Friday December 28
In almost two months away from home we have done some excellent things.
We've seen the White House, climbed the Great Wall of China, seen Chinese acrobats perform and gone on a junk boat trip in Ha Long Bay.
But our visit to the Maetaman Elephant Camp, in northern Thailand, was arguably the best day we have had.
Dozens of tame elephants have been trained to perform for tourists.
Neither of us have got so close to an elephant before - and they're so big it was initially terrifying. Nature tells you to run.
The highlight of the day was being carried through the sweeping open countryside back to the camp.
We also had a trip down the river on a bamboo raft, watched the elephants being bathed and saw them perform. And to top it all off we went on a ride in a cart pulled by oxen.
I've written previously about the hilarious site of older white western men with their much younger Thai brides.
But the funniest example we have seen so far was at the elephant camp. The odd couple were riding in the four-seater cart pulled by oxen.
The huge and presumably American tourist was so big he had to have the two-seat back row to himself. His Thai wife or girlfriend, who was no more than a third of the width of him, sat all on her own in front. It really was a case of 20inch waist meets 60inch one.
Although this was hilarious, the elephant ride was still the highlight. The day was so good that I have included an extended selection of pictures.
Elephant bathing time - VIDEO
In almost two months away from home we have done some excellent things.
We've seen the White House, climbed the Great Wall of China, seen Chinese acrobats perform and gone on a junk boat trip in Ha Long Bay.
But our visit to the Maetaman Elephant Camp, in northern Thailand, was arguably the best day we have had.
Dozens of tame elephants have been trained to perform for tourists.
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| Lifted up: Kelly-Ann is picked up by two elephants. You'll have to believe she was picked up because the camera started misbehaving as soon as she was in the air |
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| Bamboo raft on the river |
Neither of us have got so close to an elephant before - and they're so big it was initially terrifying. Nature tells you to run.
The highlight of the day was being carried through the sweeping open countryside back to the camp.
We also had a trip down the river on a bamboo raft, watched the elephants being bathed and saw them perform. And to top it all off we went on a ride in a cart pulled by oxen.
I've written previously about the hilarious site of older white western men with their much younger Thai brides.
But the funniest example we have seen so far was at the elephant camp. The odd couple were riding in the four-seater cart pulled by oxen.
The huge and presumably American tourist was so big he had to have the two-seat back row to himself. His Thai wife or girlfriend, who was no more than a third of the width of him, sat all on her own in front. It really was a case of 20inch waist meets 60inch one.
Although this was hilarious, the elephant ride was still the highlight. The day was so good that I have included an extended selection of pictures.
Elephant bathing time - VIDEO
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| Relaxing on the river |
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| Terrifying! I did not know this elephant was about to pick me up by its trunk |
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| Feeding time: I give an elephant some sugar cane |
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| Bath time: The elephants are taken into the river to be washed |
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