All Thai-d Up with Weekend Adventures

Our last day at Patara Elephant Farm

This weekend has been quite eventful! Friday was our last day for surveying at Patara. We surveyed tourists in the morning and then followed the groups to be the mahouts’ assistants throughout the day. We helped explain the commands of the elephants while teaching the mahouts english. At the end of the day, we said our goodbyes to our elephants and a special goodbye to the baby elephant, Tanwa the trouble maker. 

On Saturday, we went to Mae Taeng Elephant Clinic for our second elephant experience. We were welcomed by an elephant show and a meeting with the veterinarian at the facility. He showed us the different types of herbs they use in herbal medicine for the elephants and gave us an example of how they cut the elephants nails. We then went to area of the facility where the various tribes of Thailand were selling goods. Mae Taeng employs many of the women from these tribes for different tasks that make Mae Taeng a successful tourist attraction. We learned about seven tribes: Akha, Kayor, Daraang, Mien, Lisu, Mhong, and Karen. The people were so kind and talented in making beautiful handmade scarves and goods. We then went to see how elephant paper is made. They showed us the process of transforming the elephant poop into an ivory paper that is used for present wrapping and journals. The poop is rinsed four times and boiled for five hours to purify it and get rid of the toxins. It is then rinsed again and dried multiple times on a frame to create a flat and rectangular shape. 

After lunch we continued with our elephant experience and got to feed and bathe the elephants. We changed into classic mahout attire and made energy nutrient balls out of turmeric, salt lick, and grains. After feeding the elephants all of the fruit we had in our buckets we got in the river with them to give them baths. We used natural soap that is from the trunk of a specific tree. After the bathing session, we said farewell to our elephants and headed home.

 

For dinner we were invited to the founder of ISDSI, Pi Mark’s house. We ate pizza, ribs and salad while playing card games and had an intense tournament of Banana Grams! 

Sunday was our second free day of the trip. We split into two groups for the day and met back up from dinner and one last night at the night market. Part of our group had a relaxing spa day. They got fish pedicures and thai massages then went to a cute coffee shop for the afternoon.  The other half of our group went on a zip lining adventure outside of Chiang Mai. The zip lining included 24 platforms, 4 basils, 4 hanging bridges. Today was so fun and full of adventure but we are excited for our next adventure tomorrow in Chiang Rai! 

Hey it's Juli
It’s a bittersweet feeling that this is my last blog post. Our last day at Patara was one of the best days I’ve had here. I was at the hilltop and I could see the mountains in the distance half covered by the fog. There were elephants all around me and I wished we could just be here for a few more days. I’m excited for the last few remaining days of our trip. Tomorrow we will be going to Chiang Rai and Wednesday we will be doing a hike. Thailand has definitely taken a piece of my heart. I’ll miss everyone that I have met here. Thank you Pi Peter and Pi Poad for looking out for us. Thank you Dr. Muehlenbein. Through this trip I’ve have learned a lot and experienced many things. La-gon ka (goodbye) Thailand.

Hey guys it's Ireland again!
It's crazy how our time in Thailand has gone by so fast! I can't believe that this is Juli and I's last blog post. Looking back on this trip, it has been such an educational, fun, and adventurous experience. From visiting different hospitals to various markets and caring for elephants, this trip is something I will always cherish. I was sad on our last day of Patara because I didn't want to leave the beautiful elephants and the amazing view but like Juli, I'm really excited for the rest of the things we have left on this trip. I'm looking forward to seeing the temples in Chiang Rai and our hike to Doi Suthep on Wednesday before we head home. Thank you Pi Poad, Pi Peter, and Dr. M for making this experience so incredible!