Yesterday we rode an elephant. It was a long, 45 minute ride through the jungle, up and down a hill and across a river. It was fun. Here’s a picture of a picture I took with my camera phone. It’s not very clear, but it’s the only way I have to upload pictures right now.
Afterwards we went to see tigers and had the chance to pet and hug one. Some of our party took the chance, but Gisele and I declined and just watched.
Today we went to a large national park and drove to the top of the highest mountain in Thailand. It’s only about 8000 feet high, but it was quite cool at the top. We also saw a couple of pagodas. We ended the day with a full body Thai massage.
Tomorrow we fly to Bangkok, where we will spend a couple of days before heading back to Taiwan.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Richard // Feb 6, 2012 at 10:20 am
Whee Haw! Giddy up!
Strange looking saddle….
Glad you guys are having a good time.
2 Donna // Feb 6, 2012 at 5:27 pm
Was it scary? It looks like a wide chair tied on top of a blanket slung over the elephant’s back. Not too secure, but I’m sure it was better than it looks.
Do the animals seem to be well treated?
Looks like fun!
3 Daryl // Feb 6, 2012 at 5:40 pm
It wasn’t scary, though the elephants are very large when they are coming towards you.
You pretty much pegged it with your description. The driver (mahout) kept warning us to move one way or the other on the seat to keep the chair balanced. At times it seemed a little unstable.
And Donna, no, I didn’t get any elephant feathers on me.
I guess they are treated well. I didn’t see any cruelty, though each mahout had a stick with sharp barbs on the end. Our mahout raised it a couple of times in warning, but didn’t use it.
We were on a 40 year old codger. The others kept zipping by us
4 Mom // Feb 6, 2012 at 11:06 pm
You went clear to Thailand to ride an elephant! Come to think of it, I haven’t seen any elephants around here lately. It sounds like lots of fun, except I don’t think that I would feel completely relaxed if I had to keep moving one way or the other to keep the chair balanced.
What was your elephant’s name?
5 Dale // Feb 7, 2012 at 10:45 am
What if the elephant got a trunk full of water and sprayed it up over his back? Now that would be a good photo!
6 Donna // Feb 7, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Have you read Water For Elephants? That stick that you describe is what they used to train them. I suppose it’s not pleasant for the elephants at first, but they do quickly learn to follow commands.
7 Daryl // Feb 8, 2012 at 8:40 am
Mom,
They didn’t tell us her name. Maybe the Thai word for “Dumbo”.
Dale,
One of the elephants behind us sprayed the one in front of him/her. The riders got a little wet.
Donna,
I did read it and saw the movie. I think it was the same stick.