Washed hair, put back our charged-up devices and fridge contents into Ozzie, had final B&B cooked breakfast of eggs and sausage, and farewelled the MnMs. Smoky, hot and humid as we departed Chiang Mai. Passed flower market pretty displays, but overrun with taxis, tuk tuks, vans. Headed south towards Lampang for the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (TECC). It amazes us daily how on every road Thailand moves on the back of a ute…
TECC was very well run. The elephant nursery had two playful babies, picking up hoses whilst attendant was watering grass, then running back to their big mamas when they got showered in return! There was an injured elephant with its leg wrapped in bandages at the hospital and workers were using padded slings and a hoist trying to move it onto back of truck. It was lying under shade-cloth with large fans blowing on it, had a drip, and a vet/nurse in attendance.
Two kids ran around trying to lasso a lizard - so funny to watch - the lizard won!
GirlRob opted for an elephant ride on Warni, a 47yr old “spring chicken” according to the mahout, who also said it was an unusually hot, dry year, following a poor wet season. We weren’t allowed to see the Royal White elephants, kept for special events. We saw the elephant show (picking up safari helmets, moving logs, bowing, painting), and bathing elephants (GirlRob got a kiss!)
We finally felt all elephant-ed out, and headed out towards Wiang Kosai National Park. We were waved to a stop at Police checkpoint - asking about where we were headed (Guy said Sukhothai, Rob said Turkey), even more curious about the vehicle and itinerary than our papers... Stalker Talkers in uniform! Just down road we pulled up for night above riverbank, under large trees. Asked kids on motorbike if we could stay, they pointed out elder in makeshift tents nearby, who nodded his agreement when we gestured sleep. Guy went back to police checkpoint to see if they had any problems -they offered their compound with "bath", but he indicated we would like to stay where we were, and swim in river. Meanwhile the farmer came by on a 4 stroke tractor and he too said OK, but no-no in his banana/mango patch. So we finally opened up vehicle and turned on fans in effort to cool down and went for swim (shallow - fallen logs and stones; tried not to stir up slime/algae on bottom). Local children waded over and tried to talk to us, and giggled a lot. Not long afterwards police drove down and looked us over and talked to local campers. Everyone seemed happy and they went away again. Washed off river water under outdoor shower. Too hot/lethargic to cook - had sandwiches. We tried to read and download photos, but were driven inside to bed early by little insects attracted to the cap lamps, and ants biting our feet. Had a second shower to cool off before bed - sacrilegious use of precious water, but needed to be comfortable to sleep…
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