Asia

Our plan today had been to go to Phi Phi Island but the weather was not to be good and the trip was cancelled. Our alternate plan was to do a Nine-in-One Safari. The three Aussie girls had done that and enjoyed and after studying our options that became our choice.

We were picked up at our hotel about 7:30 a.m. in a jeep (sans safari)…We had a good little drive that gave us an opportunity to see some of the local countryside. Our first activity for the day was to feed the elephants. These are the Asian elephants whose ears are smaller than the African elephants. They males do have tusks but they don’t grow as long and the females don’t have them at all.

It was decided that we’d take off to do the canoeing first in order to beat the rain for the day. That turned out to be a good decision. We were transported to the river where we embarked first onto a fishing boat. At the mouth of the river the boat turned around and we got into our inflatable canoes and paddled our way back. We were able to paddle along the mussel farm and oyster farms in the river and alongside the fish huts and work boats. We saw two fishermen wading out to place nets or lines and observed some mending nets along the waters edge.


Long pole boat	typical transport	looking for a banana!!!

After the canoeing we headed to a rubber farm and were shown how they tap the rubber trees and process the latex before it is sold at market. Rubber trees were brought to this area about 100 years ago from South America but the rubber produced here is higher quality. The conditions are very good for it’s growth and productivity.

From here we went back to the center where we had started the morning to see a rice farming demonstration and a Thai boxing demonstration. Ernie and Andrew both got a chance to try their hands, feet and elbows in that activity!! We saw how they train monkeys to climb the coconut trees and harvest the coconuts. That was pretty amazing!! We rode in an ox-cart and also sat on the water buffalo that had been plowing in the rice field. He sure had a strange texture!!


a new friend	Sherry and her "kwai"	Our ox cart ride

We enjoyed the elephant show and demonstration. When they finished that up they asked for volunteers to get an elephant massage. Jane heard “massage” and jumped up first!! The baby elephant would tap his foot on your backside and it was quite nice… then the surprise came when he tried to kiss you!!! It was a little sandy on the face and neck!! They let as many come experience it as wanted to… Andrew finally decided he didn’t want to miss out and volunteered… Inside on putting him face down they put him face up!... They had been waiting for a young guy with shorts on to volunteer… They quickly put a small banana up each leg of his shorts before anyone realized what they were doing. The elephant starting “looking” for the bananas and the crowd was dying laughing!!! Andrew said it was like a little vacuum cleaner going around each leg till he found them.

Our last activity was to take an elephant ride around the property. The elephant guides are all from Burma. I think a lot of the “labor” intensive workers here come from Burma. They are always fun and like to joke. Some don’t speak much English but they have figured out key phrases. It was quite a ride!! In Africa we’d seen an elephant charging and have a healthy respect for them. When Gary and Jane were riding their guide coaxed their elephant to climb a steep mound which feels like a steep cliff at that point!!.. When the elephant bellowed and balked a minute Jane had heart palpitations!! We all decided Plan B worked out quite well.


Ernie doesThai Boxing	Elephant riding	a river view

When we returned to the hotel we decided to walk around town and explore a little or hang out by the pool a little. We had a couple of hours before our pick up time for transit to Khaolak. Ernie and Jane decided it was spa time and they picked out a place and signed up for an hour massage. It was pretty relaxing!! When all had gathered back at the hotel they talked Rusty and Andrew into going for a foot massage. Rusty’s feet had been “tired” and we knew he would love it. We all watched and laughed for that hour. We enjoyed the girls and Andrew even worked in an English language lesson with them. One of the gals is taking a class an hour a day. After a little down time it was time to get back on the road.

Our transit time was about 1 ½ hours. Khaolak is in the northern part on the west side. Our hotel is Baan Khaolak. This resort looks like it is brand new. I think it was just finished a couple of months ago. This is an area that was hit very hard by the tsunami. It was so quiet and very few people around. This is still off season. Ernie, Rus and Gary headed to town to check on the dive and snorkel trip for tomorrow which Sherry, Andrew and Jane checked out the hotel dining area on the beach with the fellas close behind. We all ordered dinner and were most impressed with the food!!! That was it for the night!