Elephant Riding

Today was a fun day and I really want to tell you about it! My day started officially started about 8:25 this morning. I was supposed to meet a group from our conference for this elephant tour. So I hurriedly finished breakfast and went out to the front of the hotel to catch the tour. Since no one I really knew well was going, I was essentially going by myself. So when I get to the front of the hotel, I say "elephant tour?" They say "Yes, yes, the van by the juniper tree." So I get in the van and off we go. We traveled for about an hour outside of Chiang Mai into the mountains. The scenery was beautiful. It was like being in Kentucky or Tennessee but the houses were on stilts. The rainy season lasts for 6 months out of the year, causing the river to rise, hence the stilts. When we arrived, we first took bamboo rafts down the river. This was a totally cool experience. The bamboo rafts were exactly that - pieces of bamboo with little wooden seats on them - Huck Fin goes to Thailand! The ride down the river lasted a good 45 minutes, I would say. It was so peaceful! The river was shallow and in some places the bottom was only a foot or so down. The rafts were powered by our Thai guides poling the rafts with long bamboo sticks. The river was winding with gentle bends and draping greenery on the banks. When we finally arrived, we were taken by ox-cart to the elephant boarding zone. Also, let me add that this whole set up was run by a certain tribe and we were taken to their village. The tribe is called the Lee Sue people. They sold handicrafts in their village. I got a beautiful carved black vase. By this time, I had made a couple of new friends, and one of them, a lady named Cynthia from Nebraska, was my seat partner for the elephant ride. We were told the elephant that we rode on was pregnant. She did seem rather hungry as there were several stops along the way where snacks (sugar cane, bamboo, bananas) were being sold to the tourists so they could feed the elephants. Every time we arrived at one of these stands, she put her trunk up in search of her snack. The elephant ride itself was rather bouncy as a lot of it was going down steep trails. After the elephant ride, we were served an excellent lunch on the patio overlooking the river.All in all, it was a lovely time and a very fun day .

OK - here's the best part. After the tour is over, the lady who arranged the tour came over to collect money. I say, "I've already paid" - I had paid the night before. She looks a little puzzled and to make a long story short, when it was all sorted out, I had been on the wrong tour all along! Apparently, there were several elephant tours leaving from the hotel about the same time and I got the wrong one! However, I have to say that it was probably a better tour that the one that I had originally planned to go on. Also, I made some new friends and had a great time - perhaps God in His Wisdom arranged the 'wrong' tour to the be 'right' one after all!

From a Tropical Place

I am in Thailand attending a conference and on vacation. I will be here until early March. This city is in northern Thailand and is beautiful. I am enjoying my time here. I got a lens for my new camera yesterday so I should have pictures to post very soon. In the meantime, the mild tropical climate is great - the city is nestled in the foothills of a mountain range. So far I have done the conference thing, the local Zoo, a luxurious spa treatment, and a bit of shopping. But to quote Joshua, age ten, "you know the best thing about being here is that the electricity hasn't gone off once!"

Rugs

Rugs, especially handmade ones, are a speciality in this area. I have had one family member who has requested a rug for this part of the world. If anyone else would like a rug, let me know the following information:

1) how much you want to spend, including postage
2) approximate size
3) colors preferred
4) handwoven or machine woven

I woud be more than happy to look and see what I can find! Here is a picture the rug I got for my cousin. This is one is handwoven, made of silk and wool.

Wool Thief

Ok - I have another Corbin story. This cat does something funny everyday - there is no lack of material regarding him. Today I was talking on the phone in my living room and I happened to glance up at the stairs that go to the roof. I observed my peshu (cat in the local language) trotting as fast as his little legs would carry him down the stairs with a large hunk of something in his mouth. Upon investigation, I learned that he had made off with Grandma's wool. The grandmother of the family downstairs takes old blankets apart to reuse the wool - this is something traditionally done in this country, so I understand. Anyway, on sunny days, she will go up on the roof and do this. This not the first time I have found bits and pieces of wool on my floor but this is first time that the little stinker has dared to take so much. I kid you not - he had a piece of wool in his mouth that was probably half the size of him. He looked very disappointed that his play pretty had been taken away when it was return to Grandma and the roof. Oh, such a naughty boy!