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Published: February 2nd 2007
Ready to work
Here we are in our work clothes, still clean and nice smellingWe just finished our dinner in Chiang Rai at the Chat guest house. After traveling around per plane and 1 class bus the last few weeks, we decided to go with the local bus to Chiang Rai. You had to see all the Thai people when we walked in the bus, you had to see our own faces when we walked in. The airco is open doors and ceiling fans, ofcourse full with Thai people and hard seats. What was planned as a 4 hour trip became 7 hours. The bus speed was part to blame and the 100 stops on the way. An experience for all of us but next time we go 1st class again.
The elephant park was a great succes. We were the only people to stay over night and to take part in the training course. Within one hour we got our own elephantsto sit on, from small for Sabien to very big for me. It was a special experience to life for 2 days with those beautiful large animals. We went into the river with them, we rode them to the jungle at night and learned 14 commands in Thai to communicate with them. The
Sabien at work
Here is Sabien with Jack her helper and her elephant SeeIam, Sabien stole the hearts of many helpers,with her blond hair, dimpels and the wreckels on her nose elephants were used in the forest for many years but the last 10 years there is no more legal logging allowed here. So they had to find other ways to keep the elephants alive. Now they mostly get used to entertain the tourists who feed them. This park was set up for the sick and badly treated elephants. We stayed with the Thai people (the Mahouts) in the park and had dinner and breakfast with them. You get a closer look at how they live their lives.
We are moving North and the tempatures are getting colder at night. During the day around 25 at night around 5 degrees. Personally I enjoy the nights. The kids are finally using there socks and sweaters.
The next 4 days we are staying here and are going to see the Golden Triangle, see the Long Neck Tribe and are planning to trek for 2 days in the forest along the Mae KoK river with a guide.
It was good to see that Kirstens soccer team won and life continues while we are gone.
We keep enjoying this beautiful country to the fullest and the people here. They are so friendly and never seem
On the way to the Jungle
Late in the afternoon the elephants go back to the jungle, this is on the way there to be in a rush. A peacefull nation.
Hope you all are well and enjoy the pics, Remmert.
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johan and Jacqueline
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Wow Elephants!!
These are amazing photos! Cant wait to hear what that was like way up on the backs of elephants kids. Remmert looks like he had the potential to make the elephant nervous when he got back on.