Maesa Elephant Camp

Today we took a field trip to the Maesa Elephant Camp as part of my Thai Culture & Language Training for CMIS and it was awesome! As you can see by the look on my face I was completely enthralled to be standing in such close proximity to one of these amazing animals.

I mean, I've seen my fair share of elephants at the zoo, but the moment we walked through the gate of this elephant camp and I saw 3 of them playing in the fast flowing stream I couldn't stop smiling! We were with a group, so I had to keep moving, but I felt like I just couldn't look away...so over the bridge we go, only to discover tons of elephants!!! Walking around, in the water, simply milling about! I laughed as one elephant sprayed people standing nearby, in fact I took a picture and a video of him, next thing I know, I'm totally soaked from this guy too! And even though I was now completely drenched from head to toe with water that had just been inside this elephants trunk, I STILL couldn't stop smiling! I immediately turned around and used one of my favorite new phrases "mai pen rai!" It's ok, that's what happens when you see elephants in their element.

We made our way to the performance area where we watched the elephants do a variety of tasks. Some of them played soccer and actually made a few goals, some threw darts at balloons. Some were playing the harmonica while others twirled hula hoops on their trunks! Even more amazing, some of them painted on a canvas mounted on an easel. After the show the elephants came right up to the edge reaching their trunks towards the spectators asking for food. Unfortunately, I didn't have any change with me so I wasn't able to feed them any bananas or sugarcane. But next time I will! Fuad and I have decided to enlist in the mahout training, where you go and spend the night after learning all about elephant handling! I can't wait!

By the way...did you know the elephants gestation period is 22 months!!! Check this out!