Sandy and I chose to visit an elephant sanctuary on this visit to Thailand. We come back to Thailand later in the week. A quick update on where we are. Tomorrow we dock in Singapore and complete the third of four legs of our round the world adventure. It is more than we thought and has surpassed all of our expectations. Our last leg on the Queen Victoria is from Singapore to Southhampton, England where we arrive on the 20th of April. We then board the Queen Mary for our trip home arriving on the 26th.
It was an hour drive to the sanctuary and many, many more cars then scooters. Very clean shops along the way closed up with air conditioning. Thailand is prospering.
The elephants were wonderful and performed for us all. Some of our travel mates rode the elephants into the water for baths and we all enjoyed the dunking. We then were taught how to mount an elephant by standing on the extended leg grabbing hold of the ear and jumping and pulling up and swinging your leg over the neck. I had a chance to ride so I put my right foot on the elephants extended leg and grabbed hold of the ear but I didn’t really want to pull it so I just lightly gripped it and then leapt and pulled up and moved about an inch. Several guys pushed my foot and leg and slowly scrunched me up the side and the elephant master (sits behind on the elephant) pushed my leg over the neck and there I was on top of the world. All and all an awkward beginning of my elephant riding career! A bit unsteady and feeling a bit like you will fall off at any second it is a wonderful experience as you lumber along. Dismounting is quite civilized as the elephant approaches a stand and you climb onto it and then go down a flight of stairs.
Sandy’s back was acting up and we had been told that we would be able to ride together on a bench seat that we could mount from the platform so she didn’t try to climb up to ride. Unfortunately, at the end of the show there was not time for rides as we were being rushed to a “shopping experience” at an upscale gift shop the turned out to be quite disappointment. So no elephant ride for Sandy.
But, You should have seen her In the show. They brought an elephant right into the audience and we were sitting in the front row. People scattered but not our Sandy. She sat calmly right in front of the elephant and fed her bananas! She patted the trunk and place a banana right into the trunk as the elephant swung it into her mouth. All the while as calm as can be is our Sandy. They could have touched nose to trunk and most amazing foot to foot. This is a another memory that will stay forever.
OK, we’re somewhat up to date.
Till next time
It was an hour drive to the sanctuary and many, many more cars then scooters. Very clean shops along the way closed up with air conditioning. Thailand is prospering.
The elephants were wonderful and performed for us all. Some of our travel mates rode the elephants into the water for baths and we all enjoyed the dunking. We then were taught how to mount an elephant by standing on the extended leg grabbing hold of the ear and jumping and pulling up and swinging your leg over the neck. I had a chance to ride so I put my right foot on the elephants extended leg and grabbed hold of the ear but I didn’t really want to pull it so I just lightly gripped it and then leapt and pulled up and moved about an inch. Several guys pushed my foot and leg and slowly scrunched me up the side and the elephant master (sits behind on the elephant) pushed my leg over the neck and there I was on top of the world. All and all an awkward beginning of my elephant riding career! A bit unsteady and feeling a bit like you will fall off at any second it is a wonderful experience as you lumber along. Dismounting is quite civilized as the elephant approaches a stand and you climb onto it and then go down a flight of stairs.
Sandy’s back was acting up and we had been told that we would be able to ride together on a bench seat that we could mount from the platform so she didn’t try to climb up to ride. Unfortunately, at the end of the show there was not time for rides as we were being rushed to a “shopping experience” at an upscale gift shop the turned out to be quite disappointment. So no elephant ride for Sandy.
But, You should have seen her In the show. They brought an elephant right into the audience and we were sitting in the front row. People scattered but not our Sandy. She sat calmly right in front of the elephant and fed her bananas! She patted the trunk and place a banana right into the trunk as the elephant swung it into her mouth. All the while as calm as can be is our Sandy. They could have touched nose to trunk and most amazing foot to foot. This is a another memory that will stay forever.
OK, we’re somewhat up to date.
Till next time
1 comment:
Wonderful! What an experience. Riding and feeding the elephants. You guys are amazing. Lots of love from yer MysticPals. (And a belated Happy St. Patrick's Day)
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