With business school responses slowly approaching, I have managed to fill my days to the brim, keeping my mind at bay as much as possible.
Thanks to forethought and planning my Cheri's sister Carrie, four of us (two sib pairs) woke early after a day of temples, markets and relaxing at a 5 star hotel (feels like 95 stars after backpacking and Ghana).
Our tour guide Tong approached with more energy than the four of us combined and had me thinking that the day might be too much. We were briefed on the plan for the day and Tong repeatedly told us that if we were to get the most out of the day, we would have to follow her lead without question. We started with a visit to a local Bangkok market that stretches across train tracks. Each stall has tables on wheels to make for easy and quick motion when the train comes. We say pig tails, fish sauce, blue crabs and many other things for sale but didn't have much time to linger as there was more to do.
Our next stop was the floating market. Touristy but beautiful, we floated in a long boat among other boats full of tourists. We ate great Thai noodles, drank iced coffee from a bag and admired the merchants when not haggling for goods. We shopped a bit but had to keep moving if we were to arrive at the Tiger temple at the ideal time.
A bit more than an hour in the car and we arrived at the Tiger temple. Tong dispelled rumors of Tiger drugging but agreed with criticisms of the overall layout of the temple. The Tigers are well taken care of but live in an environment far different from their natural habitat. After getting the run down, it was time to "get happy." at the gender appropriate restroom and get ready to see some tigers. Though many other tourists were milling around the entrance, our group of four was the first to enter. We were the first to be signed up to feed baby tigers and we were the first to take photos with the big tigers.
The experience was above and beyond my hopes. I first heard of the Tiger temple five years ago when a college friend had the experience. I thought that it would be closed before I had the opportunity so when I was kneeling behind 500 lb tigers nad feeding a 4 month old out of a baby bottle, I was elated. We started by walking up behind full grown tigers and having photos taken. We did this for a bit and as our adrenaline started to slow a bit, it was time to feed the babies. We went into a caged in play area of maybe 25' x 20' with three baby tigers, three workers and the four of us. We were told that we should never turn our backs on the tigers but once in there, I followed a cute 2 month old, trying to get her to play with me. Almost immediately, the vivacious 4 month old leapt onto my back, ripping my shirt and instantly proving herself my favorite. We spent nearly an hour playing with the tigers (not dissimilar to playing with big, bumbling puppies) before we got to settle down and feed them. Paws the size of small fists rested on our laps as the playful tiger cubs settled down into feeding mode. It was a great experience to share with Megan as she and I fed the fun 4 month old.
We took a few more photos with full grown tigers before rushing off to ride elephants. Seriously, we went from feeding baby tigers to riding bareback on large Asian elephants. Tong handed us each bundles of bananas and told us to bribe our elephants before our ride. We could put the bananas (one at a time or in bunches) in the end of the trunk or directly on the huge slimy tongue. We fed each of our two elephants around fifty bananas apiece before climbing aboard. Tong warned us that we would be brought into the water and shaken off by the playful performers. If we didn't fight to stay on, the elephants might think that they were doing a bad job and be sad. When we got into the water, sitting on the bare back of a beautiful beast, the shaking did not start. Our elephant simply knelt down with her head below water. It was hard enough to hold on at such an extreme angle while laughing as Carrie and Cheri were sprayed repeatedly by their elephant. The next hour exhausted us all as we climbed aboard and were summarily launched into mud and dung filled water. We could hang onto ears, handfuls of skin or anything else we could grasp but seldom were we able to hang on for long. On our way back to Bangkok, we discussed our arrogance in thinking that we could possibly hang on when the elephant really wanted us off. The weight disparity is roughly that of a newborn baby to a man my size. While I would never throw a newborn baby into a lake full of elephant dung, I know that if I really, really wanted to, I could do it.
Exhausted, we finished our tour walking along the bridge over the river Kwai. The bridge and the history that surrounds it gave a new perspective on the region to say the least. We spent only a brief time at the railroad bridge before settling in at our riverside guesthouse and getting hour long Thai massages.
The following day, we hiked to seven water falls at Erawan falls. Monkeys played on branches above us and fish ate the dead skin off of our toes when we went for the occasional dip (no need to pay at the spa). The views were gorgeous and the water felt good on our tired, aching muscles.
Carrie has since gone back to the states while Cheri, Megan and I have traveled (by 17 hour train) to Chiang Mai. We trekked to see hill tribes, swim in water falls, take a bamboo raft trip and ride elephants again. I had the joy of being nuzzled by a 5 month old elephant baby this morning. Hoping to get a good photo, I walked closer that initially felt comfortable with a mother so close. After some time, the baby turned and walked a a fairly fast pace right up to me and rubbed against my leg like a 220 lb. kitten. Oddly, when planning the trek, we discussed the fact that we had alrady ridden elephants and seen water falls. Neither seem to get old, I must say. I love today. Now I have a matter of hour to wait before hearing form b-schools. We shall see what happens but the wait has been easier on elephant back than it ever would have been in a cubicle. I am thankful for that.
Love to all.
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