For the over 60s, why not

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Having a long time fascination with elephants and a love of Thai food my wife and I decided to ditch our traditional holiday pattern of visiting relatives overseas, travelling or cruising with friends and took advantage of the discover Thailand fares offered by Thai Airways to explore three separate parts of what Thailand had to offer.

Used to packing all clothes needed for a two week trip we headed to the airport early one Sunday morning with our full compliment of luggage, only to realise very quickly on arrival in Thailand this was a terrible mistake by a couple of first time visitors. Next time, and hopefully there will be another time, we will start light and come back laden with an expansion to our wardrobes and other goodies.

First stop was Chiang Mai. This northern Thai city is where we had some of our most memorable experiences. Not to be missed was the cooking classes at Siam Rice cooking school the day after our arrival. Collected from the hotel around 9 in the morning we toured the streets of the city picking up fellow traveller from all parts of the world. With a full compliment of budding Thai chefs (10) on board a dual cab ute, we were off to the market to learn about and the fresh produce and soak up the aromas, swapping experiences on the way. The rest of the day was filled with cooking, eating and chatting. My only hope is that my wife can reproduce the best massaman curry I have ever tasted, that she produced on that day.

After a few hectic days in the city we headed to Sobwin village a community normally 50 mins southwest of Chiang Mai, however with a few detours planed we headed down the Sankampaeng Rd to the craft village of Ban Tawai with Plern and Poll the owner’s of the guesthouse we were to stay with in Sobwin village, in the hope they could find ‘Baan Jan Nak’ which means ‘a house full of elephants’. With an address written in English that our host could not read and a well used phrase book they eventually found Baan Jan Nak, the home, workshop and museum of Phet Wiriya and his work. Phet leads a team of renowned woodcarvers comprised mainly of family members. For me to try and describe the artistry I saw there would be futile, it’s best I leave that experience to whoever gets the opportunity to visit and admire.

Arriving late afternoon at the guesthouse ‘Plernhome’ a solid modern home built of Teak with a well maintained garden, we where settled into our room and given refreshments after what had very enjoyable day. While my wife took an interest in preparing the evening meal with Plern, Poll and I walled a mere fifty metres up the and road to the elephant camp where I was to spend the next amazing day in close company these powerful and gentle animals.

Awakened the next morning by the sound of elephants trumpeting a short distance away we were treated to an unexpected western style breakfast which was more than we could eat, as was the case with the dishes severed at all meals. Shortly after breakfast a mahout arrived from the camp to deliver the clothes I was to wear for my day as a mature trainee mahout. I can imagine the program was much the same as at other camps regarding instruction, feeding, mounting, riding to the river and bathing. However this camp was not as commercial as I had expected, the one on one personal attention made the day so much more enjoyable than I had imagined it would be. While my wife could not be persuaded to ride on the elephant, content to follow proceedings camera in hand we did finish the day rafting down the river together at a rate much faster than either of us had contemplated.

Next stop Samui for five days R&R……………

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Photos

Siam Rice Cooking
At home this would cause panic

Baan Jan Nak
Life size carving

Plernhome
With hosts Plern and Poll

Elephant Camp
More bananas please

Elephant Camp
Riding to the river

The river
I'm not enjoying this MUCH