Elephant Nature Park

Tina feeding an elephant

After a full rich day in Chiang Mai (Hmong village in the mountains, gold Buddhist temple, last-ditch shopping at night market), we have been transported by mini-bus to the Elephant Nature Park, about 50 km from Chiang Mai, up into the teak forest.  There are about 31 female elephants, a couple of males, some babies, and 200 acres of sanctuary for them.  They are rescue elephants, mostly from the logging trade (logging was outlawed here in 1989 I think).  What a haven.  A river to swim in, a lot of day visitors who come to help feed them bananas, watermelon and pumpkin twice a day, big savannah to graze in--water buffalo grazing there as well--and quite a number of dogs who were rescued from the flood.

We are using the internet here on the open verandah in sight of many elephants. Wi-fi in the jungle!  Now that I know I can get pictures into the blog, for the first time in a couple of days, I am going to back up.  Here is a little girl on the alley in the Hmong village from yesterday:

And here are a few images from the very-high-up Buddhist temple, where we were blessed by a monk (who had been fooling with his phone when we got there), and several of us bought brass bells to hang around the stupa in memory of friends or relatives who had died.

Do Not Distrub!

It is now time to go swim in the river with the elephants--so have to sign off!  How can I keep from crying??

Love, and more anon--
Tina (with Anne's great pictures)

--now on Thursday, a moment to add a few more pics.  Yesterday was a deep, extraordinary highlight of the trip: singing baby elephant to sleep.  Faa Mai, 3 years old. She put her trunk in her mouth and closed her eyes and then lay down, after about 40 minutes of singing, in the dusty pen.

Faa Mai going to sleep

Kate Schuyler and Tina with an elephant in the field

Pooping elephant

Two good friends