{"id":16869,"date":"2023-09-22T01:24:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T07:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=16869"},"modified":"2023-09-11T12:24:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T18:24:47","slug":"a-simply-magical-day-with-elephants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gentryconnects.net\/?p=16869","title":{"rendered":"A SIMPLY MAGICAL DAY WITH…ELEPHANTS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After lunch our driver drove us to <\/strong>Elephant Eco Valley<\/strong><\/a> an hour north of Chiang Mai to visit the elepants. Everyone was excited to see how they live in this unique protected environment.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We climbed into the truck and headed up the bumpy dirt road.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Elephant Eco Valley is a beautiful and mellow place,…a far cry from the companies in the past who featured elephant riding.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mahouts are Thailand’s traditional elephant keepers. They are often from indigenous tribes such as the Karen people. Thailand has a rich history with elephants. Over the centuries, mahouts were respected as highly skilled men whose occupation made them crucial to Thailand\u2019s civilisation. They worked with elephants in wartime, and in activities such as agriculture and construction work. In many ways, elephants in Thailand played a similar role to horses and oxen in Western countries.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We covered our bathing suits with mahout shirts that the elephants recognize.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“TaTa”<\/em> was the sweetest elephant!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I think she liked us!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Vaughan has a new friend!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Owen is one happy guy!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our group went to the paper making pavilion to see how it is made. They use…elephant poop. Yes, elephant poop! Quite unusual to say the least!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Marla used a crushing pole to mash vegetables into a pulp. She then scooped it up into a ball the size of a large tennis ball.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The elephants loved the food balls and bananas, quickly grabbing them with their trunks.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was momentarily caught off guard as the elephants headed toward me! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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