Elephant In Thailand

My general perception of Thailand before my arrival in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai was wrong.

Where were the tropical jungle shanty towns devoid of amenities? Thailand’s northern region is quite comfortable. In Chiang Mai, walls of stone and moss surround the Old Town. Golden Buddhist temples line blocks brimming with tourists and monks. Rubber trees grow into and shade the cracked sidewalks. Birds chirp life into the soft air.

In major Thai cities a 7-11 is on every corner. The Internet is ubiquitous. The healthcare is fantastic. The well-worn “Pancake Trail” was awash with support. Differences exist from The West, but similarities were more apparent. Old notions are often not reality. A critical lesson when away from home.

Tours took up much of my stay in Chiang Mai. The cooking class provided a fun learning exercise and the chance to create dishes like Tom Yum Soup and Pangan Curry. We ate blue rice! I was one of four participants and the only male. The class had tasty food, a relaxed atmosphere, and light-hearted laughter.

Then there was the Elephant Sanctuary. Without question, it was one of my best experiences so far.

Have you ever seen Steven Spielberg’s film Jurassic Park? That movie sums up my experience. Well, replace dinosaurs with elephants. I woke up at dawn to travel into the jungle. Our group of German and Portuguese passengers rubbernecked their heads out of the open-air hatchback to look for signs of big-eared pachyderms.

After a questionable descent into the thicket, we arrived at a stunning vista where five sugar cane dieters resided. Our group listened to a fabulous eco-lecture where our host explained how the day’s activities would not harm or even annoy the elephants, as that would go against the Sanctuary’s mission.

Then we fed, trekked with, touched, and then bathed the elephants and ourselves in mud under the care of trained staff. After our mud baths, we all, people, and elephants, went into the river to wash off.

There I was face-to-face, literally, with an elephant.

Departure from the country approached. I tried Khao Soi, a traditional northern dish. I went to temples with a Dutch man I had met in Bangkok. Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra (Buddhist temples) were my sanctuaries.

When alone and inconveniences occurred, I tried to remember my surroundings. One afternoon while sitting in Wat Chiang Mun temple grounds, I reflected upon my time spent in Thailand. To cultivate gratitude was apt, especially in a country known for traditions of mindfulness.

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