First Day in Elephants World

I woke up at 6:00 am, hungry and cold. The mornings here are about 70 degrees, and when you have a fan blowing on you, it gets slightly cold to uncomfortable. Unable to go back to sleep, I decided to start my day by going to 7/11 like I promised myself, but I was unwilling to call a taxi. 7/11 is so common in Thailand. I went to check out the breakfast scene at the hostel to see if it was complementary. That did not seem to be the case. Unsatisfied, I asked one of the hosts where a 7/11 was. She said it was about a 5-10 minute walk. I found the convenient store with no problem, got my cash, and picked up some bananas along the way.
The taxi to pick me up from my hostel to take me to elephants world arrived around 9:00. I met a woman from San Francisco and a couple from France/Belgium in the car. We checked into Elephants World, and then after a short orientation, we went and feed some elephants. Our itinerary consisted of feeding them, making a sticky rice pumpkin ball for the older elephants with no teeth, getting a tour of the grounds, watching them, and bathing with the elephants in the river.

A street in Kanchanburi

The woman who sold me bananas and her other various fruit

Ready for a bath

Gentle giant

An elephant trademark

The texture of their skin is very unique and fun to photograph

Long eyelashes

Stray dogs are very friendly

What a good dog.

Sturing the pumpkin and rice mixture

Feeding

An elephant and her keeper

So many bananas

Stray chickens also seem to be a common thing
 in the less populated areas

Saying goodnight. 

There was about 25 people in all. The staff split us up into groups of about six. I was with a French family and a Swiss couple. Word soon got around that I was the best Thai speaker of all foreigners there. All of the Thai people were very impressed, and tried to help me learn more.
I found that I was the only one staying over night. There are a few other people who are staying for another week, or a few more months, but they have all been here a long time. I ended my day with the elephants by helping the keepers to walk them to where the elephants sleep, a more secluded place in the jungle. All in all, it was a good day.

A stray cat beating the heat in the roof top of my bungalow

The small room for me to sleep in.

The front door complete with the curious cat

Traditional Thai House

Another angle

So far I have had a great time meeting all these new people. I am waking up at 6:30 in the morning for a hike before breakfast. We will see what the new day brings us.

Wishing for the best on your adventures,
Cienna