OMG was that ever fun!

Hi Everyone,

From the first time I heard that you could sign up for training as a “mahout,” I wanted to do it.

Okay, it’s a touristy kind of thing; it’s not “real” as in you’re not really becoming an elephant trainer. But still, the chance to get in the water with an elephant and give it a bath was too intriguing to not do.

I had practically given up on it though since I didn’t know when it would fit into my itinerary.

Once I arrived in Luang Prabang and realized that this was the place to do it, I was so jazzed and thankful that I had the opportunity.

The following are my “selects” from the experience.

And the main thing I want to tell you? They’re much softer than I expected. *Squooshy, even. I talked to my elephants (both of them). Could they understand me? I have no idea, but their ears were flapping! : )

May you too have a wonderful elephant experience some day (if you so desire).

Aloha mon amis,

-sj

The Elephant Village was on very pretty grounds; some people stayed several nights.

Our guide demonstrated how to get onto the elephant (and the oral command).

And then we each got a turn to practice!

This is when our elephant ride began.

It was very muddy due to monsoon rains.

Yep, I jumped at the chance to ride on the elephant's neck!

C'est moi. Je suis très contente. (i.e. happy!)

We went through what I believe is a teak forest.

There were some water buffalo to spy along the way.

 We went down a very steep hill.

That nice couple is from Belgium; they're traveling for 13-months via bicycle! They plan to ride back to Belgium! First, they flew to China to begin their trip.

Then we were back where we started.

Almost, but not quite, an hour.

We could feed the elephants if we wanted.

They eat a lot!

After we had lunch, it was time to bathe the elephants; the young lady on the left is from Germany. I had so much fun talking with her, her husband, and another couple who just happened to also be from Karlsruhe (where the first couple lives).

This nice gal is from England.

And then it was my turn . . .

My guy loved to go underwater!

He/she did this several times!

And then I accepted the challenge to try and stand on the elephant's head.

One.

Two.

Three.

I made it!!!!

Yikes! What's that guy doing?!?

And then it was time to dip under again.

Waz up?

Takin' a bath! That's what!

The mahout helped us all get out of the water safely.

Next, we took a boat ride down (up?) the Mekong River. Monks like the river too.

Whatchyoulookingat?

A little fun gal pal time.

Then back down the river.

Someone shared. :  )

It was pretty flat and calm.

There was a **gaggle of these critters!

We got over half an hour to hang in this pool; by golly if it wasn't one of the nicest pools I've been in--ever!

Aloha Elephant Village!

Bye for now everyone!

-sj

*This is how my dictionary spells it. Me, I say, “Squooshy.”

squashy |ˈskwä sh ē; ˈskwô sh ē|

adjective ( squashier , squashiest )

easily crushed or squeezed into a different shape; having a soft consistency : a big, squashy leather chair.

DERIVATIVES

squashily |ˈskwä sh əlē; ˈskwô sh əlē| adverb

squashiness noun

**Same dictionary:

gaggle |ˈgagəl|
noun
a flock of geese.
• informal a disorderly or noisy group of people : the gaggle of reporters and photographers that dogged his every step. (i.e. a disorderly bunch of crickets)
ORIGIN Middle English (as a verb): imitative of the noise that a goose makes; compare with Dutch gaggelen and German gackern.