The massage was great. Today we went canyoning. Tomorrow we leave for the Elephant Nature Park where we get to bath elephants and watch them in their natural habitat. Riding elephants is actually really brutal stuff, so this is a way to see the elephants up close and personal but respecting them at the same time.
Wednesday, we leave for a two day jungle trek up into the mountains to stay with a hill tribe for a night. On the way down Thursday we will do some white water rafting, and then we're back in Chiang Mai. So this is my last time on the internet for a few days. We have to bring one day pack for the next three days....I think we'll all be a bit stinky!!
LYB
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The Elephant Nature Park was one of my favorite days in Thailand. It was heartbreaking to see some of the injured elephants, but it's great to know that they have a safe home here. The woman who founded the ENP is trying to revolutionize elephant tourism in Thailand, and I really hope she succeeds. After watching videos of the training process and seeing the actual scars from elephants who have had people ride them, I encourage everyone to spread the word that riding elephants is not the way to go.
This is a picture of the white elephant at the park...even though she's actually pink! The white elephant is sacred in Thailand. They have to meet 7 specifications to be truly a "white elephant;" this one only has 5. But this is the animal the Thai people believe to give the king his power.
This is me after bathing the elephants!
