ELEPHANT TREKKING

It was time this morning for the first of our trips, the one that I was determined to do, elephant safari. It did however mean an early start which did bring on the pain a little but it was definitely worth it. We were taken by air conditioned coach into the Phuket hills where the jungle begins and were transferred into a naturally air conditioned open back Landrover. We found out quickly that seat cushioning was not the main focus of the day as we climbed steeply and further into the jungle. Once we arrived we were taken to a small viewing area where the elephants, and their mahoot’s (elephant handlers), moved into the area. One of the elephants came up close for a look while our guide described their training, which is done with a rather vicious looking hook they use in the elephants ear. Perfectly normal we were told, and also used as an elephant sized tooth pick. From there we were shuffled up a loading platform where we mounted our elephant. Ours was called Jim Lim and he wasn’t much in the mood for tourists today. We clambered onto a metal bound carriage strapped onto Jim Lim with our mahoot astride her neck. Other elephants slipped neatly into first gear and lumbered off into the jungle. Jim Lim was first stuck in neutral and then lurched into reverse whilst other parties over took us. With much jiggling and verbal encouragement from our mahoot, Jim Lim engaged first and away we rumbled. It was a surreal experience about 12 feet in the air, being ‘massaged’ as our guide called it with each careful yet weighty step. Every now and again Jim Lim would trumpet her disapproval and stop for another few kilos of foliage. We did in the end get round and then bought some bananas to feed Jim Lim for our unusual ride. She seemed quite pleased with her performance and gladly ate bananas at a furious rate. From there we saw how the Thai people harvest rubber trees, make coconut oil and thai curry. We also saw how they trained monkeys to collect the coconuts and Amy found a water buffalo to sit on. Again, not your everyday sight but certainly worth a photo. After firing the exhaustless Landrovers back up we were taken to lunch and fed a very tasty thai curry. Was to be expected. This afternoon we returned to our spot on the beach and were plied with drinks by our same helpful waitress from yesterday. This time though, Amy in her bikini and me covered from head to toe nursing my sun burn from yesterday. Doh!! Anyway, off to dinner in a minute and looking forward to tomorrows trip. Rob