Samphran Elephant Camp and Zoo/Bangkok

This is much more than an elephant camp. It is a Zoo with Tigers, Shows with Snakes, Alligators and Elephants. The picture on the upper right shows a young Thai boy with his head in the Alligators mouth. On cultural side they have an excellent Thai dancing show. The image to the right below shows the Northern Pole Dance, as the bamboo poles are clicked together by the people on the end dancers carefully step between them. Fun to watch.

The thing that makes this so unique is the many activities that go on throughout the day. You can wonder the Rose Garden and all the other shows listed above. It is a full day activity. The Elephant show is much more elaborate than the others I have seen. Much of it depicting the history of Thailand. Very interesting.

The location is a way out of Bangkok but not that far. There many tour places you can go and book a tour. I used EBC Tour & Trans Co.,LTD, email:ebc@ebctour.com. These people did great for me on two tours for 1,7oo baht each. All day Tours, including lunch and a guide to show you around. The guide spoke perfect English. Enjoy!

Elephants that Paint/Chang Mai

At Matetamann Raftting and Elephant camp you can ride an elephant, watch an elephant show, watch them paint pictures and go rafting on a bamboo raft. Long bamboo poles make up the raft, kind of touristy but fun. Tel (6653)-297060,29783

Interesting that elephants can actually paint a picture. They are trained to many other things but to me the most amazing thing is that they paint pictures. After they have painted the picture you may purchase the one you want. Very inexpensive and quite the treasure. I will add a picture of them painting as soon as I locate the disc it is on.

You may think that visiting these camps as there are many, is contributing to cruelty toward the elephants, on the contrary, you are contributing to their welfare. Your visiting these camps and paying your admission fee, and fee for other, experiences such as feeding bananas and sugarcane, riding and rafting, actually helps support these magnificent animals. Call and see how you can help support their beauty and wellbeing. The Telephone Number is above.

Issan, Northern Thailand

Living around Bangkok with the hustle of people going to and from work using the best of modern equipment and technology it would be hard to believe that just a few miles away life could be so different.

Mukdahan in Isaaan, near the Friendship bridge between Laos and Thailand people still use a tractor like cart to take part of their harvest from place to place. They beat the rice by hand to remove the rice from the tops. Sugar cane is being harvested by hand with machetes one stock at a time. Taro also being harvested without the help of modern equipment. Dug from the ground and cleaned to put into the cart.

Seeing this is humbling, however, with village members helping each other with the harvest the introduction of machinery may spoil the feeling of community you feel the moment you visit there. There are few cars, mostly motorcycles or bicycles. They are aware of life outside their villages but love their life. These are truly happy people.

I have been many places in Thailand, however, this was the most valuable experience ever. People helping people, talking with one another, a feeling of kinship, something you will not feel in the city.

If you get a chance to go to the rural areas be sure and visit with the people, they always welcome visitors. The million dollar smile automatically beams across their faces at the interest you pay to their labors.

After their crops are harvested and taken to the buyers they have a huge party in the streets called Sonkran usually April 13-15. In April the temperature goes to 105 degrees, warmer than I like it.

These hard working people are the core of the country. They feed the Thai people rice, taro and sugarcane.

This is a typical scene families getting together at another families house to visit and contemplate their crops, livestock.

Mukdahan is a unique place. It boarders on the banks of the Mekong River. From there if you are Thai you can catch a boat to Laos. Other nationalities must go to the Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River.

The Erawan Museum

I visited an amazing museum. The Erawan Museum. The purpose of the Museum is to continue the traditions of Thai arts and crafts and disseminate knowledge of the national culture for the Thai people and the public.

It contains precious images of Buddha and art pieces from the fifteenth century to be preserved for generations to come.

The Museum building itself is a three headed huge elephant made of pounded copper. Three stories high. It is huge, and completely overwhelming in its beauty.

Inside is so beautiful it is hard to explain. On the cieling is a mosaic of the stars, and astrological figures in a stained glass dome. There are so many amazing things to see and do here that it is a must see.

Unusual not your usual tourist attraction. The Thai people believe that if they visit this site it will bring prosperity

It costs 150 baht. There are many other things to do that require a 20baht donation. It is located 99/9 M.1 Muang Samut Parkan. Samut Prokan Province 10270 Telephone 0-2372-3135-6 Open 8-5 everyday.

Pai Thailand Elephant playing in river

Elephant riding and playing in the river. As you can see there is no seat for you to sit on. The rope you see is what you hang on to or pull yourself back onto the elephant only for him to knock you off again. Very playful, FUN

Pai & Mae Hong Song Valley

The amazing area around Pai in the Mae Hong Song valley.
Ask at the Hotel desk for the next tour to Pai or take a bus. Mini buses go there and back every day twice a day. Again very inexpensive.

Accessible from Chang Mai is a place that you should not miss. The road there is called the road of three thousand curves. If you get car sick at all take your pills first.

The village is filled with very inexpensive cabins, however, it is a good idea to look at the room before you say you will stay. Make sure of the price in baht each night. Usually there is no need to book ahead.

Pai is a sort of a small hippie town filled with small shops, Internet cafes, restaurants, American, Italians, and Thai, many other smaller options are also available.
There is a doctor in the back of the pharmacy, in case you become ill so far away from Chang Mai.

The real draw for Pai is the Elephants. You can ride them bareback two hours, and at the end of the ride through the beautiful countryside you play in the river with them. You won't find any of this in any tourist book. We happened upon it after visiting the local Hot Springs. Noticing people riding elephants we started to look around. Very inexpensive. The elephant ride is a do not miss. Once in a lifetime experience

Koh Samui, More on the beach

The resort beaches on the Island are just like any other beach resorts, beach vendors. We know them as the hounds that keep you from just looking out at the water in splendor just thinking of nothing. No work, no problems. Just these people that hound you all day. The trick to that is not to look at them. If you really don't want to look at what they have to sell, don't look their direction or have eye contact. These people work at this all day. They can spot a turn or a look in seconds.

If you do want to look don't settle for their first price. It is almost always twice as much at least than the thing you are trying to by is worth in the store. I purchased a bed cover, for 1/3 what the store wanted. I was thrilled.

There was, however, one I especially liked that came by while dinner was being served on the beach. He carried a large paper balloon that was propelled like a hot air balloon. On a clear night you could see the light from it for, it seemed, miles in the sky. Like a star in the night sky, make a wish and let it go. They can be purchased for about 100 baht. Sorry I do not have a picture.
The end to a perfect night on the beach

Koh Samui

Recently I spent two weeks on Koh Samui.
Amazing, I guess that's why they call it "Amazing Thailand". We stayed at OP Bungalows, near Chaweng in a beautiful garden setting.


The restaurant attached to the Bungalows has wonderful food, helpful people, pictures and English explanations of the food and reasonable prices. Service is great. Drinks are amazing and also inexpensive.

The beach is gorgeous, large trees cover part of the beach near the restaurant when you don't want sun but when you do, they have chase loungers nearer the water. Lots of room for everyone. Bungalows go for 850 baht to 1500 baht (remember the baht is at this time worth 34 of the American dollars) Very nice, clean, porches on all and air conditioning. What else could you want. I am not paid for this article, it is however my favorite place to stay.
Phone #(66-77)422 424, Fax#(66-77) 422-425, Address OP Bungalows, 111 Chaweng Beach, Suratthani 84320, Thailand



Koh Samui has a lot t

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o offer the traveler. It is a circle loop road going around the island community to community. You can take a tuk-tuk or from place to place for pennies.
Koh Samui is easy to get to. You can go by plane for about $90.00 US each way per person. There is a ferry that takes buses from Bangkok large VIP buses with 24 first class airplane seats each. I enjoy taking the night train from Bangkok, changing in Surat Thani to bus a short distance and then to a passenger boat to the island. Very interesting trip with lots of twists. If you like adventure this is the way to go for sure.

For your reading pleasure the lady at Saii Books can hook you up with the latest English language novel as well as trips, bus tickets, train tickets. check it out. She is great!

Koh Samui your next National Geographic Thailand destination

Thailand Traveler, visit and you will love it.

Having the good luck to have a Son living in Thailand, I have had an opportunity to visit many places. Here are only a few.

Golden Triangle, the sight of the three countries coming together.
Chang Rai,
Chang Mai, temples and tribes
Bangkok and surrounding attractions
Koh Samui
Lao
Bridge of Friendship
Mukdahan
Pai and elephant riding in the river.

I find it easy to get around, language somewhat difficult but not impossible, people the best I have ever met, sweet, kind, who live by a standard of Honor, Truth, Trust, and above all the love of their King, and his family.

I hope you enjoy future postings as this is my first, to introduce myself as a Thailand Traveler.