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sjmclaughlin
sjmclaughlin
First Reviewer
4 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
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4
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Editor Pick

Elephant Trekking - Island Safari

  • March 18, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by sjmclaughlin from Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Elephant Trekking - Island Safari

The one thing I really wanted to do while in Thailand was Elephant Trekking. There are a few companies that offer this but we booked the 6-in-1 Safari Tour with Island Safaris through the concierge at our hotel. It was a 4 hour tour which included Elephant Trekking, Canoeing, an Ox-cart ride, Monkey show, Elephant show, and demonstrations of traditional Thai Boxing, Thai Cooking, Rice Farming, and Rubber Tapping.

We took the morning trip which included an 8:30am pick up at our hotel. We arrived at the Island Safari site which was set up with different areas for each show or demonstration. We started with the Monkey show starring Somlee. She demonstrated how monkeys are used to help the Thai people retrieve coconuts. She deftly climbed a tree and quickly twisted 3 coconuts off the branch, sending them falling into the waiting arms of her trainer.

Next stop was the Thai cooking demonstration. Our guide showed us how to make papaya salad, using all local produce. He explained that Thai people like very spicy food. In very hot papaya salad he made for us, only 3 chilies were used. When he makes that same dish at home for his family, he uses 10 chilies. Next, our guide demonstrated how the rice is harvested with the use of a water buffalo, and passed around samples of the grain at different stages in the processing. The Thai Boxing ring was the next stop. Our guide asked for a volunteer from the group to assist in the demonstration of the basic moves of this popular Thai sport.

The Elephant show was very entertaining. They demonstrated their immense size and strength, played basketball and played harmonicas (which they seemed to really enjoy). I was selected by our guide to help demonstrate the elephant’s ability to give a Thai massage. I laid on a mat and one of the elephants gently patted my back with his foot. The guide then played a dirty trick on another guest selected to receive a massage from the ele. He had him lay on his back and then threw a banana up his shorts. We all laughed hysterically as the elephant used his trunk to search for the banana in the man’s shorts. How humiliating for the poor guy, but so funny for the rest of us!

The elephant ride was fun, but still a little disturbing. The elephant is the national symbol of Thailand and they are such an incredible, noble animal. So it’s sad to see them in captivity, chained to a post, waiting to give tourists rides. Also, the Island Safari staff often used hooks on the elephant’s ears for discipline.

We had a Rubber Tapping demonstration and explanation of how the rubber is made and used. Finally, we concluded with a leisurely canoe trip down the river.

This tour was packed with fun activities and interesting insight into Thai life and culture. It would be an especially good activity for families.

1300 Baht = $40

From journal Honeymoon in Phuket

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