Monkey Attack! An Illustrated Tale

Simon • 20 March 2023 • 40

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Inspired by a true experience at Koh Lanta National Park in Thailand.

Out of the woods comes a monkey. Simon says "Hey, what a cute little monkey!"

The monkey is looking in Simon's bag. Simon says: "Er, excuse me Mr Monkey but I would be most grateful if you didn't try stealing my stuff while I'm sitting right here.

The monkey looks innocent and asks with an "Ook?" if Simon is talking to him. Realising he is, he launches into a psychotic rage with an "EEEEEEKKK!"

Simon sees the angry Monkey and screams "Rabies!" in a panic as the monkey comes at him Manga style.

As the sun sets behind them, we see the monkey leaping towards a defensive Simon.

The monkey bites hard into Simon's arm as he screams "Aaarrggghhh!"

The monkey runs off along the beach, leaving a bloody and defeated Simon leaning against a tree.

Erin finds Simon lying against the tree. Simon: "I don't think I'm going to make it. You have to go on without me...Just consider becoming a nun, 'kay?"

Erin carries Simon to the hospital. Erin: "Not so fast, hero. I need you to keep the website running. So, tell me again how something one-fifth your size defeated you?" Simon: "Wurgle."

40 Comments

Niels on May 29, 2016 at 12:26 said:

That was so funny!

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shanaya on July 11, 2015 at 07:46 said:

This was a really funny comic about the monkey.

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Jack Cleary on January 3, 2014 at 15:10 said:

I was a little nervous with the skittering little devils in Kathmandu. Glad everything turned out OK and no rabies. I JUST discovered this blog and it’s really driving me crazy now as I probably have 5 years before I can leave the US behind for Thailand! Well, I’ll just have to take a couple of weeks vacation and check it out before 2015!

Thanks for a WONDERFUL, informative, inspirational and FUNNY site. I especially enjoy the good-natured digs at Simon as I’m a drifter who isn’t anywhere near completing this journey or figuring out what I’m supposed to be doing – must be my only-child nature to want it all? lol…

Take care and THANKS for helping me decide the nomad life is NOT too crazy or beyond my reach.

Jack
(somewhere near Boston on my houseboat under 2 feet of snow and -20F with the wind chill)

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Georgia on April 9, 2013 at 02:37 said:

We were on Monkey Island in Halong Bay, Vietnam, and my boyfriend made the mistake of offering a monkey the Oreo half without the cream… it chased him down the beach!

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Ali on April 4, 2013 at 13:55 said:

Hilarious! Well, not that you got attacked by a monkey, but the way you told the story. I’m glad you survived!

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Red Hunt on March 26, 2013 at 21:28 said:

Haha, love it….those cheeky monkeys are cunning little monsters!

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Lillie - @WorldLillie on March 24, 2013 at 21:45 said:

OMG this is amazing…

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Casey-A Cruising Couple on March 24, 2013 at 12:53 said:

This is such a clever idea! I used to think I was the only person who had been attacked by a monkey (in India) but turns out those little guys are quite vicious. Can’t complain though-mine didn’t require any rabies shots! Glad you were able to find the injections you needed.

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Arlene on March 22, 2013 at 09:08 said:

Learned loads about monkeys on a trip to Kenya. Nasty little so and so’s. There is a reason the locals carry sticks and they know what a tourist is. Glad you are ok.

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- Simon on March 22, 2013 at 21:51 said:
  
  A stick’s a good idea, though I might go with Andrew’s suggestion and get a sword.
  
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Samuel Jeffery on March 21, 2013 at 13:23 said:

Ah, this is brilliant! I was once attacked by a monkey in Bali. The near heart attack I had while it came charging at me was worse than the actual bite on my leg.

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- Simon on March 22, 2013 at 21:50 said:
  
  I’m beginning to think there is a simian conspiracy the world over. We need to watch them closely lest they make a grab for world power.
  
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Brendan van Son on March 21, 2013 at 13:22 said:

Love the comic strip format! Well done! :D

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- Simon on March 22, 2013 at 21:49 said:
  
  Thanks Brendan!
  
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Andrew on March 20, 2013 at 21:54 said:

What a cool way of telling a story. Makes me realize that carrying a sword while traveling might be a good idea, or it might just be a sign of the normal kind of comics that I read. And monkeys seem just about as vicious as the parked cars that attack me when I am in the city. Is nowhere safe?
Rabies shots are notably painful. Hope you are doing ok.

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 22:07 said:
  
  Yes. A sword. Once airlines loosen the restrictions on carry on, that’s my next big purchase.
  
  Shots were fine—they have a reputation but these days it’s just like being punched in the arm. Five times.
  
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Sam on March 20, 2013 at 15:25 said:

Amazing! That gave me a much needed laugh, while we’re sitting in a Uruguayan beach town…while it’s raining. Boo. Anyway, great comic! Looking forward to more.

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 22:08 said:
  
  Thanks Sam. There’s more in the works, although it’s been well over 6 months since my last one…
  
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Matthew Karsten on March 20, 2013 at 11:27 said:

Funny stuff! (well, kind of). Are the shots really in the stomach like I’ve heard?

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 22:09 said:
  
  Not these days. Just a series of 5 shots spread out over a couple of months. The hardest part of the whole process was finding them (easy in Thailand, but only found the last one in Italy through pure chance!)
  
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Jennifer on March 20, 2013 at 10:25 said:

What an awesome cartoon! I don’t think I’ve seen a blog tale told in this format and it is so much fun! Though sorry Simon got bit by a monkey. Glad he’s okay though!

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 22:10 said:
  
  Thanks Jennifer!
  
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Kim on March 20, 2013 at 04:39 said:

Did Simon turn in to a monkey in the end???? Glad you survived! I was almost attacked by a monkey in India here last week (or at least it felt that way)

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 22:10 said:
  
  I was born in the Chinese year of the monkey, so I’ve always had a little of the Simian in me!
  
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Maria on March 20, 2013 at 00:32 said:

Now THAT is damn fine work with drawing – speaking technically here, but the progression of cute monkey to psycho-evil-tree-jumper in 2.3 seconds is the perfect rate for a post… and a fun tale. Kudos!

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 23:27 said:
  
  I think in real life it was even faster. That monkey got mean quick!
  
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Natasha von Geldern on March 20, 2013 at 00:21 said:

Cute comic strip :)
When I was in the Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali last year a small child was bitten by a monkey (she tried to touch it duh) and was whisked off to the nearby clinic. I mention this just so you know you’re not along ;)

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 23:27 said:
  
  Good to know that there are psycho angry attacking monkeys all over the world… ;)
  
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Regina on March 20, 2013 at 00:14 said:

Oh my, Thailand’s monkeys are crazy! Especially the ones close to beaches and other places frequented by tourists (or many people in general).
Love the illustrated story telling :)

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- Erin on March 20, 2013 at 02:06 said:
  
  It’s true- we blamed the tourists who’d obviously been feeding them so they came looking for stuff in our bag.
  
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Sophie on March 19, 2013 at 19:21 said:

I enjoyed this. Who needs words… Hope everything turned out well in the end.

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- Erin on March 20, 2013 at 02:07 said:
  
  Yep, Simon got the series of 5 injections he needed and is so far rabies free :)
  
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ldf on March 19, 2013 at 19:20 said:

Brilliant.

I was groped by a male monkey while I was climbing the stairs to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi town. The monkey definitely knew I was the female out of our four person group. Pushed me out of my comfort zone (how does one respond to a monkey doing that? On stairs? Surrounded by other wild monkeys?). Would have never conceived relaying the incident as an illustrated tale. Great idea and execution. This was fun!

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- Erin on March 20, 2013 at 02:08 said:
  
  Wow! That’s quite disturbing and would probably make an interesting comic :)
  
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Anne Marie on March 19, 2013 at 19:14 said:

Very funny (I think!) and I like the illustration very much, but not the reminder about the rabies….
Keep away from monkeys, mad dogs, weird people, scary people, armed people, people people!! :-)

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 23:28 said:
  
  Thanks mum! Don’t worry, I am never leaving this apartment again.
  
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Peter Parkorr on March 19, 2013 at 16:39 said:

Most excellent Simon!! Not that the monkey won, the illustrated story :)

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- Simon on March 20, 2013 at 23:29 said:
  
  Cheers Peter. Yeah, it was pretty embarrassing that I couldn’t fight off a skinny 12″ high simian.
  
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Tristan on March 19, 2013 at 14:41 said:

Love the comic format, it looks great! I’m going to guess that this did not in fact result in rabies? Those monkeys are daring little buggers…

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- Erin on March 20, 2013 at 02:08 said:
  
  Luckily Simon got the injections he needed and didn’t get rabies. Just as well as it’s pretty much fatal.
  
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40 Comments

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