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