On our way to Chiang Mai. Beautiful mountains and clouds.
We were very curious about Chiang Mai.
Outside of the airport, waiting for a taxi.
After checking in our hotel we went to the night market.
Chiang Mai ended up being one of our favorite places during this trip. The visit to an elephant sanctuary was one of the highlights. We wanted to see the elephants but didn’t like that in several places they also offered riding them. That’s why we decided to go to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary.
I copied below a little bit of an article from https://expertvagabond.com/elephants-in-thailand/
Wild elephants won’t let humans ride on top of them. So in order to tame a wild elephant, it is tortured as a baby to completely break its spirit. The process is called Phajaan, or “the crush”.
It involves ripping baby elephants away from their mothers and confining them in a very small space, like a cage or hole in the ground where they’re unable to move.
The baby elephants are then beaten into submission with clubs, pierced with sharp bull-hooks, and simultaneously starved and deprived of sleep for many days.
Did you know that riding elephants can actually cause serious long-term harm too? Their spines are not made to support the weight of humans. I know it’s hard to believe given their size, but Zebras are the same way.
So sad, isn’t it?
Our day started at 6:30 AM when they came for us to our hotel. We traveled in a Tuk Tuk. We were the first ones, we stopped at other hotels to pickup more guests.
The elephants we saw are rescued, they are not free in the wild as they should but at least they get to play and be fed by a lot of people.
This little one was only 2 months old. He leaned on me and oh my!! he was so heavy!! such a cutie. He was a little bit hairy and his skin was rough. Older elephants have softer skin (another baby was born 9 days after our visit).
Like any baby, he got distracted by a piece of dirt.
So strong!! 🙂
The elephant behind had a chain on her leg, they said she was just rescued and they had to do it to prevent her from escaping.
The only adult male.
My face!!! hahahahaha
This one was 3 years old and sooooooo sleepy!!
As soon as he woke up he wanted more bananas.
On the way to the river for a bath.
The 2 month old didn’t come to the river. He stayed with his Mom in another area in the mud because it was too hot.
Leaving the sanctuary.
These were the places we visited during the first 11 days of our trip.
Here is an interesting article from Positive Health Wellness about traveling. https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/fitness/8-reasons-traveling-good-health/
Pics from the photographer at the sanctuary
