Relaxo maxo

Tuesday October 24, 2006

Another sleep in then it was off to an elephant trek.

We had a 49-year-old elephant called Mohan, she was a dear old thing and obviously a bit bored with taking the same track day in day out. It was quite funny - she would take a step, grab at some leaves on nearby bushes or trees, then after the man walking next to her would say his 1000th "hup", she'd take another step. At one stage she let out the most almighty trumpet - well cool!

After the ride I gave her a big pat and thanked her for the meandering trek.

Mohan - mother elephant.

There was also a little baby, three years old, who was there when we first arrived. Turns out she was Mohan's baby. I was standing next to him and when mel walked over he let out the cutest little squeaky trumpet at us both.

We rode around the hill for about an hour before heading back in and hanging around with the elephants for a while. The little baby even did a few tricks for us. They are such massive animals - and so peaceful.

And talking about modes of transport, while riding in the back of a ute is a fun way to get around, the ride to and from the elephants was pretty hairy. The roads here are quite narrow and paved with concrete, not tar, apparently something that has happened quite recently.

Anyway... it had been raining and the young guy was absolutely fanging it along the road. I kept having visions of the ute sliding, slipping and flipping with me and Mel in the back. We stopped at Thongsala and picked up two canadian girls and after about 5 minutes of going 110 through the little roads I banged on the window to tell them to slow down, which they did... for a while. ;)

The ride back to town was hilarious. The skies opened up and we were right there in the open. This ute had no canopy. Mel and I came prepared, but the poor Canadians got soaked. But god we all laughed at our situation and each other. I was using Mel's rain poncho and she says she has this image of me with just my face popping out of the little hood, ducking down in my cover of blue plastic, laughing my head off.

For any kid that has even been in a car going at a decent speed and has stuck their hand out the window, they'd recognise the feeling of the rain like little needles pricking your skin. At one stage we were all yelling "ouch, that stings" as we were needled by the rain as the ute whipped through the lush surrounds of the island. Hilarious!

Back at the ranch we just hung out and watched movies in the outdoor bar/restaurant area, lounging around on cushions as the monsoon rains pelted down every now and then. The Irish crew emerged in the mid to late afternoon and we all sat there chatting and not doing a great lot. They started drinking again, but I held back til dinner.

Watched a very full on film called Beyond the Border. Angelina Jolie was in it. Loved it, but it was quite depressing. All about aid and relief workers - and at one stage they were in Cambodia. when they hit Phnom Penh Mel and I looked at one another.

There was a party on our beach last night - and they were setting off fire crackers - but was exhausted so had some beers with the crew and then Mel and I snuck off to bed. They partied at a beach bar next door to Haad Son and said it was a riot - except James fell off the edge onto some rocks and sprained his foot.