So, for my birthday we had one of the most amazing adventures of my life:  three days at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center!!!

Thai Elephant Conservation Center

We stayed for two nights and had two full days playing with the elephants.  Each of us was assigned an elephant and a mahout (elephant trainer) to work with and we were with the same one the whole time we were there.  Justin’s elephant was called Wannalee and mine was Sri Siam.

Elephant kisses!

As soon as we arrived we got right into the thick of it with the elephants.  The first task was learning how to get on and off – not so easy!  We were pros by the third day, but definitely had some sore muscles from all of the climbing up and down.  We also learned how to have the elephant pick up something we dropped and hand it to us.  Then it was time for a quick bath in the river (pictures below) and then our first experience participating in the show for tourists.

Leading the parade

They do the same show a couple of times a day for tourists to learn about the elephants.  It’s very low key and includes some of the traditional logging, elephants doing paintings and a couple of other things.  At the end of the show all of the elephants get to meet the tourists and are fed bunches of sugarcane and bananas.

Us and our elephants!

After the show we would ride the elephants into the jungle to where they spent the night.  It was very beautiful out there and quite a ride to get to the secluded spots they sleep in.

Riding through the jungle

Justin has an advanced way of getting on!

My elephant helps me on

Just hanging out with an elephant

Posing for the picture

We loved spending time with the elephants and mahouts and learning about these amazing creatures.

Heading back out into the jungle

On the second day we had a tour and went to see a couple of baby elephants and the elephant hospital.  The conservation center takes in a lot of hurt elephants and we saw three in the hospital.  One had a skin disease, one had a broken leg and the third had stepped on a land mine and was missing the lower part of its leg.  Very sad, but it’s good that there are resources available for caring for them.

Adorable baby elephant

So cute!

Elephant water gun

water fight!

We were soaked

We met some really awesome people who were doing the course as well and had such an amazing time.  The water fights were one of the best parts!  The elephants were so powerful and so gentle and it was the best birthday gift ever to spend time up close to them!