- Title: INDIA: Monkey with a taste for the good life develops an affinity to tea
- Date: 20th August 2007
- Summary: (L!3) VARANASI, INDIA (AUGUST 14, 2007) (ANI) MONKEY RIDING ON A CYCLE RICKSHAW MORE OF THE MONKEY ON THE CYCLE RICKSHAW CLOSE OF THE MONKEY THE MONKEY EATING A PAAN (BETEL) THE MONKEY GOING THROUGH A MAN'S HAIR LOOKING FOR LICE THE MONKEY DRINKING SOFT DRINK (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) HARI NARAYAN, A ROADSIDE VENDOR, SAYING: "He drinks Pepsi, eats cream if it is given to him, drinks tea, whatever one feeds him he eats willingly without any problem." THE MONKEY SHAKING HANDS WITH A TOURIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALISHA, A GERMAN TOURIST, SAYING: "Sweet monkeys you have in Varanasi. They are very calm. It is fun to watch them." THE MONKEY DRINKING TEA MAN COMBING THE MONKEY'S FUR
- Embargoed: 4th September 2007 18:33
- Keywords:
- Location: India
- Country: India
- Topics: Environment / Natural World,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVABRSVL3Y4IMWPW98FOCAPGL2Z5
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: Amusing vendors and tourists alike, a primate in India's northern city of Varanasi uses his charm to satisfy his love of breakfast tea.
A monkey in India's northern Varanasi has taken to drinking tea with most roadside vendors.
His morning starts with a hot cuppa (cup of tea), which he only drinks at a special vendor some distance away from his sleeping area.
But the distance doesn't matter at all as the monkey jumps onto one of the numerous cycle-rickshaws standing nearby to take him to his favourite tea stall.
He is well connected to the local rickshaw pullers and willingly take him to his destination.
Once there, the tea stall owner has a cup of tea ready and waiting for his friendly primate, who devours it with gusto.
It's not just tea that is his favourite, the monkey eats whatever he can lay his hands on - dollops of cream, betel leaves, the occasional soft drink and even ice cream.
"He drinks Pepsi, eats cream if it is given to him, drinks tea, whatever one feeds him he eats willingly without any problem," said Hari Narayan, the tea stall owner.
Most people in the area have become fond of the little monkey weaving his way in and out of the crowd, never really asking for food but getting it anyway.
Tourists find the creature fascinating, spending a lot of time feeding him his favourite foods and taking photographs.
"Sweet monkeys you have in Varanasi. They are very calm. It is fun to watch them," said Alisha, a German tourist who the monkey likes to sit with while drinking his tea.
Another ritual the monkey looks forward to is his daily grooming session with the tea-stall owner around midday, which he thoroughly enjoys. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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