Sa wa dee ka! Yep, that's hello in Thai. Josie talk Thai. Josie talk Thai very well... (Who remembers Meet the Parents?)
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I find I have neither words nor the picture that can adequately describe the incredible day I had today. After a sudden bump in my bank account balance (thanks, mom!) I decided that I could allow myself to splash out and headed for the Elephant Nature Park. Seeing elephants was definitely high on my list of priorities while here in Thailand, but after reading so much about how they are often badly mistreated, I was feeling uncomfortable about signing up for the elephant treks or excursions offered at any one of the hundreds of tourist agencies sprinkled throughout the city. After asking around, and doing a little internet research, I found the ENP. The park is a sanctuary for elephants that have been orphaned or rescued from abusive situations. There are over 30 elephants currently living there. You don't get to ride them, and they don't do tricks (like painting or playing basketball... although those are just a few of the things elephants here in Thailand are often trained to do), but during a day at the park you're able to feed them, walk with them, and best of all get in the river to bathe them.
I don't remember the last time I had so much fun, and I really did feel like I was contributing to a worthy cause. Carpenters may have built America (as read an old belt buckle of my dad's) but elephants built a great deal of Thailand. There were, until not all that long ago, thousands of elephants working in the logging industry hauling wood that was used for all manner of construction. When logging was outlawed here, there was nowhere for these so-called "domesticated" animals to go. Many were turned into performers and sent off to trekking camps for tourists to ride. Many can be found wandering the streets with their owners begging for money. I won't bore you by getting all preachy about the plight of the elephants in Thailand (and I haven't even touched on the wild ones), but please check out the website for the park.
I am thinking of all of you as Christmas quickly approaches. Nearly half my group today was from Washington State (it truly is a small world, and it seems us Washingtonians are well-represented in the Chiang Mai area!). This made me feel a little homesick, but at the same time made home seem not quite so far away. I've decided to stay in Chiang Mai until the day after Christmas, then take the overnight train to Bangkok, and head to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on the 27th. From there I'll visit Siem Reap and see the temple ruins and then it's on to Vietnam. More soon.
Merry Christmas.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Merry Christmas Josie!!We will miss you....but know that you are having the time of your life. Love you Cece
Wow Josie, how wonderful is that, being with the elephants! WHAT GREAT PICTURES! It's just like being with you. Such a fun thing. Hope you have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas.
Kathie (Amie's Mother-in-law)
Merry Christmas!
It was sweet to speak to you for a few minutes. Sorry to wake you. I feel happier knowing that you are doing well and enjoying a little break in the action, ready to launch into another leg of your journey. It was fun to talk a little about the King of Thailand, being the former king of Siam. I was just thinking about Aunt Pat's appointment Calendar that was in your room at Grandpa's house when you were a kid all those years ago, and today you are the common thread.
May the circle be unbroken....
Love you,
Dad
Post a Comment