We've just come back from The Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, where we had the most wonderful experience living and working with the sick and endangered elephants. Originally, we had signed up as paid volunteers for a one week, but as often happens here, we just couldn't leave, and so overstayed by another 4 days. With 25 adult and 3 baby elephants, 35 dogs(!!!), 4 cute puppies, 12 cats, a kitten,the most delicious of food and the best of company, it's incredibly just to put travel plans on hold, and stay for good. Indeed, many of the volunteers that we meet, had forgone travelling to the islands, so as to be with these beautiful animals, for as long as possible.

The idea of volunteering at The Elephant Nature Park, had been introduced to us by a couple that we meet whilst travelling in Nepal. (yes, thanks Mike and Sarah). We had been concerned about the way the trekking elephants were being treated on the safari in the Royal Chitwan Park. In particular, the way the mahouts (elephant handlers), used hooks and knives to 'direct' the elephants down busy roads and through dense jungle. Many times we witnessed working elephants with severe cuts and wounds around their head, shoulders and legs. We really didn't feel comfortable to be supporting an industry that victimised animals in this way. So, we decided to to go along and see what was happening outside of Chiang Mai.

The Elephant Nature Park was sent up by Lek, a beautiful and tiny-even smaller than Isabelle(!!), Thai woman, with a big big heart. Her idea was to provide a haven for sick and retired working elephants and an alternative model to the elephants camps, where tourists can come and be with the elephants in a way that is both educational, fun and most importantly doesn't use violence against the them. It's really an amazing place. Imagine getting to wash, feed, and walk with the elephants on a daily basis. Your in the park 24/7, listening to and watching them as they adjust to their new and FREE life at the park. Imagine waking up to the sound of trumpeting elephants as they signal and call out to each other, making sure that everyone is ok. Then there are the 3 little babies, cute, naughty and constantly up to mischief. At bathing time they run around, splashing and jumping, trying to push each other under the water. Then they charge down to the sandy area, pushing tourist out of the way, and roll around together, using their little trunks to toss sand over themselves.

Everyday, every minute of the day, something new happens. It's what makes life at the park so interesting and exciting. The longer you spend there, the more you see and the more you learn about each and every elephant. They all have their own traits and individual personalities. One of my favorite elephants is Boon Pa, a curious and very playful bull who has a toy tyre that he likes to play with. It's hilarious to watch him as he grabs the tyre with his trunk,tosses it into the air, bounces it off his head, sits on it, like it was a space hopper and tries to move himself along with it. Apparently, when their use to be a mud bath in the park, he use to come up to the vistors area, and collect his tyre before heading off down for a nice wallow. Just like a big kid!

Then there is Hope, a right little scallywag, spoilt and up-to no good. He was one of the first babies that Lek rescued. He's constantly getting into trouble with the other elephants. Even though he's only 4, he believes that he's a fully grown adult, and tries to push some of the bigger elephants around. They usually tolerate it for sometime, understanding on some level that he's still a baby, before having enough and pushing him back into his place. One of the things that makes Hope special is his ability to learn new tricks. With a lots of love and the promise of a banana, he can learn to do almost anything. Pom, one of Leks close friends actually trained him to give a kiss!!! Isabelle must have got about a dozen big smackers from his trunk, before the end of the first week. I swear that I wasn't jealous!!!

I could go on and on about the 11 days that we spent at the Elephant Nature Park. And, no doubt will be telling you all elephant stories for the next decade. But I'll leave it there for the mo. We'll be returning here sometime in the next few months, so I'll fill you in then.

We head south again to the Island of Ko Lipe. Hope that it stops raining down there, otherwise we'll be having a wet xmas. I'll blog again before the 25th. Until then enjoy the xmas cheer and don't get too drunk!

P.S. Photos that were here are no longer! They somehow became corrupted. Will post again later.