Snake Man Statue Postcard

The Snake Man is found in the Sacred Monkey Forest near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. What's the snake doing in a monkey forest? I don't know for sure, but perhaps he's keeping those monkeys out of mischief. His snaky body forms the side barrier to a stone stairway, but this view shows only his stone head. His grey stone is covered in green patches of lichen, and the outlines are beginning to blur with age. His prominent nose and stone beard dominate the features, although you can see a sly, stone smile around his mouth. On his head is another snake, coiled like a hat. His face is the foreground against a background of trees and ferns. I wonder what he thinks of us visitors? Copyright Gail Storrs 2006.