Asiya came to visit! She found us an amazing elephant park to visit. The Baan chang elephant park teaches you about the behaviors and lifestyle of elephants and how to wash and care for them.
Fed them full bunches of bananas and sugar cane. "They never say no to food." We wanted to feed the ones in the back, but it was a challenge to pass the front ones without them asking for more food!
We took them on a walk...or did they take us on a walk? Either way it was scenic with luscious greenery all around, a bit nerve wracking at first tryin to relax without being too relaxed that we might fall off because sometimes the elephants can be "naughty," our guide tells us...
We washed them in a pretty gross lake. Our trainer guide took our elephant, Baan Wat, to the center, deep! Asiya and I are like " come here (to the perimeter)." He's just smilling, chillin on top of Baan Wat motioning us to go there...grossss the water comes to past our abdomens. Did I mention there are chunks of stools floating around...its ok, we pretended it was just Greenlake and had fun! ..even though out of no where the guides start throwin buckets of the water on us..I used every piece of Asiya's dry shirt I could find to wipe my face on.
Fed them full bunches of bananas and sugar cane. "They never say no to food." We wanted to feed the ones in the back, but it was a challenge to pass the front ones without them asking for more food!
We took them on a walk...or did they take us on a walk? Either way it was scenic with luscious greenery all around, a bit nerve wracking at first tryin to relax without being too relaxed that we might fall off because sometimes the elephants can be "naughty," our guide tells us...
We washed them in a pretty gross lake. Our trainer guide took our elephant, Baan Wat, to the center, deep! Asiya and I are like " come here (to the perimeter)." He's just smilling, chillin on top of Baan Wat motioning us to go there...grossss the water comes to past our abdomens. Did I mention there are chunks of stools floating around...its ok, we pretended it was just Greenlake and had fun! ..even though out of no where the guides start throwin buckets of the water on us..I used every piece of Asiya's dry shirt I could find to wipe my face on.
A few things I learned;
-Sleep only for about 4 hrs/day. Can eat the remaining 20hrs/day!
-lifespan similar to humans. 80yrs is common, but could live to 100 if healthy
-skin starts to pigment when ages, starting around 30yrs.
-skin is a few inches thick, so to tell them good job, or 'deet!' you must forcefully pat their truck. They won't feel it if you only pet them.
-Vision is poor. Color blind too. Smell and hearing senses are sharp
-Amazing creatures! Wonderful inspiration for 'elephant walking' in Thai yoga massage!
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