Northern Escapes: Day 6

Elephants, Tigers, and Massages - Oh Chiang Mai

Today has been a day we have been looking forward to for awhile. It is one of the few things we booked from home. When we decided to go to Thailand we decided we wanted to ride on the elephants. This is very controversial as some people feel it is animal abuse. We wanted to go with a company that we could research and had good reviews so we did not want to leave it to chance once we were there. We decided to book through Blue Elephant Thailand Tours and were not disappointed. Each tour they do is a private tour no matter if there is 1 person or 10. It was great to have it be just us four and we really enjoyed our guide who spoke wonderful English which made it easier to learn more of the culture. Since it is a private tour they give you the option of picking you up early and taking you to Tiger Kingdom. Yup, we wanted to do that too!

We were picked up in a nice big air conditioned van and then drove the hour to Tiger Kingdom. First thing they did was measure Thảo and I to see how tall we were to determine which tigers we were allowed to go in with. Thảo could go into the small and baby, I could do the medium, small, and baby. I didn't think about it at the time but they didn't make the guys do any measuring!!! I think Jerame and I are the same height! WHAT???

We made our choices about which tigers we wanted to "play" with and were off to see the tigers. Jerame decided to do the baby and the "Giant". Thảo and I did the small, and Jed did the Giant. With the packages that Jed and Jerame got they also go a CD of pictures taken by Tiger Kingdom, these were excellent photos and very good quality. You could also take your own photos. Thảo and I took pictures of each other.

First up baby tiger. There were two in the area they let Jerame into. The tigers seemed very alert and not drugged or anything. They only allow you to touch the tigers on the half that doesn't contain teeth for safety reasons and there are several workers in with you at all times.

Yup this is a baby!!!!

Next it was over to the small tiger for Thảo and I. Small, I learned is a relative word because those tigers didn't seem too small to me. There were three small tigers. Two were pretty active and one was sack city. They said, yup this is the lazy tiger. Those tiger tails are heavy!

Now off for the big guys!

Well that was fun! :) Now for a quick look around before we get on our way.

Back in the van and off we went. Our guide stopped and bought us a couple of snacks from a street vendor for the hour ride. We were really hungry by this point.

The rice cracker seems like a rice cakes to me but are actually cooked sticky rice, watermelon juice, white sesame, and vegetable oil, along with some seasonings to make it salty and sweet.

I think our favorite was the banana crisps. It is raw cultivated banana, sugar, salt, roasted white sesame seeds, limewater, pandanus leaves, and vegetable oil. Some of us couldn't stop eating them, not saying any names.

We arrived in the mountains. We then got to have lunch before heading off to check out a cave.

The food was good and plentiful.

Time to visit Chiang Dao Caves. They are situated about 70 km north of Chiang Mai. The drive was on a nice highway through beautiful country. The caves are one of the main attractions in the Chiang Dao National Park. There is a fee to enter these caves of 40 baht a person but it was included in the price of our tour. The caves contain many shrines, statues, and Buddha images. You can explore many parts of the caves if you choose by renting a gas lantern and hiring a guide. We stuck to the main path, for the most part.

Jerame going where he isn't suppose to go. The camera didn't like how dark it was back there.

Next stop was another temple, check out some of the amazing scenery along the way!

Like I have said before, shorts are usually a no no for temples. It was low season and we were with a tour group, but for whatever reason they let us go in our shorts today. As you climb the many stairs to the temple it is just beautiful and there are motivational signs all along the way.

Wat Tham Chiang Dao is set in the jungle with lots of butterflies.

Almost to the top!

Very unique temple as it is actually in a cave.

The monks in these areas are called forest monks. Their homes were off little paths.

We were impressed with the large leaves but our guide said they were small compared to the really big ones.

When we got to the bottom our guide made quick work of stacking 7 rocks. He said you make a wish and then if you actually can do it the wish is granted.

Check out the sign (bottom) just in case you forgot how to do it.

Next we went to the Longneck Karen Hill Tribe. We found the people to be very friendly. They live in such an amazing area with waterfalls and beauty all around.

These huts are made so that they sleep upstairs and their shop is downstairs. They have a little area out back or to the side to do their cooking. They lead very humble lives.

They have a sample of the neck rings they wear. It was amazingly heavy. They also have a half one that you can put on for pictures. We learned that the ladies that wear white tops are not married yet and then once they get married they can wear whatever color they want.

Right as we got there a group of kids decided it was getting too hot and all went and played in the water. Moms are working close by and they are playing.

Here you can see how their shop is at the front and their kitchen is at the back and then they live above. We were told they just have mats that they roll out and sleep on.

How can you not fall in love with these kids. Look how adorable she is!

These women are from a neighboring hill tribe that come and sell stuff here. They were a lot more pushy, trying to get you to buy stuff. Where as the Karen Tribe let you look and wander freely.

And now...it is the time we have been waiting for...ELEPHANTS

They had us change into our swimsuits and these blue smocks. They said the elephants would know us because of them. Plus you don't really want to ride an elephant in just a swimsuit.

That was the first step. Then we went down to were the elephants were and met our teacher Bobbi. He taught us how to talk to the elephants. This is in the hill tribe language. It was not easy for me. Everyone else seemed to pick it up easier. Probably because they all speak more than one language. Bobbi was hilarious. He taught us that we needed to speak very loudly for the elephants to hear us. It didn't help, they knew who their true masters were. He wrote all of our names in his language on our arms so that he could remember as he taught us.

It looks like we are in choir practice.

Then we got to meet the baby of the bunch. And Bobbi had her hug and kiss us, and we got to feed her and work on our commands. We had to tell her to lift her trunk and then open up for food.

And then Bobbi put Thảo on the baby and taught us all how to lead her around.

And now it was time to meet our elephants! So exciting and a little freaky too. They took us out into an open aree and had us sit on the ground in kind of a circle. Then they brought our elephants up to stand by us. Yup, that is a little intimidating. They had Jed sit right at his elephants feet!

WOW, that elephant is big. I would love to tell you the names of our elephants but I should have written them down right away because I cannot remember. Who am I kidding I had to keep asking that day what his name was!

Now that we supposedly know how to talk to our elephant and have her do what we say it is time to get on them and go for a ride. Once again very exciting yet a little freaky too. They taught how to tell the elephant to lift its leg, then you put one foot on its leg like you would in a stirrup for a horse and then heft yourself over. Well....let me tell you a horse is a lot smaller than an elephant. THAT was hard. Then you had Jed's elephant, the biggest one. They told him, well your elephant doesn't know how to get people on so you have to climb UP its trunk! HAHAHA, the picture above shows him scurrying up.

Wahoo we all made it!!!!

WOW, this is surreal! Now it is time to go for a ride.

First thing they did was take us down the slope and across the river. When you are riding an elephant your hands go flat on the elephants head to hold on. If that doesn't sound like much of holding on then YOUR RIGHT, but it worked.

They brought the baby along to train her and that was super cool. Then they took us back across the river, or not. They took us in the river and then told our elephants to lay down! Thus dumping us into the drink. Love this series of Jerame being ousted from his elephant.

Then we got to give the elephants a bath after making them work. That was cool.

Then they had us get back on one with our honey. Pose for a picture and then the elephant went up to dry ground and we had to get off of the thing. That was not easy either.