Before heading to Bangkok I've always wanted to have a close up experience with elephant's as they're my favourite animal and after extensive research I stumbled across Tour with Tong who offered In love with Full Moon. Being the elephant enthusiast, being a mahout for a day ticked all the boxes and was the perfect opportunity for me. I was excited and after a few emails with Tong we had a confirmed itinerary.
We were woken at 5:15 am by the front desk and I was surprised as to why they called as I didn't arrange a wakeup call but that aside it was time to wake up and head down stairs to meet Lily our tour guide for the day.
I decided to exchange some extra currency at the front desk which was taken care of by the duty manager and once it was done she handed us two breakfast packs which caught me by surprise - I did observe the couple next to us also ask for a to go breakfast pack but their request was declined as apparently breakfast packs were for advanced requests.
Check out Two Nights in Hilton and Bangkok The Hotel Muse Bangkok
A smile got me upgraded on Turkish Airline
Check out Two Nights in Hilton and Bangkok The Hotel Muse Bangkok
A smile got me upgraded on Turkish Airline
Lily approached the desk and introduced herself with a large smile on her face and asked if we were ready for the experience as we walked to her car. Lily informed us that she had arranged the hotel wake up service as well as the to go breakfast packs which was a very nice gesture of her to do so as we escaped the city of Bangkok.
Before I knew it we were cruising down the freeway at 140Km's per hour under the care of Lily who was very knowledgeable as she explained destinations and sights.
Silence and peace.
Silence and peace.
The first stop on the way was the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery which is where the prisoner's of war are resting who was associated with the Burma Railway incident. It was a very quiet atmosphere as I stood on the outskirts of land. It was 6:30am at the time so I was still half asleep and the atmosphere didn't sink in until we arrived at the Kanchanaburi bridge over the river Kwai or known as the Death Railway.
Behind the beautiful scenery is a shady and deep past.
Besides us and another four tourists on site the surroundings was awfully still and silent. There air was still as the province and it's people slowly began to wake up. Lily began to explain history and the gruesome past which has made what they have today, it was a mixed feeling morning as I snacked on an apple while taking in the picturesque surroundings.
We were free to explore and walk on the bridge to which I began to walk out towards the centre of the bridge which has a little viewing platform. I observed the other side of the bridge which had shades of green luscious trees as the tracks began the journey into the jungle. There was no wind yet I began to get cold and chills started running down my spine as I kept looking at the still greenery on the other side of the bridge. It was a strange, mysterious and creepy feeling as I walked back to Lily.
You don't realise what the Prisoner's of War went through until you're onsite.
A grilled BBQ was set up besides our car with tempting smells that saw us to be her first customers.
We hopped into the car after our pork skewers and continued our journey until we reached a fruit market so we could pick up some papaya for Full Moon. The market was colourful with unique fruits and vegetables you wouldn't find overseas.
After carefully selecting Papaya's and other fruits from the market, we once again jumped into the car and made the final leg towards the elephant sanctuary. The journey from the market took around 10 minutes to which I was eagerly observing the sights like a child. We found a parking space and Lily ensured our belongings would be safe in the car so we headed outside towards a shaded area to have breakfast.
We headed up a hill and to my right I immediately noticed a parade of elephants grazing with harnesses on their backs ready for tourists and immediately hoped Full Moon wasn't in the parade. We kept walking until we reached a small hut with views of the sanctuary as well as the parade of elephants.
Lily told us to relax as she went to prepare breakfast. I wasn't in the mood to eat but Lily did say we need energy for the day so a light breakfast which consisted of sunny side up egg, chicken sausage, sweet bread and KFC ketchup. To my surprise it was a tasty breakfast as I finished up the entire plate.
Lily returned as we finished breakfast and led us down the hill and towards a secluded brick house to which I saw a black bucket with what seemed to be grains. A small dark man with a cigarette in mouth and a bull hook suddenly approached us which startled me until he introduced himself as Peter.
Peter was Full Moon's mahout and I asked him where Full Moon was to which he pointed towards a grazing elephant about 20 meters (65 feet) away.
My heart was racing and I had butterflies in my tummy as Lily and Peter told us we needed to prepare the pachyderm's breakfast which was oats and grains mixed in with vitamin tablets which we needed to mix with water and use our bare hands to roll into tennis sized balls. We needed to ensure the vitamin tablets were mixed and hidden into the balls so we could eventually feed her later on.
As we nearly completed her breakfast, Peter went to fetch Full Moon. As he stroked her trunk and patted her tummy she began to walk and then proceeded to run towards us. The feelings and adrenalin was rushing through my body, it's hard to describe what it's like when a 7 tonne elephant is running towards you. I wanted to scream in excitement and fear to which the feeling was extinguished as she began to slow down and stop as she used her trunk to sniff and smell the ground as well as greet us.
Peter instructed us to feed the balls of protein to her by holding it up to her mouth and pushing it into her mouth. I was hesitant at first as Peter and Lily giggled on the side, Full Moon was waiting for her food and with nods of encouragement from the locals I gently put my hand into her mouth. She began chewing as her saliva dripped down my hand, to which caused me to giggle and laugh. The feeling was mushy, wet and soft as she chomped on her food and ensured my hand was food free.
She finished up her food very quickly as Lily began slicing up the papaya, we would use this to get to know and bribe her to become our friend. Lily told us other guests usually buy a kilo of papaya but as I was feeling generous I ensured she enjoyed her 4 kilos of papaya to which she munched on and trumpeted in satisfaction.
After her large breakfast of protein and fruits we began to get personal and walk with her, Peter instructed us to grab her ear and gently guide her down a muddy path to which she eagerly followed. She was a cheeky girl who was strutting along and stopping frequently to pluck some shrubs and munch as she walked.
Guiding and walking besides the gentle giant.
We reached a mounting platform where she stood as we climbed up a ladder and proceeded to mount and get use to riding on her neck which is the best and most natural way to ride an elephant. With her prickly neck hair poking my legs she began to walk. It was a strange experience as her muscles and body shifted below and you try to balance on top of her. I didn't realise how high up we were and the tip Peter gave us was to slightly lean forward and rest our palms onto the sides of her head.
As we began getting use to riding Full Moon we approached a steep set of muddy stairs. My heart was racing as she stopped and sensed the area. She had our trust as she stepped down each step, to her credit and skills she made it down safely and was very experienced. Peter rewarded her with a whole papaya as she continued the trek.
A heart stopping sight looking down in hopes that she makes it.
Riding through the little Burmese village in the sanctuary.
Full Moon continued to trek towards the river where she began to submerge half of her body as she refreshed herself in the cold and muddy water, she used her trunk to splash the water around and Peter told us to brace ourselves as she blasted water at us through her trunk. Screams of fun and laughter was the key to unlocking her playful ness as she continued on to soak us and try to shake us off her back.
As I hit the muddy water she extended her trunk and wrapped it around my waist and proceed to pull me towards her as a safety measure. It took Peter by surprise as she's never done it before which indented herself into my heart.
I've never swam in muddy rivers or even thought of it until Full Moon threw me off her back.
She was a very clever girl who could make the water spiral out of her trunk.
After continuously splashing and playing with Full Moon she sat down and cooled off in the river as we began to bathe, wash and massage her. She enjoyed getting scrubbed with a large brush and would use her trunk to indicate where she wanted to get washed and scrubbed which was met with plenty of laughter from us, she was enjoying herself so much she began to laugh which sounded like a child's giggle.
After scrubbing her we made some hand prints and applied some lotion to her body while she cheekily scoured around for some shrubs to munch on. For the final time we hopped back onto her as she made her way back to the sanctuary where we first met. It was a long journey as she slowly walked and extended her trunk back towards us and proceed to feel and gently touch my hand.
She aligned herself at the platform where we hopped off and I quickly climbed down to hug her trunk. She stood still and stared at me, it was like I could see into her soul and she could see into mine, I didn't say good bye but see you again as I turned my back and headed towards Peter to thank him.
As I bucked my seatbelt, Lily asked if we wanted to feed some monkeys to which I said yes... big mistake. She drove for five minutes until we reached a vacant red earthy location which was empty to which I questioned Lily where the monkeys are at. Honk Honk, the sounds of the car horn echoed through the vacant land which caused the tree's to come alive as hundreds of grey and brown monkeys of all sizes began to leap from the trees.
They surrounded the car like the police would be surrounding a criminal in a drug bust. Lily handed us bags of boiled peanuts and told us to be cautious as they tend to snatch the food. Why was I getting out? I could just sit there and watch but before I could think Lily opened the car door and gestured for me to get out.
They stopped...I stopped... their eyes caught onto the sights of the peanuts as I began to throw a few at a time in various locations around the car as they leaped and fought each other like crazy scavengers. I turned towards the car and found around ten of them perched on the roof staring back at me. More monkeys started to run out from the green bushes and surrounding and began to leap and try to snatch the bag of peanuts as I dodged them and immediately threw the bag in the air like confetti. It was raining peanuts which stimulated their sense of hunger as they attacked each other with angry screeches.
I retreated back to the car as the other two guys followed behind, it was only 11AM buy my stomach was growling so Lily took us to a local restaurant for lunch.
It was a relaxing and welcoming afternoon as I sipped on my cold coconut and wait for the delightful lunch to be served. The food began to come out and boy the smell was amazing. We started with Penang prawns and then escalated to a calamari and fried egg salad.
Steamed rice in the shape of a love heart followed which I spooned a generous serving of the Penang prawn sauce on top which drove my tastebuds into a state of euphoria. It was like I was starved of food for a week, the smell and texture of the two dishes went so well with each other and before I knew it the chilli in the prawn dish began warming my body up.
Lily returned yet again with a plate of fish and crab cakes with a sweet tamarind sauce which was hot and juicy as I bit down on the mouth burning piece of deep fried goodness, besides that Lily also had a sizzling dish of pepper chicken which was steaming hot as she placed the final dish on the table. I was in heaven, a massive morning was now complete with the best food I've had while in Thailand, it was a proper staple meal which was a fantastic way to fill us up before the two hour journey home.
The journey home was a fast journey as I dozed off and regained energy. I was woken up as we cruised the streets of Bangkok as Lily said we were about to arrive at the hotel. As it was the final day in Bangkok I asked if Lily knew the best way to get to Chatuchak markets which she happily offered to drop us off. We thanked Lily for her guidance with us throughout the day as we hopped out into the busy and humid street where the market entrance was.
We walked inside and it was an array of colour, smells and culture. People scattered throughout the markets as well as the many assortments of food and clothing stalls. It was mid afternoon and the sun's rays was beaming down which had my eyes glued to a coconut stall which sold fresh iced cold as well as ice cream made from coconut.
Refreshing cold coconuts perfect for the humid weather.
Freshly made ice cream.
Final tasty results.
We walked around the large market space and observed the many different and unique things the vendors had on offer - cheap fake branded items, local wooden sculptures, various electronic gadgets and food, a new chapter of food began as we sampled and tasted our way around the market.
Garlic infused local prawns.
Sweet honey glazed chicken wings.
Red beans, corn, lychee and coconut jelly dessert.
With our eye on the time we decided to catch the train back to Sukhumvit station for a walk around Terminal 21 and some catch up on last minute shopping.
A walk around the mall meant a stop inside a eatery, it was like our stomach didn't have a limit as we dined on more food.
Our time was nearly done in Bangkok as we headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags and head to the airport for Phuket. Our week has gone by so fast and it was time to head to our final destination in Thailand before heading home to Australia.
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