone call from someone he had driven for before. He went back and forth with lots of "yes, I remember" and "yes, I know." They made arrangements for the caller to go rafting and to the elephant park the next day, and he would pick them up at 8:00. He got off the phone and repeated the hotel name a couple of times, then asked us where this hotel was. We didn't know. He said he didn't know either, and he didn't know who that was on the phone. I told him he'd better figure it out before 8:00 tomorrow morning.
We staggered home after dark, which is pretty late for us, dropped off our bags and headed over to Made's Warung for dinner. They were packed, but there was a table to accommodate us. They have an extensive menu, and we were all having trouble figuring out what to eat, so we ordered drinks and kentang goreng and said we were still looking. The waiter said okay, brought our milkshakes and our potatoes, and never came back.
While waiting, we heard gasps and screams from another table and looked to see everyone jumping up and moving away from their chairs. They were all looking up, and there was lots of excited French chatter going on. Apparently, they had never seen a tokay gecko, and they thought they had a snake in the bale roof over their table. Tokays are rather large, ranging in size from about 6 to up to 20 inches, although I've never seen one that big. They will quickly disappear if approached, and they eat huge quantities of bugs, so they are always welcome wherever I am.When our waiter hopped on a motorbike and sped away, I figured we'd better inquire as to whether the kitchen was still open. It was, and we all ordered our dinners. I think at that point, they had finished serving everyone else and we were the last ones left to eat. When we got our food, it was excellent, and the prices were very good. We're not taking this off our list; I think the waiter misunderstood us, and they were very busy.
On a side note, the exchange rate is down to 9,800 today. :(
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