“Life is far too important to be taken seriously.”
— Oscar Wilde
Playing with Faa Mai. Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Life is Far Too Important…
Tag Archives: Chiang Mai
Pachyderm Banana Hoovers and Buffalo Sludge-Boulders – Day 7 Elephant Nature Park
Two BFF’s at the elephant clinic, Elephant Nature Park.
Jodi had told us that some of the elephants could be drama queens, and on this last day I got to see it for myself. I was lolling about in the dining area having my morning coffee and looking across at the elephant clinic, where there was always an elephant to be seen who lived there on a semi-permanent basis due to her need for ongoing foot treatment, plus another elephant who hung around keeping her company. Every day at ENP I had seen both of them there together. Today something caught my eye – there was only one elephant (Number 1). The more mobile one (Number 2) had gone for a wander around the back. Elephant Number 1 suddenly noticed she was gone and made a hell of an uproar! She started bellowing ‘Come back! Where are you?!’ – presumably in Thai Ele language – and kicking up a right fuss. I spotted the other one come out from around the back, and I actually saw her heave a great sigh. She took her time wandering back to the front of the clinic then trumpeted to Number 1 – ‘All right! Keep yer proboscis on, I’m here!’ They touched trunks and felt each other all over for a little while then settled back into their usual routine of, well, eating. Ah, the trials and tribulations of a BFF relationship. Continue reading
The Ideal Friendship…
The ideal friendship is to feel as one while remaining two.
– Sophie Swetchine
Hope and his mahout/minder Korn going for a wander at Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Look Deep into Nature…
Look deep into Nature,
and then you will understand everything better.
– Albert Einstein.
Faa Mai. Four years old and one of the happiest elephants in the world. Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
To See the World in a Grain of Sand…
To see the world in a grain of sand
And to see Heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hands
And eternity in an hour.
– William Blake
Mae Jan Peng (Full Moon) – one of the oldest elephants at Elephant Nature Park. A hole was made in her ear in her harder days previous to her retiring at the Park. Her mahout now puts a fresh flower in it every day to make her feel more beautiful.
The Way to Love Anything…
The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.
– Gilbert K. Chesterton
Chang Yim – young male elephant and all around ratbag. Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
How to ‘Om’ an Elephant and the Boy with the Elephant Tail. Elephant Nature Park – Day 6
Chet featuring a fetching little work outfit.
The chore du jour was peeling the husks off sacks and sacks of corn in the elephant kitchen. The silk from the corn must be removed so it doesn’t disturb the elephants’ digestive systems. For this, Chet wore a lovely little number featuring a net singlet, black shorts, black silver-tipped collar and a beautiful bling ring to suit. Gumboots completed this gorgeous ensemble, and his presence lit up the kitchen in the most glorious, if eclectic, way. More word games helped keep the boredom away while furthering our literary abilities, and we emerged a couple of hours or so later just slightly more educated than when we went in. Continue reading
The Beauty of the Flower…
By plucking her petals, you do not gather the beauty of the flower.
— Rabindranath Tagore
Frangipani – as I found it. Wat Umong, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
New Pics Uploaded… Thailand 2009
Cute but deadly…
Greetings all.
I’ve just spent the day updating Raveburbleblog somewhat. I have added photos to the Thailand 2009 series. There are still many, many previous posts from my India travels to add photos to, and that’s going to take a while, so please bear with me.
Thanks to all my followers for your support and comments.
Have a great day – I insist!
Unexpected Visitors and the Non-Electric Char-Grilled Toasting Machine. Elephant Nature Park Day Five.
Elephant Bff’s bathing together
You know that feeling you get when two elephants, that you don’t know personally, walk up and tower over you? Well today was my turn to experience it. I was sitting by myself on a wooden seat overlooking the river, watching a couple of elephants bff’s bathing together. Lolling about they were, schmoozing their heads in and out of the water, rolling their bodies this way and that ecstatically, unfurling their trunks now and then to touch each other in silent solidarity. ‘Twas a long, quiet moment with an almost sepia setting – orange and grey elephants, beige water, sandy river bank and a beach of grey pebbles in the foreground.
I pulled out my camera and took continuous shots of them doing their thing in the water, then heaving themselves up and exiting their bath. They walked towards me, getting closer and closer through my lens, Continue reading
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