Day Four - Elephant Conservation Centre

Trip Start Jun 20, 2012

Trip End Sep 02, 2012

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What I did

Thai Elephant Conservation Center Lampang
Read my review - 5/5 stars

Flag of Thailand Lampang, Sukhothai, Thailand
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Spent the entire morning at Lampang Elephant Conservation Centre, definitely my highlight so far. First they took a bath, during which they squirted us with water! I hadn't before realised how clever elephants are - noticed one picking up shoes with its trunk for the person sat on top (see photo). Next they put on a demonstration that showed off their intelligence - three of them even painted! Then we had the opportunity to feed them some bamboo.

Best part, elephant ride - through a lake and forest. A little scary at times but brilliant. Ours was called Tao and kept trying to eat all the time, I liked his cheekyness.

Kitty then took us to see how paper is made from elephant dung. It comes out like that fancy recycled paper you can get back home from artsy shops

Lully boy

. A quick lunch (more Pad Thai) before we visited the baby elephants - a 14 month old with its mother; a little orphan (my favourite); two 2 year olds and a teenager. I can't believe they live to be 100 years old! They all extended their trunks to us, very cute. Final stop, elephant hospital where they care for the poorly ones. Quite sad to see - some couldn't stand and had skin infections. One was held up by a crane as he couldn't stand on his own. Kitty said all sick elephants from neighbouring countries are taken there to be cared for.

Just got back in the bus - we're heading 4 hours north to Chaing Rai. En route we're stopping at a pineapple plantation place for fresh fruit...

It's now a few hours later - long journey to Chaing Rai but broken up by plantation (fresh pineapple) and a beautiful lake that really reminded me of Windermere. There was an amazing coffee shop where they decorated the top with beautiful colours & patterns - will include picture.

Just had dinner (second Pad Thai..) and heading for sleep as lots planned for tomorrow..

Slideshow

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Bath time	Elephant parade	Feeding bamboo	Flip Flop help
Through the lake with Tao	Me & Debbie on Tao Comments!	Aussie's Liz & Fran on their elephant	Kitty shows us how to make paper
14 month year old	Colourful dung paper - dyed by plants	Little orphan elephant	2 year olds
Poorly crane-aided elephant :(	Pineapples	Pineapple preparation	Thailand's equivalent of Windermere
Me	Coffee art	Painting elephants	Elephant artwork - seriously!

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Comments

Sarah Younger on

Would be particularly interested in the elephant dung!!! :)

mum on

loving all the elephant pics you seem to have had an amazing time with them xx

blodweener on

Darling, Looks like you are having THE BEST time! Am Turning Crimson with jealousy! Elephants were one of my favourite things in India. They are just so peaceful & beautiful and such depth behind those eyes! Glad to hear you are having an amazing time and loving the travel updates! Lemmie know if theres any strings I can pull in NZ love,love,love xxxx P.S dunnow if you check this more than facebook - Linds and Matt Bon have had a baby Boy called Lorenzo! Excited much?!