We started our morning with another deliciously large breakfast at the hotel before getting picked up by the Elephant Nature Park bus.
Let us start by saying that we chose this program very specifically. Full disclosure: We sought out a rescue program that does not condone any of the things that you will read below and that take in/rescue elephants that are a part of what you will read below. If you have done or partaken in any of the activities below, please do not feel bad or as if we are judging your character, as most of these practices are not known about by the general public. To be honest, we were not aware of some of these practices, which is why this program specifically is so amazing. Who doesn’t love to learn along the way?!
With that being said, this rescue program is quite expensive, but we knew we wanted to contribute to the right rescue and rehabilitation program that has been in existence before us and will continue to operate long after us. There are a lot of amenities that you may end up paying for if you chose a different, potentially less expensive program. For example, if you stay in or near the old city, they pick you up and drop you off directly from and to your hotel! They also provide free water and a free (and beautiful) buffet-style lunch. Even if you aren’t staying within or near the old city, the park has an office located along the old city’s eastern border, which seems pretty accessible. We’re staying just outside the old city, so after breakfast we were picked up from our hotel, Chedi Home at 8am. After picking up a few other travellers, we began our 1.5 hour ride north towards the Si Lanna National Park (just northwest of where we were yesterday for Bua Thong Falls aka Sticky Falls).
On the ride up, we watched a documentary made by one of the park’s major supporters. It covered information that many people do not know about, from elephant treatment throughout their lives for uses in circuses, street begging, trekking (riding), logging, and more. As you can imagine, this was an incredibly sad, but informative film, but the reason we really liked it was because it did not make accusational statements about our choices, but rather framed it in a way of misinformation or lack of information.
We all enjoy seeing these beautiful giants doing the amazing things we often see them doing, but what we don’t see is how they are trained for these stunts behind the scenes. These animals are extremely smart, so the only way to have them perform on command is for the trainers to “break” them. This often happens with chains, ropes, and sharp hook (which often accompany the elephants during the circus, trek, etc. to remind the animal what will happen if he or she does not follow a particular command).
The film said it perfectly…We may enjoy the tricks and tasks that elephants do, but being next to one, walking alongside one, looking into one’s eyes and feeling his or her emotions are all experiences that are beyond words and far exceed any tricks or ride.
Once we arrived at Elephant Nature Park, we walked around the park and learned about how the park started and where they are now. Originally it was a rescue sanctuary for elephants, but over the years they have since brought in and developed facilities for over five hundred dogs, cats, water buffalo, and monkeys. Currently, seventy-three elephants call the Elephant Nature Park home.
After we learned a little about the park and its philosophy, we got to hand feed a small family of elephants, babies included!!! We gave them pumpkin, watermelon, and bananas and they scooped every last bit of the fruits. After the feeding, we walked around the park to visit three different packs of elephants and learn more about their story. Hearing where they came from and how they got to the park reminded us why we chose this program specifically.
After this mini tour, it was around noon and time for lunch. We headed back to the main lodge where we lined up for the bountiful (and complimentary) buffet-style lunch. Actually, Joey lined up and I found a beautiful spot with a couple of chairs on a veranda overlooking the park. Joey came up with an overflowing plate of three different noodles (egg, rice, broad, three different rices (yellow, sticky white, and wild), sautéed baby bok choi and morning glory and steamed mixed local veggies. It seemed like a lot when he initially came up, but it was to be and had already been a long and hot day, so we enjoyed and finished every last bite!
After lunch, we walked around the entire main grounds (not including the jungle trek, which is an additional option for those of you that may want to spend more time here or even do an overnight or volunteer for a week, which are all great options) and stopped to see all the different elephants packs as Art, our tour guide, explained their individual stories, including their before and after rescue photos, which contextualized the entire reason we chose this park to support.
We checked back in at the main lodge to use the restroom and get a large basket of bananas and multiple smaller buckets for bathing these beautiful giants. We then headed off to the Mae Taeng River to bath the elephants, which also turned into a bath for us, which was much needed after walking around under the blistering sun all morning and afternoon!
Afterwards, we headed back to the main grounds to spend some time at Cat Kingdom and Dog Kingdom, where the rescued cats and dogs call home. All of the animals in these two kingdoms are up for adoption, free of charge, if you are a resident of the U.S., Canada, and any European country. The park arranges all legal, transportation, and vaccination fees. All you have to do is meet your new furry friend at the airport! After seeing some of these rescued animals, we were seriously considering it, but with limited space in New York City and a furry friend of our own already, we just promised ourselves that we’d be back in the future to take a new friend back with us.
After this small tour of our feline and canine friends, it was nearly 4pm and time to head back south towards the old city of Chiang Mai. This turned into a mini nap for all the passengers onboard and we were back to the old city in what felt like 15 minutes. The direct drop off to our hotel was also included in the tour package and we were lucky enough to be the first pair dropped off!
Once home, we got settled, uploaded some footage, and took a quick dip in our hotel pool. This was so relaxing and almost beyond words after a long day under the summer sun. After some much needed R&R, we made our way along the northern city wall to Khao Kha Moo Chang Phueak for dinner. Some people know her as the Cowboy Hat Lady, but if you’re in Chiang Mai, you HAVE to try her marinated stewed pork over sticky rice (and the local way is to add the pickled greens and chili vinegar sauce that can be found at the various tables behind her stand).
We contemplated going to the Sunday Night Market in the old city after dinner, but we were both drained and decided to hang around the hotel to relax and catch up with the blog! We have an early start to the day tomorrow as we plan to catch a bus from the Arcade bus station just outside of town and head north to Chiang Rai, so stay posted!