Friday: Elephant Nature Park

Today was similar to yesterday, chores at home. After breaky we went to the elephant kitchen to wash and prepare food for the day. We washed pineapple, watermelon and pumpkins since the farmers use insecticide on this produce. There is a gigantic trough where 4 people can stand comfortably on either side and scrub away. At the end of the line fellow volunteers chop it into more manageable pieces. We then peeled bananas to make into banana balls which are mashed bananas, rice and corn that are sometimes used to hide medications.

Banana ball mixing by team B.

Nothing but fruit peels for the cows and pigs. 

Baskets ready for elephant feeding and treats when on ele walks 

Ready for delivery to the platform for day visitors to feed.

There are 3 lil kittens in the gift shop. I'm in love. Glad they aren't easy to take home.

Ele ready for feeding. Thankfully no baskets are within reach because we discovered the hard way when we didn't put them out of reach. She's got an itch, needs a q tip!
 

She reached out and grabbed my hand thinking I had food. Just before there was a bit of banana ball on the ground I had given to her and it went straight down her trunk/nostril like a marble in a shoot when I tossed it her way. Thankfully she didn't blown it back in my face for doing that.

Can't get enough of these babes.

Tilley eating some pumpkin on our ele walk. 

Top of Tilly 

Hope, one of the 3 males on the right. Background is a defiant elephant running from her mahout. He was running after her, quite hilarious to see! 

Jungle Boy (he is the only one with tusks). He and Hope must stay chained up as they are too aggressive (towards other elephants)  since they don't have an adult bull to show them the way.

The big ele family, this is Dok Mai, 3 months old. Dok Mai means flower.

This little plant moves when you touch it. The leaves curl inward and the stems move as well as if it's hugging your finger. A loving plant! 

Post ele walk we had yet another feast and I ate far too much as I do at every meal. You have to try everything! It's like eating at a buffet three times a day. I was craving a run today, it's been too long & too much to eat! 

Our group worked on our garden pole again this afternoon. We are quite proud of ourselves for our fine work. The best pole to be constructed this week by far! 

Jamie, Sally, Janie, myself & Sarah with our pole. The rain did a number to yesterday's work. 

A day at the office. We were listening to some Jack Johnson and enjoying this moment. This lovely girl was quite entertaining for us & seemed to walk along to the easy beat of the music. Another surreal moment.

After garden poles we rushed to change to go tubing down the river. So much fun! We loaded ourselves and black inner tubes into two trucks & headed up the road. The views were amazing! Not too far from home we unloaded and hopped into the river. The weather was ideal, it has rained at that exact time everyday-but today. The sun was shining while we floated down river in the jungles of Thailand! Is this real life?! 

Once we returned from rafting I literally ran to get a hot shower. Finally! It was heavenly! The little things we so often take for granted. 

The highlight of my evening was seeing my first firefly! They're so beautiful and magical. After dinner most of us made our way to the skywalk to enjoy the stars since there were very few clouds out. The noises of the night were so much more amplified being out on the deck, so close to the river. Another group was having their last night together at the park, which we will have tomorrow. We were told today we have a special dinner in the massage room. After the other group's dinner they set off lanterns. 

I can't wait to do this tomorrow. The bathing spot of the river is just behind them. 

I have had such an amazing time here and have learned so much about the country, the culture, animals and my fellow volunteers. Definitely an experience to never be forgotten. 

To bed I go....

Under my mosquito (or mossy as the Brits call them) net.