futurafish

Another early start because today was elephant and white water rafting day. We met the mini bus at 9am and joined 15 long faced French, Belgium and Canadian students for the 90 minute trip to the location where we were to spend the day.  The journey was fine albeit rather hot and humid; the worst part however was the combined aroma of 30 unwashed European feet! When we did arrive we were dropped off at the elephant park whilst the rest of the team continued onwards to their respective activities.

The elephant park was nice enough. They had 10 or so of the beasts mooching around, some taking cover from the sun beneath the trees. Today we were to take a quick ride on an elephant, feed them some bananas and generally hanging around looking at the big beasts for an hour or so. After purchasing a bunch of some of the most expensive bananas in the history of Thai bananas we were taken to our trusty steed. Gisela and I hopped on board on off we went. This is just about the point where we (and especially Gisela) objected. In order to get the animal moving the pilot hit the poor creature over the head with a metal hook! It didn't sound very nice when he did it and I suppose it didn't feel too nice for the poor elephant. Gisela complained to the pilot and almost instructed him to turn around. However she didn't. Quite frankly we didn't have much choice, the path we took was small and the elephant was, clearly, very big. Once we got mobile the pilot didn't really bother the elephant except to shout at it once or twice. I think partially due to Gisela's protestations.

Besides, riding on the back of an elephant isn't that much fun anyway. I wouldn't recommend it. Firstly it's uncomfortable and secondly you don't really see anything more than if you just walked the route by foot, and thirdly you can't really see the elephant anyway (believe it or not)

We then fed the elephants with a few bananas which they seemed to enjoy and the driver collected us to join the rest of the team at the start of the white water rafting course.

Upon arrival we were given a tutorial of how to control the raft. In order to do this one of the instructors decided to use the opportunity to practice his English and deliver these very important, safety tips. His English was OK but I could barely understand him; the French and the Belgium folks looked particularly confused, I don't think they understood a word the instructor said. I was really hoping NOT to be put in the same boat as those guys!

A dinner of rice, omelette and triple boiled veggies followed (not the best lunch I've had in Thailand!) and we headed to our vessels. Myself and Gisela were very fortunate to be put in a boat with two, very happy and very positive sisters from Ireland. I was relieved and really quite pleased I think we had a good crew for the trip and the captain of our raft was excellent!

The course was 10km long split into 5 rapids and periods of just floating or swimming. The rapids were B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T, the captain knew exactly what he was doing and our crew rowed like professionals. It's a shame there were only 5 rapids, I could have easily done another 5! At the end it was oar high-fives all around. Everyone seems to enjoy the trip (except of course the Belgium students… 'c'est normal' according to Gisela… maybe the water was too wet for them? )

Back to the mini bus and the 90 minute trip back to our hotel in Chiang Mai. All-in-all a most excellent day!

Walking through the hotel to our room I felt that one of my legs was lower than the other. Upon closer inspection, I found that the sole of my left shoe was missing! My 2 euro Bangkok shoe purchase had eventually lost its will to live.

I lost my sole in the front seat of a Thai mini bus.

Jason & Gisela (happy to have pizza for dinner tonight)