Thailand – Bucket List: Ride an Elephant…Check! ~ Tonge Service Venture

By Shayla

For those of you who don't know, Elephants are my favorite animal of all time, and it has been on my bucket list to ride one for quite a while. While we are here in Thailand, famous for its elephants, I was not about to pass up the opportunity to make this dream of mine come true. It didn't take much convincing with Trev and the parentals, because let's be real, who wouldn't want to ride the one of the largest and most adorable mammals on earth??

Once inside the beautifully lush grounds of Maesa Elephant Camp, with tickets in hand, we made our way to the line up. This may sound silly to you, but I'm not afraid to say that my heart was beating fast, and I was more excited than you can probably imagine. It was a "kid in a candy shop" kind of moment. Minutes later a tall Asian man was assisting me and my Dad onto a saddle bench atop a huge wrinkly back. The elephant's mahout (trainer) sat up on the elephant's big head with insane balance. I had an initial freak out moment, because...well my dream was actually coming true, and I had envisioned this for so long. (I may have cried a few tears of joy). Some girls freak out over dashing young male celebrities, but not me...elephants are what get me. That's just the kind of girl I am.

The elephants walked single file up a small hill, which offered us a surreal view of the tree covered valley. We could see Mom and Trevor on their elephant up ahead of us. At one point our mahout slipped off the elephant's

head to take our photo. He clicked his tongue and said something in Thai to the elephant to get it to pose, which the elephant promptly did. Ahead of us I watched the line of huge grey butts swaying, their feet squishing with every step. We slowly descended through a small village where the mahouts live. Many of them stay at the camp because mahouts form a life-long bond with their elephant, and devote themselves to training and caring for it for life. It's crazy to imagine the loyalty the mahouts have...their elephant is their whole life.
I soaked up every moment, loving every single second, but of course my ride atop an elephant ended all too soon, as every wonderful thing does. Making our way down to the other side of camp, we purchased a bundle of sugar cane and tiny bananas to feed the adorable beasts. There was a long row of oversized stalls filling up as elephants and their mahouts walked in one by one. The elephants were eager for hand outs. As soon as you got close with a banana in hand, one would extend its long trunk and grab it, quickly throw it in his open mouth and reach back out for another.

I couldn't stop smiling at this incredible animal. A mahout encouraged us to come up close for a photo, and instantly a massive trunk wrapped around my entire middle, giving the best kind of hug you could ever get.

Suddenly all the elephants started clearing out, and heading towards the river. Apparently, it was bath time. Each elephant, followed by their mahout, descended in, slowly lowering themselves until most of their loose grey skin was submerged. They flopped on their sides and sprayed themselves. I just laughed at the sight of it all.

We were informed that a show would start soon, so we hustled over to the arena that we had seen during our ride on the elephant's back. The show kicked of with a bang as 5 elephants paraded in playing harmonicas held, while simultaneously, swinging their trunks...making the whole crowd laugh. Each elephant looked so proud of him/herself as it took a bow. I know they are trained to do all that they do, but they looked so pleased with themselves that it's hard not to think that they do it all on their own. We enjoyed watching them launch basketballs into a hoop, and kick oversized soccer balls at an elephant goalie.

Suddenly, the translator with us, motioned for Trevor and me to follow her. She led us down to the arena floor, where we would compete against an elephant in a game of darts. Apparently it was an off day for the big guy because the Humans triumphed.
But the most impressive part of all was when they brought out the easels and some of the younger elephants walked in carrying their paint pails with all the eagerness of a kindergartener. The mahouts set it up and handed the brush to their elephant, so that they could paint on the blank canvas. Slowly but surely, the image came to life...first the sky then a tree. Each painting was so unique and well done! They were as good or better than most humans could do...absolutely incredible!!

We prepared to give the mahouts a tip for a great show. First, we bowed to them to show our appreciation. Then, we held out our Thai currency (baht), and much to our delight, the elephants reached out their trunks, took the bill from my hand, and promptly gave it to their mahout!