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We are on our last day in Lampang, catching the overnight train back to Bangkok tonight at 7pm. I would like to confirm everyone's suspicions that Bangkok is in fact a s***hole. It's really busy and very dirty in parts and there are literally hundreds of people waiting to try and scam unsuspecting tourists. Luckily Rachel and I are pretty hardnosed when it comes to telling these people to b***** off! We will only be in Bangkok for a couple of hours as we mean to catch a bus straight to Trat to meet the ferry service to Ko Chang.
Yesterday was by far the best day we've had so far in Thailand. We got up at 6am to make sure we would be at the bus station by 8.30am because we wanted to have as much time as possible at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center! When we got there they were just about to take them to be bathed so off we followed the procession of elephants down to the little bathing lake and watched as they squirted each other and their handlers and generally made a lot of fuss and noise! Then it was back to the showground where they demonstrated their skills and showed how elephants were used in the logging industry. It is ironic that now logging is banned in Thailand that a conservation center is needed.
After the show we bought bunches of bannans and sugar cane and we were able to get right up to them and feed themwhich was amazing! They were so friendly and very greedy! Next up we took an elephant ride through the forest and we had our photo taken. After lunch we went to the nursery and fed the baby elephants and then we visited the hospital and learnt about the new breeding programmes and the different ways that the elephants are cared for. The center was a brilliant day out and we spent loads on food for them but it was worth it and I would love to visit it again. They have this programme whereyou can live at the center for 3 days and learn how to be a mahout (elephant handler). If we have the time and money we may do this towards the end of our time in Thailand.
We were given a new room in our guesthouse yesterday and it had a terrace overlooking the river and was definately the nicest room we've had. The guesthouse is run by a really friendly and helpful Belgian lady who also owns a resteraunt further along the road. We ate there yesterday and it was really nice, overlooking the river.
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