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I don know why we are so tired. We were asleep by 11pm last night and then didn't wake up until 9am this morning - must be the mountain air!
Sausage butty again for breakfast this morning - will have to do a few extra lengths in the pool tonight!
Well we finally did what we were most looking forward to in Thailand - a ride on the elephants! John took us up to this place about 15 minutes away called Thom's Elephant Camp. We pulled up to the fairly small place just at the side of the road and there were 3 big elephants stood munching on bamboo. Their big trunks were waving towards us for a sniff. We got a bunch of bananas to feed them and John was showing Therese how to get them to give her a big hug with their trunk. Basically, face away and hide the banana behind your back, and they wrap their trunk around you to get the banana. Therese couldn't stop laughing and giggling because the elephant was rooting around trying to find the banana. Then Therese was putting bananas straight into the elephant's mouth.
They've got really thick, hard, rough skin and have really thick, course black hairs dotted around. They're so placid and friendly, and playful even.
Our elephant was female and called Phom Pen. She was a bit smaller than the others, so not as big a fall to the ground!
Now for the difficult bit - getting on top of the elephant! She bowed her head, then, one at a time, we had to hold onto her head and put our foot onto her trunk while she lifted us right up. Then we had to crawl along her head and neck and turn ourselves around - not easy! John got a video of Therese struggling anyway.
We then rode Phom Pen, guided by the mahoot, about half a mile with some lovely views of the area. There's a few nice little resorts around there with little bungalows, but apparently they're very expensive. It's quite a boney, bumpy ride up there, and we didn't have a seat, it was bare back. Not that I wanted a seat because it's supposed to be better for the elephant and us without it. It was a bit dodgy going down hill, nearly rolled down the front. It's quite rough on the insides of your legs too on the elephants.
Phom Pen kept stopping and being nosey, then nicked a bit of food from one of the other elephant camps too!
We got to the river and there was another elephant in there already, so we had to wait just a minute until that one got out.
Then Phom Pen started walking into the river. It was quite steep going into the river and we had to really lean back - was sure we were going to fall straight off.
As soon as we were in the river, she crouched down in the water to get us wet. Then the mahoot was shouting all these different commands which were basically to absolutely soak us. She was spraying us from above, then the sides, straight in our faces. It was really funny, and Phom Pen seemed to be enjoying it!
The mahoot shouted a few commands, and Therese was shook off and dumped into the river. I was still on but I was further back. So now I was told to get further down and closer to her neck. I was flung off into the river. It was Therese's go again, and she had to get back on by standing on Phom Pen's leg, then climbing on top. She was soaking Therese again, then decided to roll to the side dunking Therese in and she fell off. Phom Pen was just laid with her head under the water, and wouldn't get up, was really funny to watch.
My turn again. I climbed on board, then Phom Pen stood up...looked quite high up. Then I was told it was rodeo time! I got sprayed with water (I think that's to disorientate you) then the rodeo started...and finished within about 3 seconds! Powerful animals. I'm quite good on those bucking broncos though.
She also crapper in the river which I only just avoided!
Therese told the mahoot she didn't want the rodeo ride like I had. So she got on, was sprayed right in her face with water and then really flung off! It was so funny because she wasn't expecting it at all so she went flying! There was just this big scream and she went in, haha!
And the best thing is, John took a video of it all on our camera for us!!!
After a soaking in the river, we rode back to the camp. We bought some more bananas (only 20p for a big bunch) and took some more pictures with the elephants. It's funny when their big trunks are right up at you trying to get bananas.
They're really loveable big things. We felt quite bad for them being there, but really they seemed happy enough and appeared to be well fed.
We had a brilliant time down there, and it only cost 800 Baht (£16) for both of us. In Chiang Mai, it was going to cost us 2,200 Baht (£44) each!! Well, the one in Chiang Mai is a "full" day with lunch, but you still only get an hour on the elephant. Was just enough for us anyway.
We got back and relaxed in the baking sun for a while. I know it's snowing pretty bad back at home so I'm making the most of living away from the winter months. Think I burnt my neck today too - similar to frost bite.
Rode a scooter for the first time today as well! John and Gaynor let me have a trial run on theirs. I drove around the orchard a bit and was fine, but it's a bit more awkward learning in their so I took myself on the little back roads which are really quiet. Easy enough riding them and I was enjoying it. Then two bloody dogs chased after me! It was an excuse to go faster anyway. It's really quiet on the roads in Pai. If Therese had been well, we would have looked into hiring one and done a bit of sightseeing that way. I'll be driving Harley Davidson's into the sunset soon...
Every few days, John and Gaynor invite the local kids around to their swimming pool. They ask guests beforehand if they mind, and obviously we don't. The local kids don't get to swim all that often and the swimming pool in the town costs 60 Baht per person which is 2 weeks of their parents wage! So they let them in for free. And they absolutely love it. They're very grateful too. John and Gaynor actually have a sign at the top of the road which basically has a tick or a cross to say whether they can swim today. They try limit them to once a week, but this little girl came and asked Gaynor, and Gaynor said she just couldn't say no. Before we knew it, there were about 20 kids in there. There were two little kids around 3 who were really funny, jumping in and out of the overflow part of the pool. They're all so happy when they're in there, so it's a really good thing what John and Gaynor do.
We ventured into town again for a couple of hours tonight. And we ate Italian. The excuse is, Therese can't be eating anything too "foreign" or spicy so she had pizza and I had lasagne. Was lovely as well. Think that's the first pasta we've had since we've been away!
Had another wander around the Market and Therese picked up a Rolling Stones t-shirt. There's lots of good handmade stuff but a bit too pricey for backpackers.
We keep spotting lots of cool little bars too, but Therese has to be a bit careful with her delicate stomach for a few days yet. It's a good way of forcing a detox otherwise we'd be out getting drunk right now...
- comments
Michelle Love the pics....love this blg!!! soooooo funny!! Aw, your elephant day sounds ace...I was laughing my head off. I bet it was hilarious to watch when you kept getting dunked! And I bet T wanted to take Phom Pen home.... John & Gaynor really seem like fantastic people, I bet you're so pleased you decided to go to Pai!! Mmmmm the pasta & pizza sound good too, abit of a change aswell..we had sausage & mash for tea but I feel hungry now....have a safe journey to your next destination and speak soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Kirsty Awwwwwww sounds like a fab day with the elephants.Soooo jealous!!!Ha can imagine Therese trying to get on the elephant lol.Havent seen the pics yet so gunna take a look after reading the blogs.John and Gaynor sound like really nice people.all they have done for you and how good of them to let the kids in the pool :) love you and miss you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx