Elephant World

A highlight of my trip to Thailand was a trip to Elephant World.  From the moment we arrived at Elephant World, we saw these amazing creatures in an up close and personal way that exceeded my expectations.  We began with a talk from one of the Mahouts or elephant trainers who explained why elephants were here in the first place.  Elephant world is a sanctuary for Elephants who are injured and retired from the logging and trekking industry.  It is also a safe place for former street elephants that cannot be released back into the wild.  Elephant Worldhttp://www.elephantsworld.org post signs that tells the story of each elephant telling about their past and how they came to live at the sanctuary.

Elephant World park entrance

the welcome committee!

During the course of the day, we visitors had ample opportunity to interact with the elephants.  Between 10am and 4pm we feed them, observed them have mudbaths, helped prepare their food, and washed them in the river. We began by feeding them.  Elephants need to feed up to 16 hours per day.  The park spends a majority of its budget on food for them.  We helped to feed them watermelon, radishes, cucumbers and bananas. 

baby elephants and their guardian Auntie are led to the river by their Mahouts.  Notice the mom and small child in this photo.  The elephants were quite gentle around guest of all ages

time for a mud bath- the mud acts like a sunscreen protecting the elephants from the intense sun 

the baby elephants are having a bath

Most of the elephants at Elephant World are seniors in their 50s and 60s with the oldest being a 79 year old female.  There are two baby elephants here.  There is a 4 year old boy and a 3 yr. old girl.  They are former street elephants.  The two came to the park together and are inseparable here.  One adult female adopted them and plays Auntie to them.  These babies are playful and naughty.  They have to be chained during feeding activities.  This is not a form of punishment.  This is because they are naughty and hyperactive little creatures that would end up in trouble if they didn’t have boundaries.

She is snacking after a bath in the river

I was surprised by a couple of things at Elephant World.  The first thing was the close level of interaction between guest and elephants.  We touched them and walked with them.  When you walk through the park to different areas, there is no fencing separating people from the animals. The second surprising thing is the fact an elephant can walk up next to you without being detected.  These animals weigh 4-6 tons. You don’t even hear them coming!

 

these elephants snuck in when they saw us preparing a lunch of sticky rice balls for them

I learned that elephants are very intelligent creatures.  They can remember childhood friends when they have been apart for over 20 years.  They have the largest brains of all land mammals.  They mourn and bury their dead and return to the burial place later.  They actually cry tears of sadness. They use tools such as sticks to scratch themselves. 

The park was very child friendly.  These children are painting a ceramic elephant to take home.

beautiful setting

even though the elephants were not a threat, I still would get nervous when they got very close to me.  These mahouts(trainers) who spend every day with the elephants are clearly relaxed around the massive animals.

Most park guest stayed until 4pm and departed for the evening.  I chose to spend the night at a park bungalow in their overnight program.  Personally, I feel that the $125 price for this package was a good value.  I was able to spend 2 days at the park.  I stayed in a comfortable bungalow.  I will admit that I found the adjoining bathroom creepy because I had to exit my room and walk outside at night time to use the restroom.   The park provided all of my meals from lunch on day 1 until lunch on day 2.  On the second day, I continued to interact with the elephants in a much smaller group of 3.  I also went floating on River Kwai.  This consisted of simply putting on a life vest and allowing the current to carry me down the river for about an hour.  I compare this to tubing, without the innertube. 

 

my bungalow

Why didn't you ride the elephants?

Riding elephants is called elephant trekking.  It is a huge industry in Thailand, but not really best for the elephants.  I found my experience interacting with and learning about the elephants to be more meaningful than riding on its back for 30 minutes.  Elephants are wild animals.  There is no such thing as a domestic elephant.  There are only wild elephants in captivity.  That means that at some point, extreme measures have to be taken in order to for them to allow people to ride them all day.  I didn't want to support those practices.  This is also the reason I didn't go pet tigers in a temple. but that is a separate soap box. Check out this website for more informationhttp://www.responsibletravel.com/holidays/elephant-conservation/travel-guide

Why are the elephants here?

In Thailand, elephants were a major part of the logging industry until this practice was outlawed in 1989. This means that when trees were cut down, elephants were used to pull them from one location to another through the jungles rather than vehicles. A majority of the elephants at this sanctuary are older than 50 years old.  That means that some of them were a part of this industry and endured stressful work conditions.  A couple of them are blind because they got branches caught in their eyes while working in the jungles for logging.  Some of the elephants used to work in the trekking industry.   Even though these creatures are massive, they are best able to carry heavy loads on their necks.  This is the reason that the mahouts ride the elephants on their necks if necessary. Many of the elephants in the trekking world work very long hours and have injuries related to the heavy saddles and people on their backs all day. Elephants who are giving rides at parks all day certainly don't have 16 hours to graze for food.  The 3^rd reason that elephants come to elephant world is because they were once street elephants.  This practice has now been outlawed as well. Elephant owners housed them in the city and allowed people to ride them, feed them, or pose for photos with them in exchange for money.  These elephant’s feet don’t develop properly because they have been living on hard concrete rather than in a natural habitat.  They also cannot be released into the wild because they were raised to depend on humans for survival. 

2015- God, You Really Outdid Yourself!

I return to work tomorrow.  I did some of the typical pouting about going back to a normal adult routine after a vacation.  I went out with a friend for lunch and grocery shopping.  Upon returning home, I was hit with a huge case of, well…Gratefulness.  This time last year, I didn’t know what would take place my life over the next year.  I have been given lots of practice with learning to trust God in the past year.  After all, I’m not the one ultimately running things anyway. 

 

Thank you Lord for giving me resources toward my next move

I remember taking my first serious look at teaching abroad during Christmas break 2014.  I mentioned it to some family members.  I started looking at blogs like http://teachingwanderlust.com for information about life abroad teaching at an international school. 

I contacted these lovely friends of mine who had moved from North Carolina to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the year before to ask about their experiences.  I joined www.teachaway.com and www.tieonline.com for information on job postings.  I had stable teaching job in Wake County Public Schools.  I had been teaching for 10 years.  I was ready for something different.  It was one thing to think about these things and talk about “what ifs”.  It was a whole different thing to begin to take action on a future move.

Thank you for giving me the courage to face fears about leaving

I remember nervously talking to my boss and telling her that I was looking for a job overseas.  I remember telling myself not to give her side eyes and react when she mentioned that I needed to fill out my resignation paperwork. “O so you just gonna give my job away?” This is funny in retrospect since I had already accepted the new position and told her I was quitting.  I wanted to hold on to the things that felt “safe.”  My teaching job with tenure felt safe even though I knew it was no longer for me.  It was scary to quit my job.  It was uncomfortable to move to a place that worried friends and family.  Our media paints a scary image of middle eastern countries.  It was scary to end my lease and pack up or sell my belongings.  Change often brings up discomfort and fears.  I came to a peace of mind through praying and talking with people I trust.  What if the job in Kuwait didn’t work out?  I felt peace about moving forward.  Even if I didn’t end up living un Kuwait, I would learn something from going through this entire process.

Thank you for putting EXACTLY the right people in my life

I won’t name specific names.  I would miss someone.  I am grateful that my family supports me whether they understand my actions or not. Some of them were shocked or worried, but they encouraged me. 

I was blessed to have my friend Kia as a roommate for the past two years.  She had to hear me talk about the process of job interviews, potential new countries to live in, and wondering what life would be like in Kuwait.  She sat with me on a snow day in February as I went through each point on my long pro/con list comparing my current job to the job I was offered.  She supported me and prayed with me. 

I also had friends from my other circles who helped me.  My sisters from my Bible study group came to my home and packed boxes.  They told me I wasn’t working fast enough to be ready for my leave date(they were right) and took over the whole packing process.

When I visited my hometown of Toledo, Ohio in August prior to leaving, family, friends and church members crowded into my parents home to wish me well and encourage me.  I couldn’t have asked for a greater show of support!

Thank you for taking me to 4 new countries.

In 2015, I visited Australia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.  I moved to Kuwait.  I have now traveled to a total of 10 countries.  I don’t know what travels await me in 2016, but I look forward to seeing more of this big, fascinating world!

With friends in Adelaide, Australia

Sydney, Australia

getting ready to bathe elephants in Thailand 

Thank you for allowing me to return home to say farewell to my Grandmother!

I returned to Ohio in September when I learned that my Grandma was being transferred to hospice care.  She only lived for 1 day in that hospice center and I was present for that day.  Although I am deeply saddened to have lost her,  I am so grateful to have known her for 34 years.

Thank you for my new life in Kuwait

I had a very good feeling about accepting a teaching position at AUS and the experience thus far has been positive.  The school is only a few years old and going through challenges typical of a rapidly growing student and teacher population.  In spite of challenges, it is the perfect fit for me at this point in my life.  My students are great.  My co-workers are supportive and hardworking.  I’m learning to navigate creating a new “normal” in Kuwait with balance between social life and work.  I wouldn’t trade anything for this experience. 

 

my new home

my classroom

My Inner Diva Can't Budget Travel With Me

Have you ever had to pee on a squat toilet? How about using a bathroom with no soap. Remember those ancient paper towel rolls that we no longer use in the states because they are simply breading grounds for bacteria? 

Umm no...I'll just air dry

I have encountered all of these things in Thailand.  I’ve been able to spend 2 weeks in Thailand by choosing budget friendly options.  It is very clear to me that when choosing budget friendly travel, you need to leave your inner diva at home. Like  me, you might not even think you are a "diva" until put to the test on the road.  When I use the term "diva" in this blogpost, i'm referring to individuals who travel and expect the local culture to cater to them. Here are some things I’ve done while travelling that I rarely, if ever, do at home.

I'm not being messy here.  This is how I let my clothes airdry in the hotel. 

1.     Laundry in the sink.  If your hotel offers laudry services, you must decide whether that is an expense you want to pay.  You can easily use liquid detergent or shampoo to wash out clothing and leave on your balcony to dry.

2.     Skip scented lotion and scented body spray.  I traded these items for sunblock and insect repellent.  I chose to skip anything that was just going to attract more bugs to me. During a conversation with an expat living in Thailand, she shared this statement “ I think the national perfume of Thailand is citronella. Everyone tries to keep the bugs away.”

these little geckos hung out on the walls of the open air restaurant

this little cat sat at the door of my bungalow for a whole day

3.     Accept that cats/dogs/ lizards/ and various bugs are going to roam freely.  Don’t bother asking who the dogs or cats belong to.  In Thailand they seem to belong to the community or neighborhood rather than the individual.  You can skip the squealing fit if a gecko zips by your feet during dinner or a bug lands on the edge of your plate.  Lots of living and dining take place outdoors in tropical climates.  This is all a part of life in that environment.

4.     Come prepared with alternative foods or be willing to compromise if you have special dietary concerns.  In the USA, we accommodate gluten free, lactose intolerant, vegetarian, vegan, and even “there’s nothing wrong with me, I just want it how I want it”.  Restaurants cater to special dietary concerns.  Other parts of the world may not cater your needs.  Additionally, language barriers may prevent you from getting clear responses from the restaurant staff about ingredients in food.  You may find yourself repeating a lot of “safe” meals that can be found in most restaurants or supplementing your protein requirements with nuts or other alternatives if you are a vegetarian. 

5.     Watch both verbal and non-verbal cues when communicating.  Sometimes you just won’t understand the local language and the people you need to interact with don’t understand your language. I’ve bargained with Thai vendors using only a calculator.  They type in their starting price.  I give my “no way am I paying that” look and shake my head no.  I type in my much lower price.  We meet somewhere in the middle.  Remember that smiles are universal. Being an idiot is also understood universally.  Don’t be that obnoxious American or Westerner who gets angry and loud when English is not understood.  I don’t speak German. If you speak loud angry German to me, I still won’t understand German so why would this strategy work with English?  Remember that you are a guest in their country and you must treat local people with respect. 

The red towels next to the sink were shared by the parks 80 guest. If you want a paper towel option, bring your own. 

6.     Understand that your standards of hygiene are not universal.  I have stayed in two locations in which the bathroom was a large room that did not have any division between the shower and toilet.  The shower hose worked just fine.  It was just strange to have a toilet inches away while showering.  I’ve encountered squat toilets in a few countries.  You squat, handle your business, and remember that this is only temporary.  I also always try to take hand sanitizer, travel tissue packs, and wipes with me.  Sometimes bathrooms run out of toilet paper or soap if they have any to begin with.  Sometimes the towels provided for hand drying make you think you are dirtier after using them than before you started.  It is nice to have a plan B. 

infamous squat toilets

7. Be honest with yourself?  Some things that you encounter while traveling will not be ok for you.  It is ok to ask ahead of time if your hotel has staff that speaks your language.  I forgot to ask about this ahead of time when booking my last hotel in Thailand and felt anxious when the staff couldn't help me figure out how to get back to Bangkok in time for my return flight.  I didn't yell at the staff.  It was my responsibility to check this out ahead of time. When I read the reviews about this hotel later, several people commented that the local staff only spoke Thai.

 Ultimately, you have to consider your budget and priorities when traveling. Would you rather have a short stay with fancy accommodations or a longer stay with basic accommodations?  Each of us knows for ourselves.  Whatever type of experience you chose, try to enjoy it rather than constantly complaining and comparing it to home. Remember that you left home to experience different rather than more of the same.