Eco Tour and Elephant Trek

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Today, we got picked up by a jeep at 8:00 AM. We arrived at Namuang Safari Park where we were led through an extensive tour. First, we had the opportunity to ride elephants. Initially, I was very excited about this because I love elephants! However, thinking about the stress that the tourists put on their backs every day took away from my enjoyment. I asked our guide what type of elephants they are and basic questions like what kinds of food they eat and where they sleep. In simple English, he was able to tell me that they're Indian elephants that have lived between 30 and 40 years. He told me that they eat bananas and cocoa leaves. However, he was reluctant to tell me where they sleep... but perhaps he just couldn't understand my question clearly enough. Regardless, the elephants work very hard, hauling heavy people nonstop all day long. They don't get breaks in between riders and their food intake might depend on whether or not tourists decide to pay 100 baht to feed them bananas. Thinking about this on top of the elephant, I was eager to get off. They are such intelligent, gentle animals, and it depresses me to see them used as a way to profit. Animal cruelty takes place in almost every country unfortunately, and I'm curious to learn about the degree of it in Thailand.

The next part of the tour was a cooking lesson! We watched a tutorial on making spicy papaya salad (Som Tam). The ingredients are very simple: honey, chili peppers, green papaya, garlic, tomatoes, peanut sauce, and a fermented fish sauce. After finishing the dish, the guide passed it around for everyone to try. I have already tasted the papaya salad at other restaurants, but this was by far the freshest and most delicious.

After, we were lead to some trees on the park. The guide cut into them and a white milky substance trickled out- rubber! Rubber tree plantations were discovered in South America, and are most common in Brazil. Thai people saw the economic benefit of the rubber tree as they now use the rubber trees to produce tires, rubber gloves, mats, and rugs. I've included a picture below of the rubber tree spitting out the white slime.

Later, we made our way to Namuang Waterfall, which was mystically shaded by trees. We hiked up and made it to a less populated stretch of the waterfall (I wouldn't recommend wearing birkenstocks)... Then, before we knew it, the jeep was taking off to bring us to the next destination where we would have lunch.

Arriving at the restaurant, there were bowls of rice laid out and we were served all-you-can-eat Thai curry, fried pumpkin, watermelon, Tom Yum soup, and a peanut sauce salad. The restaurant beautifully overlooked the coast and the breeze was refreshing. Taking our time with lunch, we were stuffed because the servers kept setting more tasty dishes on the table!

We spent the next segment of the day at the Magic Garden. Here, we learned that monks used to live in the concrete buildings surrounded by the forest, stream, and Buddhist statues. The name of this site truly was deserved. With the sun peaking through the treetops and glimpsing down on the white statues, it really looked like a mystical fairytale. Lauren took some group pictures of us, and we were encouraged to snap some shots for our photography portfolio.

At 3:00 we had already visited each of the places I mentioned above with one last destination: Koh Tan. Here, we spent an hour snorkeling in beautiful clear waters. Unlike our last time snorkeling, we could actually see some fish this time. I wasn't sure at the time, but after researching, I'm sure we saw yellowtail barracuda and parrot fish. Other life in the reef includes whale sharks, bull sharks, rays, and moray eels. I'm grateful to learn this after the excursion, because sharks freak me out!! Wiped out from our jam-packed day, we spent the majority of the time beached up on the shore instead of swimming in the water.

The day ended with coming back to the resort, meeting at a local restaurant for class discussion, and teaching the group to play euchre!

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Comments

[Celia]

Thailand
I just love reading about your exciting adventures, Becca! Your pictures are wonderful , too! You are an excellent writer; very descriptive! It makes me want to go to Thailand! What a life time experience for you! Xo Celia