Day 17 - Kitchen and Sand Shifting

Another regular chore is getting the food for the elephants. We have our breakfast nice and sharp at 7am, and then at 8am we report for our work shift. There are basically 3 main tasks, so we rotate through them. That is food, poo and cutting something!!

Today we were back on the kitchen routine. Considering that each elephant eats around 200kg of food each day you can understand the regularity - I guess that it is a bit like our breakfast regularity.

I didn't realize that pumpkins came in so many shapes and sizes!! Still the routine is always the same - form a line and shift a pile of pumpkins to the water trough, then scrub the pumpkins (to remove any possible insecticides), then pass them onto the very NICE lady who swings a mean machete (bet her husband never says NO) and chops them into smaller pieces. Still it is interesting to see the way some elephants take a full pumpkin, and you can hear the crunch as the large teeth make very short work of it.

So here are some shots of our regular preparation.


(L - One of the other work groups heads off for their work duty)

(R - Ther usual view across the Park - each day I can't resist but stop and have a look - and wonder if I am really here!!)



(L & R - The elephants wander and at set times they are watered - well the tourists throw buckets of water at the sides of the elephants, most of which goes over the top to drench the tourists on the other side of the elephant!! - and the tourists gather round to have photographs taken with the family Group)

(L - Baby and Mother visit the mahout during a break)


(R - Afternoon work roster was to shovel sand. We were taken into the park to the large pile of sand, and then filled the trailer - the sand is destined for building foundation)


(L & R - Our transport around the Park for this duty is by the trailer - highly illegal in most places!! But fun here - especially with all the bumps, and still a bit of water left around the Park)





(L & R - Our group is ready to start - the enthusiasm ran out fairly quickly as the wet sand, mixed with rocks was quite heavy to shovel)














(L & R - The foundations for the new building - sand on top of smashed concrete bricks, and steel reinforcement - the upright poles contain reinforcement, but when it goes to a second level they sometimes will weld a second piece onto the reinforcement of the first upright pole))

Day 16 - Poo and Water Tank

Our drafted work for the morning was the usual poo-duty. It is still raining occasionally, so rain jackets are required - which of course means that as well as getting wet outside, we get wet inside where the plastic makes us sweat.

(L - In good council fashion we can lean on our shovels!!)

(R - Tep has the tractor and the pick up cart - we shoveled about 4-5 loads)

(L - As well as the usual poo, we had some collections of sugar cane that has not been consumed)

(R - Our other form of pick up!!)







(R - In the afternoon we were drafted to the task of cleaning the elephant water tanks - so we collected our brooms and scrubbing brushes)








(R - The watar tanks are large concrete structures beside the elephant pens, and which the elephants use for water at night time.)






(L - Cleaning starts - despite the pouring rain)

Day 15 - New Vols - Kitchen

It has rained here since midday Sunday, as the old volunteers left. And constantly since then!! By daybreak on Monday the Park was well awash, and the river had risen about 2 feet. The water is now up to the bank, and the beach of pebbles that we used to have has disappeared.

(L - The River has risen and the flow rate increased dramatically)

(R - However, this doesn't seem to upset our elephant, enjoying her early morning swim)



(R - Despite the rain the tourists still enjoy bathing the elephants - and people complain about the rain??!!)




(L - Here is a puzzle for you - what is this? An island, or what??)

(R - NO - Look closely at the back of the elephant where she has sprayed mud on her back - and the mud contained this plant!!)



(L - The tourists with the elephants in the river)

Day 14 - Moses' Wedding

We were fortunate to be in the Park on July 31, when Moses, the Mahout for Mae Keow, married Moe Moe.

(L - The Conference Room decorated for the occasion)


Some of the volunteers decorated the Conference Room, and of course everyone that was here attended the ceremony. The service was conducted in Thai (I think - but it may have been in Burmese??), and was a Roman Catholic service.

(L - The First Lesson was read by one of the Mahouts)

After the wedding service the Priest conducted Mass. The hymns were accompanied by a portable organ. These are some photographs that I took of the ceremony.


(L - The Service)

(R - Some attendees didn't pay a lot of attention, and slept through the service)





(L & R - The various wedding groups)












(R - Note the bridesmaid with a veil and head dress)






(R - The bride actually smiled for me!!)

Day 14 - Volunteer Change Over

This


This Sunday was the end of a week and so many of the volunteers finished up their week long shift!

In the morning we had our usual tasks, and I worked in the kitchen again - there is always a need for food for the 36 elephants. After lunch several of us walked around to make the last good byes for Victoria and Caryn, and also catch the occasional picture they had missed earlier.

The following photos are some of the pictures - possibly repetitions that I have already taken, but it is just magical to see these elephants walking past each day, and also to be able to actually handle and feed them. So I shall just let you enjoy the pictures - with an occasional comment.





(R - The elephants accept the daily bathing by the tourists but really enjoy the bathing by them selves when they frolic and roll around)





(R - One of the baby elephants claims the high point for the afternoon feeding)











(L - One of the volunteers stands beside one of the elephants)







(L - The elephant fossics in the food bag of the Mahout)








(L & R - The Monsoon rains came, and the Park was quite wet. The river rose about 2 feet and the tide became quite fast and strong)




Here are some movie clips to enjoy also