Day 28 in Chiang Mai - Elephants and Orchids

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We spent the day exploring Chiang Mai and some of the local attractions. First, we went to Chiang Mai's most famous wat, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. It was perched at the top of a 306 step staircase. Although it was worth the climb, we are starting to feel a little "Watted" out

After the climb, we drove out to an orchid farm which had hundreds of variations of orchids. It was stunning to see so many colors. The only downside to this place was it's butterfly room which should have been named the butterfly graveyard as most of the butterflies had seen better and livelier days

Finally, the highpoint of the day was a trip to the Mae Se Elephant Camp where we spent time feeding, riding, and playing with the elephants. At the end of the visit, the elephants put on a splendid show displaying their many talents.

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Photos

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
The guide told us there were 306 steps up to this wat...this is what we saw at the start and not a good sign of things to come

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
Even the Buddha was exhausted after those 306 steps up here

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
Many bells encircled the wat...annoying tourists (surprisingly not including us) had the need to ring them all. This caused a constant ring throughout the area

Orchid garden
One of the 1 million photos of orchids that Cheri took

Mae Sa Elephant Camp
A baby sleeping by its mom (giant foot on the right) in the elephant nursery

Mae Sa Elephant Camp
Cheri reaching out to say hi to her new friend.

Mae Sa Elephant Camp
Even the elephants thought Chris could use help with his fashion sense

Mae Sa Elephant Camp
Not a lot of room in the cab but loads of trunk space (Cheri wants it to be known that Chris wrote this one)

Mae Sa Elephant Camp
The show included a soccer shootout, a game of basketball, hula hoops, and a performance by this pachyderm picasso

Mae Sa Elephant Camp
After a hard day of performing, even elephants sometimes just need a good bubble bath...bubbles to come shortly (not pictured)

Chiang Mai
We finished the day with a ride in a Tuk Tuk to a recommended veggie restaurant. This was taken right before we discovered our Tuk Tuk driver was insane and although his horn didn't work, he made sure to quietly go "beep beep" and push the button while passing traffic...

Comments

[Dave]

Haha
Love this post. And I can see you guys stage whispering "beep beep" a bunch as well! The camp looks amazing. Is it a tourist trap or a legit refuge/shelter/etc. for elephants?

[Meatless travelers]

Elephant camp
Hey Dave, its a little bit of both. They are a refuge but they need to fund themselves so they put on this stuff for the tourists.