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We have just spent the last two days learning how to be Mahnouts! (elephant trainers)
It was the most amazing experience. We sat bare back on elephants and 'trained' them to pick things up, lift their feet, sit down, follow each other... although really they were already trained but it was fun! We even took part in a show. The highlight of the days was bathing on them in a lake (even if it had the occassional elephant floater!) and washing them. The mahnouts were a cheeky bunch, and quick to get their elephants to squirt us with water!
It is exhausting sitting on a elephant, you have to really grip with your thighs. We were glad to finish when we did purely for the rest. We also had to get up at 6:00am to walk into the forest and get our elephants. Mine was called Keaw, and my Mahnout that trained Keaw was called Poom. Matt's elephant was huge! (24 years old). Mine was a tiddler at 8 years. Matt's was called Phang Kod. It was a great experience but the priciest thing we've done so far.
The bus home was another experience, it was a regular coach but absolutely crammed with people. I managed to sit on a step at the front and stare at people's feet while Matt got a hand hold on the TV mount at the front with his face almost resting on the windscreen. We made it back to Chiang Mai safely all the same!
Back in Chiang Mai we had our final massage of North Thailand (total of 4 in 8 days!). I went for a reflexology massage (Matt). This entailed a Thai lady literally kneeling on every part of my body, and working her thumbs and elbows into every muscle and joint. It was excruciating, but well worth it and I'm walking today!!! Flora was less brave and opted to be covered in mud and wrapped in clingfilm.
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