sorry, only google translate so far… đ
The flight from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai takes only about 30 minutes, but somehow it create the stewards in maybe 10 minutes between start and landing to provide a service.
Back at the airport, we went first again by airport shuttle back to the hostel, where we had ensconced us at the first time and went directly afterwards with a scooter on the temple “Wat Phra That Doi Suthep” which is outside the city is at a relatively high mountain in the national park. Therefore, we were actually quite happy to see that the nice lady had foisted scooter hire the 125cc scooter because the ride was characterized significantly shortened. The temple itself is very touristy, but also one of the best we had seen so far and so we took the “300 meditative stages” (quote of the Guide) from the road to the temple complex without greater effort in attack and enjoyed the views of Chiang Mai.
The next day was the next highlight on the program. We wanted to do something with elephants, but it turned out to be not so easy to find a tour, which does not use the elephant as pure drudge or mannequins. After several hours of search, read reviews and write requests, we finally decided on the “Elephant Discovery” tour.
It started at 7:15 in the morning, 3 hours by car over hill and dale towards a completely remote village in the jungle. There waited 4 elephant and a baby elephant (9 months) waiting to be fed by us, and washed again fed. Pretty gluttonous these pachyderms … Actually, the tour for 4-8 people interpreted (max. 2 persons per elephant), but since we are in the middle of the rainy season and therefore in the off-season, there were except us no other participants, which is why we all elephants to ourselves alone. Therefore, we could also – contrary to our booked Option 2 persons / elephant – each ride on a private elephant. Yes exactly, we are actually riding on the elephants, not so horses moderately on the back, but in the neck just behind the ears. We also know that riding a bit is ethically incorrect, but 1 had the elephant no 100kg basket on his back and 2. not like other tours 4 tourists, but only a maximum of 2. In our case, this case only the two of us Partly weighter and we hardly believe that who ever noticed us. At least it has not held the quasi continuous seizure during the horseback ride and have constantly wagged his ears (which is probably the counterpart represents đ the tail wagging the dog) …
Back at the starting point, the elephants were then fed even with a vitamin balls (made from rice, corn, banana and dates) and then washed again. Especially the baby had it a lot of fun! At least it looked like, because apart from the trunk it was completely under water :-). Playful it was even. If one has taken with both hands on his forehead, it began to play. That is, once fixed losschieben it. As you notice times as much force may have a little thing …
Generally, the villagers seemed really touching to care for the elephants. Of course, the elephants are domesticated and trained a little, but then they can move freely in the jungle and come actually only the village, because they know that there mornings a meal waiting for them. Of course we can only bad check, but the impression was definitely thoroughly positive, had seen after we indeed in Pai have these poor chained and mannequin verdonnerten elephants especially …
All in all, definitely a successful and exhausting day, the then still having a dinner with Jeab and two friends in a chic Thai restaurant and typical Thai midnight snacks (read, toast with warm milk and milkshakes) was crowned.
The next morning we went on to our last stop in Thailand – Chiang Rai. But that is as always a different story …