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Published: February 5th 2007
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Receiving my certificate from Nippon and Mr Tong
Mrs Samantha Citizen Clarke - they've married me off too! Today is my last day at the camp. After last nights events it seems as though everyone is feeling sleepy and there’s a subdued atmosphere. When I went over at 7am there was no-one around, so I just swept, making sure that Surichok has a nice clean living area for when I leave. It will stay like that for about 3 hours after I have left, especially as it’s now winter, and despite still being very hot, it’s become really windy so the leaves just blow everywhere. When I went back for breakfast D, Whichas dog, followed me back. He really loves me. That or I smell of dog. And Neil came too. I think this was the first time he’s encountered stairs and he had a bit of a problem with them.
After breakfast I sat and chilled with Mr Tong and Whicha. They gave me beer. At 9.30 in the morning! We got very sentimental, there was lots of hugging, Mr Tong said he loved me, and they reminded me that I was coming back in 2 months time! They all keep telling me that! I’m not sure if I explained this in an earlier entry, but in a
conversation with Nippon when I said that I was only going home to sort a few things out and was then coming back to Thailand, he asked me when I was coming back. I casually said ‘hopefully in a couple of months’ and since then I’ve had mahouts and office staff coming up to me and saying I’ll be back here in two months and they‘re looking forward to seeing me again. I was even asked if I could come back in a month so that I could help out with some children that are visiting the camp! I’ve said that I’ll try to be back for their new year songkran festival. Ao was very excited about that, mainly because I think it involves ambushing farangs with flour and water. And there’s always a chance that I’ll be the only foreigner around at that time…….After lunch I was just settling down for a sleep when Lam came over. He had made me a sash, and a crown made of flowers. They made me wear them and walk around to each of the mahouts houses to show them. At least I knew what they were laughing at this time when they
looked at me! It was very funny and I certainly drew a lot of attention. I had a Korean tourist taking a video of me! When I got back Mr Tong had strapped some bananas to Surichoks head. He's suddenly decided to try and teach her to take bananas that were fed to her from the seat. She just ignored them and carried on eating her pineapple leaves. They were much easier to get to! Then I had my certificate presented to me. Amusingly my name on the certificate is Samantha Citizen Clarke. They were going to change it but I managed to convince them to leave it! When I finished at 3 it was time for a farewell drink. The second of the day. I walked over to the shop in my sash and crown…..again it was refreshing to know why people were laughing and smiling… Then after a shower it was time for another farewell drink at 5pm…… me, Mr Tong, Whicha, Num, Mon, Mr Tongs brother. I still don’t know his name. I asked Nippon and he doesn’t know either. Maybe he should find out as he seems t be filling in as Saancomes mahout whilst Hor
Neil navigating the stairs
Just one of the things I'll really miss is away. I managed to find out that Hor hasn’t actually gone to Surin to do his national service. He’s just gone to get a new identity card. He’s not back ‘till Friday so I won’t see him before I go. I wonder if he’ll notice that I’m not there? Probably not…although he is losing his card playing buddy, so maybe. As usual Whicha wanted to take lots of pictures, so I’ll find lots of random pictures on my camera of trees. Also as usual Num wanted lots of pictures taking of him….or as he calls himself ‘Tom Cruise, Brad Piss’…..so as well as the random tree pictures from Whicha there will be quite a few of Num. Mr Tongs brother tried to take pictures of me and Whicha, but had obviously had a few too many Shandy’s as he couldn’t take an unblurred picture (and I have anti-shake on my camera). Just in case anyone reads this that may be planning a visit to the elephant camp, which I would highly recommend, I think I should say that the mahouts are never drunk when they are riding the elephants and taking tourists out. Well except for that time when
Surichok with her banana training crown
Mr Tong suddenly decided to teach her to eat bananas fed to her from sitting on her neck. She wasn't impressed and ignored them and continued to eat her pineapple leaves! Hor could hardly get on….. No really, they are always completely in control of the elephants.
Then it was time for dinner. Lam had made me my favourite masuman curry, and they gave me some lovely presents, all elephant themed…candles, notebook, picture, a little bag.
At 6.30 Mr Tong came over to wait for the taxi. He gave me his telephone number. That will be an interesting conversation as he doesn’t speak any English (“hello” “hello” “are you ok?” “ok” “ok by then” “bye”). We had a little practice. I was still wearing my crown and tried to give it to him when I left but he wouldn’t take it, so it passed onto Lam,. He was probably hoping that would happen! Then my taxi came and they had put an elephant cushion on the seat! I managed not to cry when I left and did feel ok. Even though I will be sad to leave here, I am looking forward to getting home and seeing mum and dad and friends, and I think it’s made easier because I know that I’ll definitely be back. After about 20 minutes though, as we drove through Pattaya, I did start to
feel a bit teary. And then I fell asleep, to be woken up by the driver when we got to the airport!
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