Tuesday, August 04, 2009
The Great Phuket Adventure: Part 2
Time to get on with "The Great Phuket Adventure: Part 2"! [Day 1 here]
Was very much looking forward to Day 2 because it was a day on which we'd already made plans for something that would take up a huge chunk of our spending money for the entire trip! It would be pretty worth it too since it was definitely something we've always wanted to do and its something holiday-ish at least! Hahah.
It unfortunately included a really early morning start T____T *groans all the way from Thailand*
A van picked us up from the hotel and we were off! It was an amazingly sunny day and as skies go anywhere but KL, it was a brilliant blue.
One road off the busy streets, and we were greeted by lush green countrysides.
Where were we headed to? The Siam Safari!! =D
We booked a spot for one of their main attractions!
The van dropped us off at what looked like a meeting point for Siam Safari, which was a shed with long wooden tables and benches where other tourists were already patiently waiting (and turning bright red with the heat) whilst fanning themselves with straw hats.
It was about 8am, and the sun was out in full force already!
We were divided into several groups, and were bundled into army-looking jeeps to get to our next destination.
Rows of waiting jeeps.
But before that, protection! Mozzie repellent is apparently a must, depending on how much you tend to attract mosquitoes. Which if you have blood running through those veins, is pretty much all the time!
Yayyyyyyyyyy!! Even sitting in the jeep on the way there is fun.
Touristy smiles.
The ride in the jeep was a bumpy and windy one! Luckily, it didnt involve alot of travelling along the main road, so it wasnt too smoky and dusty. Once we hit the countryside, it was a cool and shaded (albeit slightly uphill and kinda scary) route.
Anyway, climax time!
This is what we were here for! =D
I've always wanted to ride an elephant. Or even get remotely close to one. They're such huge and majestic animals, I've always wondered how it'd be like to be able to actually ride one.
Must behave around the elephants.
When we got there, we could certainly smell that the elephants were close by -________-
Our guide, and our elephant!!
It was a pretty amazing sight to watch a whole bunch of trained elephants slowly lumber towards our group, swaying their huge heads side to side, flapping those gigantic floppy ears and scratching an itch with those trunks.
And their feet were enormous! Very surreal =D
Sad elephant eyes. Such a National Geographic picture.
Getting onto the elephant wasnt as difficult as I thought it would be because they built a high sort of platform which came level with the elephants back. So it was no clambering on for us, and no bending down for them.
And to sit on the elephant? They tied a bench with metal restraint (much like a rollercoaster seat) onto the elephants back. The bench is padded with lots of blankets and cushions where it sits on the elephants back, so I suppose it doesnt quite hurt them.
Still quite kesian la.
Before we headed off on our trek, our tour guide told us a little bit about the safari and their efforts in elephant conservation. Most of the elephants there were rescued from poachers and given a safe sanctuary at the reserve. It would be far too dangerous for them to be released back into the wild, so they're trained for tourism purposes.
Still quite kesian la.
We were pretty high up!
Ok, the first few minutes were quite terrifying as we swayed left and right in our rickety seat. And we werent exactly very close to the ground either! It was quite high up and it felt as if I was going to fall out of my seat at any moment and be trampled to mush by the next elephant.
Plus, I was also really scared that a mouse or something would run across our elephant's path and it would rear up on its hind legs and throw us off its back in terror T____T
But after getting used to it, it was a pretty exciting experience!
Proof!
The elephants were all walking in a line along the trail.
Some got distracted pretty easily.
And we were privelleged enough to watch elephants pee. It is like a torrential storm, I tell you. Its like a really disturbing (and very strong) water jet which lasts for a good few seconds. And proceeds to create a little waterfall wherever they choose to do it.
The reserve is at the top of a hill, so sudden magnificent views like this around the corner were a great surprise.
The road quite regularly travelled.
The whole elephant trek takes about 45 minutes around the reserve, and it goes at a pretty leisurely pace. They'll stop regularly for photo opportunities (not easy to get a clear shot on top of a moving pachyderm) and everyone's generally in a good mood because its kinda hard to not feel all happy and excited about something like this.
Alighting with such grace.
Now for the business part of all this - tugging at our heartstrings so that we'll feed the elephants.
The elephants obediently line up against the platform and stick their trunks through the wooden fence, because there'll be baskets of fruits for sale, and we're allowed to give them a treat for all their hard work. 100 Baht for a basket of fruits.
I just had to.
Some elephants already know where the goods are at =P
Please dont step on me.
Sigh, I so wanted to bring one home. Stop looking at me with those sad eyes!! =(
More proof of elephant life.
Apart from the elephant trek, there were other activities included in the package.
Like an elephant show!
Several baby elephants were gathered in a little arena, and showed us some of the tricks they've been learning like greeting people, playing football and dancing!
Also, elephant art!
Next up, food!
Our guide explaining to tourists the art of getting coconut milk. Not news to us. The kedai runcit behind my house still grates the coconut right in front of me to get the coconut shavings for coconut milk.
Been there done that wtf.
They cooked a delicious Thai Green Curry for us right there and then!
Yummmyyyyyy....!!
After that, there was also a demo for a monkey plucking coconuts, which again is nothing new to us, but a novelty to the other tourists I guess.
Great thing about the package was that it included a buffet lunch =)
Authentic Thai nom nom. After all the adventure, we were starving!
After lunch, there was a bus waiting back at the first drop-off point to take us back to the hotel.
An entire bus, with just the 4 of us in it.
Secretly working for the government wtf.
Once we got back to the hotel, we didnt really have much to do, so it was time for a nap! Seriously, this was the most free-and-easy trip ever! I love holidays where I get to just laze around and do whatever I want.
Plus, I love hotel rooms, especially cozy ones.
Towards the evening, we headed down to the beach right behind our hotel to check out the sunset!
That's a sort of pavilion on a hill, most likely for wedding receptions and all.
The beach!!
Didnt really get to frolic much though. We were there to kill some time before heading down town for dinner.
Behold, the power of sunset!
Always a must ;)
Love the lines.
Then it was off to Patong beach again for dinner.
And we went to the same restaurant again that we went to on Day 1! We loved the service and food there so much, we didnt bother going through the headache of going somewhere else.
But we did order different dishes this time.
Steamed fish! Awesome..
After dinner, we were walking along Patong and our curiosity got the better of us. With all the guys coming up to us and waving various signs in our faces, we just had to check it out and experience the night life which we will NEVER get to see so openly back home.
All I can say is, its kinda expensive, quite an experience, and I will never look at ping pong balls, goldfish and boobs the same way ever again 0____0 (some of the girls looked far too young to be doing such acts though hmm..)
After that, we all had glorious full-body Thai massages to end the night! Omg so cheap, its ridiculous! If I lived there, I'd have a full-body massage everyday!! It was kinda ticklish for me, especially when she worked on my legs, but boy did she twist and turn and pummel me in every way possible!
I felt like jelly after that. Had 1hr of full-body and 1hr foot-massage (much needed thanks to all the walking I've been doing).
End of Day 2!
*pics by David, Nigel*
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