Celebrations

=__The Monkey Buffet Festival__ = Welcome to my project on the Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand! My key questions were:


 * **Where is it held?**
 * **When is it?**
 * **How is it celebrated?**
 * **Who is included in it?**
 * **What are the opinions of myself and friends?**
 * **What is the festival a tribute to?**
 * **How many monkeys are included?**
 * **Where does all the food come from?**

The best chefs of Thailand lay fruit and vegetables on the ground and set the monkeys upon them. People gather to watch this strange yet once in a lifetime chance, and occasionally have a furry visitor climbing around their necks. This festival is dedicated as a tribute to the hero of an epic tale ‘Ramayana’ and part thank you to Thailand’s most famous citizens. The festival is in the capital of Thailand.
 * The Monkey Buffet Festival is a annual festival held in Thailand to promote tourism. The festival includes catching the local monkey population of the Lopburi Province (North of Bangkok), which is around 2,000 monkeys. It is held on the 26th of November, and it is described as one of the World’s Strangest festivals alongside Spain’s ‘Baby Jumping’ carnival. 

There is 4,500 kilograms of fresh fruit, vegetables, sausages, ice cream, and, drum roll.... heaps and heaps of coke laid out neatly in a synchronized pattern, plus tourists bring their own offerings. It is believed that if a monkey eats your offerings, you will have good luck and fortune that following year. People flock to not only see them having a great time chomping down delicious snacks, but also climbing the stone walls of the shrines or even over themselves. It is simply hilarious to watch and amazing to film, however recent scientists have proved that it’s not all fun and games. Since 1990, scientists have been urging tourists NOT to go and experience the Monkey Buffet Festival because 90% of the monkeys carry ‘Herpes B’ virus. It doesn’t affect the monkeys, but it truly affects us. In recent years, scientists at the University of Toronto confirmed that the monkeys also carry ‘Simian Foamy’ virus, and to cut a long story short, you DON’T WANT THAT. Also, various fights have been recorded at the festival too, due to two monkeys desiring one particular piece of food. It’s a shocking and gruesome, and not to mention dangerous experience for guests that can put them off the celebration all together. Monkeys are part of the everyday life at Lopburi. They patrol the sites of the Khmer Ruin of San Prang Yod. The monkeys are not afraid of us humans. They live in the middle of the city, causing havoc and occasional chaos, and are anything but civilized. They climb onto stationary cars and jump up and down on storefront awnings. They damage electrical, windows and even television antennas. However, most citizens of Lopburi admit that the monkeys are cute and are always trying to ‘make friends’. ** One of the worst aspects, however, of having monkeys living in the neighborhood, is that when the garbage truck comes past, they tear into it and rip the disposed rubbish to shreds. Although, this is part of daily Lopburi life, and the garbage truck drivers return to their trucks, shrug, smile, and drive away with the occasional monkey in the boot. It seems the only people who hate the monkeys living alongside them are shopkeepers. Every shop keeper keeps a slingshot in their pockets for warding the animals off. A popular food that is displayed for the monkeys to eat at the festival are ice blocks; and no, not the kind that you and I enjoy on a hot, summers day.

These ice blocks are about as big as the monkeys themselves, and have inside them vegetables such as corn, cabbage and carrots. Many of them are also stuffed with fruits such as banana’s and tomato. “They should keep doing it because the monkeys love it and they don’t get treated this special all the time.” says classmate Madeleine Gabbusch when asked about her opinion on the festival. “It’s really scary and creepy and crazy! I don’t see the point in feeding monkeys!” Amy Jones has a completely opposite opinion. “It’s good to see the monkeys interacting with people, but I think they should be cleaned first.” Isabel St Baker comments. I agree with Bel; the Monkey Buffet Festival is an original, unique and extraordinary way of attracting tourists and celebrating Thailand’s famous citizens and legends, but the disease warnings are quite serious and I think that people shouldn’t be in close contact with the monkeys but still be in front row seats to experience the fascinating event. __ To view some cool photos of the Monkey Buffet Festival in recent years, go to these web pages: __ http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/festivals/festival_08.jpg http://www.weirdomatic.com/wp-content/pictures/annualfestival/Monkey_Buffet_Festival.jpg http://www.willisms.com/archives/monkeydrink.jpg http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/photo/2006-11/26/xin_5511032617087502471764.jpg **
 * http://img.timeinc.net/time/photoessays/2007/festivals/festival_09.jpg

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