Three Lovely Ladies

that’s the Elphants we meet

Up again at 7am the Dame is complaining about lack of beauty sleep. Breakfast so many choices, the Duke had a Banana Pancake delicious. The guide from the Rescue Elephant Sanctuary picked us up at 8.30, he introduced himself as “Tea” easy to remember. On board the Toyota people carrier, there were a couple from the Philippines . Further on we enter what we thought was a monastery but it turned out to be a 5-star hotel, the Dhara Dhevi amazing. Two American couples get on, then we set off for the Sanctuary. Another beautiful drive through the countryside after 1 and a half hours we arrived. Tea told us a lot of interesting facts about elephants including the difference between African & Thai. Then about the three  elephants we will be spending the day with and about their former lives as tourist rides and the unbelievable cruelty this involves. Sadly not all their rescued elephants make a full recovery, some have scars and deformities other are badly affected mentally. Our three are all females, one is older and must be given peeled fruit because her teeth were ruined by her previous poor diet, another is a slow and thoughtful eater Tea calls her the princess, the third can eat for all three and grabs several pieces of fruit and vegetable at once. First we have to wash the fruit in case pesticides  have been sprayed. Then separate the bananas and cut up the melon, squash and pineapple, small cucumbers also in the mix.

The three arrive it does take your breath away the size of them. They line up just the other side of a wooden bar. You just place the fruit on top of their trucks  two of the elephants will take two or three pieces of fruit at a time. They trust Tea so much he can put the food straight in their mouths. 10 people a table full of fruits it disappears in no time. Apparently their 3rd breakfast of the day, After feeding the Mahouts take the elephants away. We have to separate more bananas and place them in carry bags as we are going to walk with the elephants. The group follows Tea down a dirt road. By a lake we hear most horrendous stories of how man treats this amazing animal. Then along they come with the Mahouts. Again it takes no time to use up our supply of bananas. Then we arrive at a river, the other side is the main rescue centre with 159 elephants wandering around or bathing in the river. Into the river we go with plastic buckets,  the  elephants stand with their mahouts still feeding them while we threw buckets of water over them and rubbed the mud with our hands, you cannot believe the amount of mud on them. Back at the center for our lunch, which was excellent. Elephants need to eat 20 hours a day, bath and have a mud bath. So one of the cruel things about the elephants used for rides, they are not allowed near water in case they get the customers wet, making it impossible for them to cool down.

After lunch we make rice balls a very messy business, they contain essential nutrients and minerals. When an elephant needs medicine it is mixed into a rice ball to stop them spitting it out. They arrive for another feast. Feeding over we are off for a mud bath, the elephants love this and replace all the mud we had washed off in no time, very entertaining. Next back in the car and of to the white water rafting. The Dame and I plus one American and a Thai captain. Off we go, the river is a bit low but a couple of rapids you needed to hang on. The captain’s little joke he turns the raft backwards in a rapid causing everyone to get wet. He skillfully navigated the raft between many large boulders. Change into dry clothes, refreshing pineapple and banana, then snooze in the vehicle on the return journey. Great day, more than lived up to expectations.

Tonight we are heading for a highly rated jazz club, part of the Ibis hotel. Our Tuk Tuk driver is very old and so is his Tuk Tuk. But he gets us there. This can only happen to us, after a long ride to get there, notice on door, closed private party. Let’s try a roof top bar. This one above a hotel, it was full of young people, with a swimming pool in the center. One drink and we decide to leave. The Next rooftop bar is on top of a shopping center. Again so much bling everywhere along with Christmas lights. The cocktails are very good and they are showing Premier League football. Food not too good, so we leave, well that’s what we thought. The shopping center is now closed so the lift only goes down to the car parks. Back up and try escalators they are also closed. Back to the car park and we do find a way out, into a side alley. Songthaew home, four other people on it once they have got off the driver asked the Dame to show direction to hotel again on phone, bit of confusion, what he wants is the Dame to ride up front with him, well the Dukes not very happy, but one has to get home. No problem we find the hotel. What a night.

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