Extreme Elephants

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The vision of bare back elephant riding through unspoilt countryside without any German package tourists within 100 miles was starting to seem a distant dream after our brief elephant experience in Chiang Mai. But after reading a tiny paragraph in some new Thai
guide-book we have picked up my hopes were re-ignited!!!

"Find Pai elephant Tours office in Pai, ask for Khum Thom and you're away!!!" So we did, although the fiver price tag didn't involve any transport to and from the elephant camp as coach tours tend not to exist this far north in Thailand, but as we had very dodgy mountain bikes hired for a couple of days we were assured by Khum that these would get us to our destination. " 6 Kirometer.......very easy for you!!!!" she said! so off we pedalled in search of the ultimate elephant experience.

6 Kirometers of mountainous roads and 45 minutes later we reached Thom Elephant park much to the surprise of the guides who acted as if they hadn't seen people for days !!! let alone 2 sweaty Brits in need of water and a good sit down!!

A good sit down followed plus a Singha beer for me and water for Carla before we were introduced to our guide "Mum" and our transport " Hut" the elephant. Our previous experience in Chiang Mai had given us a stair case and platform on which to mount the elephant which had a nice bench with safety harness attached to its back (somewhat like getting on a ride at Alton Towers). No such luxuries here as this was bare back elephant riding with Hut's trunk being our only route to his back, some 8 feet in the air. Carlas first attempt was hilarious, so I stuggled up and Carla eventually made it with Hut lifting and me pulling from above and once both aboard off we went with Mum walking alongside whispering instructions into Huts ear.

After what can only be described as getting used to riding a bucking Bronco minus the sadle I checked to see if Carla who was riding atop Huts head was OK, now let me remind you that Carla is scared of her sister's pet Bunny Rabit so this vision of a girl riding a 3.5 tonne beast's head with nothing but his ears to hold onto somewhat shocked me! but better was to follow.

The views were spectacular and as we plodded further off the beaten track our next obstacle came into view, a fast flowing river with very brown water!!! yet still Carla seemed like Mowglai from the Jungle Book guiding Hut thru the forest, I seriously think that I was the most worried at this point. Somehow Mum jumped up behind me and sat cross legged as if on a bean bag not an elephant and we plunged trunk first into the river.

At first shallow we moved on and at last I started to relax and really take this fantastic experience in with mist covered mountains and lush forest all around and the vision of another 2 elephants in the distance with what looked like people diving off the back of into the river.

As we arrived to where the other elephants had been (after a deeper section where Huts head disappered partly below water) we threw our bags onto the river bank and spent the next 30 mins being sprayed by Huts trunk and generally being thrown around on and off his back into the River. Let me once again remind you that the pictures you see of a petite western girl piloting a enormous elephant bare back in a river are of Carla Lyons-Davis as I am still in shock as i write this some hours later.

The whole 2 hours was magical and our highlight so far!! and as we returned to camp we both got a farewell trunk hug from Hut and felt very lucky to have spent so much time close up with this Gentle Giant !!! it was quite emotional.

But we were then reminded of our 6 Kirometer bike journey back to where we had come, a journey during which Carla got very scared of a stray dog!!! don't figure !!

MandC

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Photos

Find me an elephant that doesnt look sad !
Thom elephant park, in the hills above Pai

Our love of Outdoor showers continues....
...although this one doesnt have hot water

Woman and Beast
May i remind you that this is CLD and not Micheala Strachan (really wild show fans)

Man and Beast
Kicking back on 3.5 tonnes of elephant!

Carlas First attempt was hilarious
without stairs or seating, Carla struggles to get on Huts back

Hut, Carla and Matt...
....Just before Matt fell in

A connection is made
Carla and Hut unite in their hatred for stray dogs

Eye to Eye
Matt and Hut

Goodbye Hugs
Carlas NBF says goodbye

Comments

[Kelly]

What's happened to the real CLD??
Matt - What have you done with Carla?? That can't be her riding bare back on a real living animal!!! I am stunned (and very impressed at your new found bravery CLD)

[Trev]

Tip Of The Day
No £ sign on keyboard --Use GPB.Love the elephant stories.Carla looks completely at home with her NBF.XX Trev

[chris]

Ha Ha even 'Mum' is grining at your attemp Carla. Nice going tho!!!! Glad you both heart elephants now! bye.

[Mozza & Winn]

Time of your Life
This one is from me rather than your mum. As usual she shed a few tears of joy knowing you are both well and having " the time of your life ". You are seeing something different every day and you will never forget them. Still cannot get my head round the fact that Carla is more worried about being chased by a small dog, my fear would be being chased by a large nellyfant. We check every day for the next blog and we are more in awe every time. Keep trecking safely and keep blogging as we need to know more from your experiences. Love and Peace always Mozza and Weener xxx

[Trev]

£ sign
Sorry that should be GBP!!

[Edam]

Elephant Pai
Hi there, after reading your blog we decided we need to make a visit to Pai. Like you we had done the cushy chair number in Koh Chang and were looking for a something a little closer to nature. Today we spent 2 hours with beautiful Camsen and her mahout. She was a little naughty to say the least but it was such a relief that the mahout never used his hook on her (unlike Koh Chang where he had cut the elephants ear). We had such a great day. Thanks for the tip! Enjoy Vietnam....South is best, try and make it to Phu Quoc if you have the time. Cheers, Edam.