Elephants in Thailand Part I Photo Friday

Melissa enfolded in a group hug, may have been mistaken for a banana.

In the summer of 2009 we traveled to Thailand with a mix of American friends who represented a cross-section of world cultures.  We sought sun, fun and adventure and had our share of exposure to the country’s national animal.  Elephants have been a part of Thai mythology for centuries.  They have been used for labor, in war, and continue to be an popular draw for tourists.  These enormous vegetarians could clear out a salad bar in seconds.  In the wild they travel in herds and can live for decades, often reaching over 100 years of age.  We brought our friends and my brother, the freak, to elephant shows in Ko Samui and Chiang Mai.  We also had the opportunity to go for a lengthy hike through the jungle atop an elephant in Pai.  At one point we were led into a river.  Our elephant must hate the smell of backpackers because it continually sprayed us with water, shook us off, and dropped our bodies into the current.  Go to Part II

Famed for their intelligence, this elephant in Thailand is a better artist than me.

An acrobatic elephant in Ko Samui demonstrates its hoop skills.

A mahout, or elephant rider, guided us through the jungle of Pai.

Out elderly elephant constantly ate and let out gas.

Elephants have historically been used to transport wood.

This elephant in Chiang Mai loved bananas and sugar cane.

Ephrat and Aileen traveled on a teenage Pachyderm in Pai.

Bath time is part of the fun at elephant shows in Asia.

Handstands are easier to pull off with a trunk.