Say What?? Travel Photo: Love the Monkey, Fear the Monkey!
Emei Shan, one of China’s 4 Buddhist peaks, has a whole lot of 3 things: Buddhist Temples. Signs, and Monkeys. While the temples are wonderful. the signs can be a bit hilariously confusing and even, at times, detached from reality. Like, say, this one:
So you’re supposed to like the monkeys because they entertain you and are friendly to people. This couldn’t possibly be further from the truth!
Emei Shan’s monkeys are pure evil! Sounds like an outrageous statement, right? I mean, their just monkeys, right? No. These monkeys are used to hikers and are quite adept at getting exactly what they want out them. How, you may ask? By brute force!
Think I’m kidding? Think again! These seemingly harmless “charming” animals are rabid beasts! When they want something, they reach out and grab it. You resist, they will fight you!
Ever gotten into a struggle with a monkey? Trust me, it’s quite a terrifying experience! I would know…I had to fight one just to keep my walking stick that I paid a whole 2 yuan for (US$0.30)!
But the price of resistance can be even greater. At a stop for dinner on the hike up, I met a guide who was missing a few fingers. The cause? You guessed it: Monkeys.
Now, just look at that monkey wandering the path towards its next prey. That is the face of evil! See the people standing behind that monkey in pure terror? The mother holding back her son for his own well being?
There’s a lesson in all of this: If you go to Emei Shan, don’t trust the signs. It could just cost you your fingers…!