Elephants and ting

ELEPHANTS AW YH!

Having been in Thailand almost two months by this point it suddenly occurred to me a couple of weeks ago that I hadn't done the thing which was THE thing to do if you were in Thailand. Go elephant trekking. It's so cliche and very "I-went-on-a-gap-yarr-in-Thailand-to-find-myself" but oh my days it was definitely one of the best experiences I have ever done! And, with an elephant sanctuary on Phuket island (which I may add I did my research and concluded that this elephant safari which was one which had the welfare of the elephants as a highest priority. Sadly, elephants are often very mistreated just because they bring in so much money from unknowing tourists. However, I was under much assurance that this elephant safari in Phuket was the only one in Southern Thailand certified from the government and apparently David Attenborough had been there so it couldn't have been too bad!) I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see the elephants.

Saturday morning arrived and it was raining. In Thailand it usually rains like you've never seen it rain before for a maximum of an hour before it stops and it's back to the baking sunshine again. Unfortunately the only day I needed to cycle down to the hotel (the safari people arranged a hotel pick up for me- Flo decided against the whole elephant thing) and it rained relentlessly for 6

Modelling the sexy anorak look

hours. Which was fine until the point I realised I was cycling downhill on a dual carriage way and couldn't see a thing at which point I did consider that maybe cycling in the torrential rain isn't the cleverest of moves. I wish I had a scooter out here- at least if I'm going to die on the roads of Thailand I would like it to be on something a bit cooler than a push-bike!

Cliche elephant trek photo

Eventually, after an hour and a half in a van and absolutely soaked through, sat in a weird rain poncho (I'm so attractive) I made it to the safari! I COULD SEE THE ELEPHANTS! Firstly, we were introduced to our tour guide Wi and then put in a tractor and taken to see two baby elephants who were made to kick footballs and paint pictures for our entertainment which seemed all a bit pointless but it was explained that it was to get the elephants used to the presence of people as when they turned 16 they would go out on the safaris. I also learnt that the elephant trainers and the people who control the elephants during the trek are people called "Mahouts" from the north of Thailand (where Asian elephants mainly originate in Thailand) and a lot of the conservation of the elephant sanctuary was making sure the Mahout people were looked after and received a fair wage. Mine was very nice although he didn't speak very much English- he did reliably inform me that "elephant hungry" when it turned out my elephant was the fattest and stopped every 2 seconds to eat. I related to that elephant on a spiritual level. 

Cat cafe in Phuket Town. A cafe.. with cats.

It was definitely one of the best days I have had in Thailand and I know it is so cliche but when else are you going to get chance to ride an elephant through the jungle (unless you go on holiday in asia ever again...)

Today me and Flo decided to check out Phuket town, the "capital" of Phuket. When we visited Patong it was almost like Malia in the middle of Phuket and now we visited Phuket town it was like a small piece of China. It's weird how such different places can exist on one island which isn't really that big. Apparently Phuket Town has a

A little bit of China

massive Chinese influence and it was definitely one of the nicer towns in Phuket. It was very quaint with a lot of hipster cafes- it was a backpackers dream definitely. But at the same time it was relatively relaxed and cheap and it was nice to be able to see an overall nicer part of the south of Phuket- as the only other southern part of the island we have visited has been Patong. It was a relief to not have been offered to see a ping pong show that was for sure!

So tomorrow marks the beginning of 8/9 weeks of teaching meaning that the programme is rapidly coming to a close. While one half of me is desperate to come back to the UK (I think this is definitely the longest I haven't seen my friends/family/boyfriend and I have been struggling a little bit. I am a softie i know) the other half doesn't want to leave. I have settled comfortably into my teacher role and going back to the UK will be really sad when it's freezing, I don't live next to the beach, and I'm just your average student again, wasting my days hungover rather than teaching English to Thai kids. It's also not tempting me to come back to England knowing that, due to the

Always time to mention chocolate cake.

fact that life hates me and ruins any plans I make, I will be stranded at the airport anyway. (if my friends/family see this please send help on the 1st september. Desperate times...)