The supposed to be number one must do in Thailand, our first & LAST elephant ride experience...
Despite the disappointments from the tour operator and taxi driver, we couldn't hide our excitement on this new experience...
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| at the tree top |
It was on our bucket list, of course, to sit atop the world's largest terrestrial mamal...
until we were finally seated.
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| Mahout - a man who drives the elephant |
As the elephant moves as per the instruction of the mahout, I suddenly felt uneasy knowing that the elephant was just being forced on this task...
And not few minutes from that tree top where we hop on the elephant, we saw this area where they keep these gentle giants...
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| Elephants in Chang Puak camp |
Technically, a mahout starts as a boy in the 'family profession' when he is assigned an elephant early in its life. They remain bonded to each other throughout their lives...
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| Mahout |
But this is not what I've seen and experience; there was no bonding, no relationship between the mahout and the elephant, as seen from the below... :(
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| Notice the mahout from the second elephant... in Chang Puak camp |
I felt embarrassed... how can I even enjoy knowing that these gentle giants were abused. I've seen the many blogs and campaign on NOT TO TAKE THE ELEPHANT RIDE but admittedly, I just ignored those... I never felt the sincerity until I've seen and experienced it.
Young elephants being forced to work and entertain people, its heartless..
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| Young Elephants in Chang Puak camp |
Then, fed by few pieces of grass, while loading another set of tourists...
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| Elephants in Chang Puak camp |
Indeed, this is a once in a lifetime experience... because I will never do it again.
Yes, it looks fun and exciting, the elephants were adorable... but I don't promote it!
I am sharing the photos of what I've seen and writing what I've experience...
I do not know if this will change your desire to take the elephant ride, but believe me, it will crush your heart when you see their real condition and it will leave a guilt feeling of why did I patronize these heartless business...
I do not know if this will change your desire to take the elephant ride, but believe me, it will crush your heart when you see their real condition and it will leave a guilt feeling of why did I patronize these heartless business...
This Damneon Saduak experience, both the Floating Market and the Elephant Ride left a huge impact on us,..
it may not be a wonderful experience, we chose the easy way by booking a taxi and we made wrong decision by taking this elephant ride...
Everyday, wherever we are, we learn a lesson, may it be from our own experiences or from others; it doesn't matter...
what's important is we learn the lesson and use it for good.
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The simple and relaxing CHA-AM Thailand is our next destination: Thailand Journal
(c) KALI PHOTOGRAPHY
1 comment:
thats certainly a sweet memory to be cherished
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