After five years working in London, I decided it was time to move back to Los Angeles, but not before taking a year off to see the world. I gave up my great job with Lehman Brothers in Administration and a fantastic flat (and roommate) I’d lived in for over three years, packed up all my belongings into some 60 cubic feet of boxes and said farewell to the wonderful friends I made in London. Before setting off for Asia, I spent seven weeks in the States including a weekend getaway in Chicago with my best friends from high school, corrective eye surgery in Philadelphia, Aud and Rob’s wedding in Bermuda, 13 days in Israel on Birthright (with a side trip to Petra) and time in quiet Oak Park with my parents and sister. Then, on July 18, 2010 at 1am, with only 13 kilograms in my 50L backpack and a small shoulder bag, I boarded a flight to Singapore. The goal of my adventure is not one of self-discovery or mending a broken heart but a journey of true desire to explore the world, experience new cultures, taste various cuisines, explore beautiful wildernesses, meet local people, and maybe learn some Spanish along the way. What lies below are my stories (or more of a daily recount of events) from the road.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Off the beaten path: Elephant riding

Friday, October 15, 2010

Today was fabulous.  I got to enjoy a somewhat authentic (at least it isn’t mentioned in the tour books) elephant ride.  This morning Roger was going to make breakfast, but by the time we finished our coffee, it was getting late and we needed to be at the elephant camp at 11am.  We met friends of Margarett and Roger, Veronique, Patrice and their daughter Lulu and went for lunch by the river since the elephants were out on another ride. 


When we got back to the camp, we feed and pet the elephants.  They are such amazing animals.  It was incredible to be so close, watching them suck the bananas from my hand into their trunk and then up to their mouths.  Lulu (who speaks Thai, French and English) and I rode her elephant while Margarett and Roger took another.  The mahouts took us on an hour ride which started on the main road before leading onto a trail.  We saw three enormous butterflies on a tree in addition to the traditional village and bright green rice paddies.  Then to our surprise, we turned off the path into the jungle.  The mahouts were literally chopping down tree branches with machetes so that we could get through; the elephants were ripping off branches for food.  It was pretty steep on the way down but it didn’t last more than ten minutes before we were back on flat ground.  Hysterical; a very non-touristy experience.  At least Lulu was able to communicate with the mahouts and we bonded over Twilight. 
Me and Lulu going through the jungle
On the way back to the house, we stopped at the Buddha images cave, a small Buddhist temple on Mae Nam Kok (river).  At a small stand on the side of the road we picked up some snacks for the short ride back.  I was exhausted from the heat and bumpy elephant ride and passed out for two hours.  Then it was time to get ready for dinner with some of their friends (Bruno, his wife, and a Thai friend of Margarett and Roger).  Margarett showed me how to make a flower arrangement while she prepared a leg of lamb, vegetables and potatoes, all of which were cooked in their wood-fire “pizza oven”.  Bruno brought over sticky rice in bamboo, but the heat of the oven overcooked it.  Fortunately, Margarett was able to save it and her lamb turned out perfectly.  A fabulous meal and lovely evening.
Thai friend, Bruno and me
Margarett and Roger
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

World Travels Map