Elephant Nature Park

Our girl Mikaela felt much better about going out (again) on a tour into the jungle. This time she was going to get up close with elephants.

We were picked up in a posh 12 passenger van (vs back of an old pickup truck we rode in out to the trek) and drove to a sanctuary the founder calls "elephant heaven". This local women has committed herself to a life long crusade to rescue injured and abused elephants from across this land. So far she has 31 elephants ... each with a story compelling enough to bring both ecotourists and documentary film makers from far and wide (her story and the elephants have been featured on Discovery, Animal Planet, CNN).


It was truly an educational experience for all. I was especially struck by the ying yang of this most revered creature in Thai culture ...

historically the tanks and bulldozers responsible for building the country ... now reduced to tourist shows and street beggers abused by Mahouts whose interest is only in showing his meal ticket who is boss.

BOSgone

ps Mikaela is feeling better again today ... she and mom just left for Thai massage spa