Monkey Table Manners Are Somewhat Lacking

Hundreds of monkeys descended from their Buddhist temple home Saturday for a 12-course meal complete with menus and linen napkins, but they forgot their manners and hurled soft drink cans at curious humans.

The furry guests leaped aboard the neat rows of tables to devour vast spreads of sweet-and-sour noodles, salad, tomato cocktail, fried rice, Chinese-style noodles, potato soup, banana cake and coconut candy.

A local hotel owner, Yongyut Kiwattanananusan, laid on the spread for the monkeys to thank them for the success of his Lopburi Inn. Monkeys are symbols of good fortune and a favorite tourist attraction in this small provincial capital 70 miles north of Bangkok.