My Elephant Day

Friday  26  April

I am collected from the hotel at 7am. and we pick up other people from around Luang Prabang who booked a 1/2 day elephant ride.

This involves sitting in a chair (Howdah) on the elephants back,  while a Mahout  (elephant driver !) takes you for a walk through the rain forest.

This is much too tame for the Old Geezer !  He wants to be a Mahout !

The journey into the forest and down to the river is quite spectacular.  The people who booked elephant rides are taken off to a different place and I am introduced to my guide (Tai) and Mahout trainer (Ohn).

I have to change clothes into the "trainee Mahout" outfit which is denim trousers and a denim jacket with toggle fastenings and trousers.     (Note the continued use of the "silly" hat !!)

I am given an outline of the days activities. In the morning I will learn how to sit and balance on the elephants neck while my trainer (Ohn) will sit in the Howdah behind me and instruct me.

When and if I am confident enough, he will jump down and leave me in control while continuing to instruct from the ground. 

If all goes to plan I then spend an hour in the classroom learning about elephants, their health, how and what to feed them,and to learn all the necessary commands ( in Lao of course ).

And then, in the afternoon, the Howdah will be removed and I will take my elephant into the forest and down to and across the river.

It appears my elephant  is  "parked" on the other side of the river so a short boat trip is required.

Mahout School

Khan River

Apprentice  Mahout

Let me introduce my new girl friend for the day.  This is Topi,  she is 33 years old and drop dead gorgeous !

When I met her, Topi was enjoying a leisurely snack in the forest and I felt a bit sorry to disturb her.

I think she thought that because there were so few tourists she might have the day off !!

Anyway, Topi doesn't seem to mind having a Howdah strapped to her back and she certainly likes to eat sugar cane.

250kg a day apparently and 150 litres of water.!

With the aid of a few sticks of sugar cane I think we are becoming good friends but    ...........      she's not sure about the silly hat !!

Fortunately for me the school has a mounting platform but it was still a bit difficult to climb on.

So it's  ...

mirror,  signal,  manoeuvre,
                   

    .....  and we're off !!

At first I thought there was no way I could stay on, but it's a long way to fall from the top of an elephant so I persevered !

I am about 2.4m from the ground (average ceiling height) riding on 2.5 tons of elephant.  This is enough to command my respect !!

Topi has a lovely slow, leisurely gait.  After a while you get used to the rhythm of her footsteps and the movement of her shoulders and it really becomes quite comfortable.

You learn to move your upper body in time with her footfall almost as if you're urging her on (which you are doing).

Down steep slopes - lean backwards !

And going up - lean forwards !

Apprentice Mahout and Elephant in perfect harmony !!

It seems I have passed the mornings trials so it's off to the "classroom" to learn about elephant handling while Topi has a well deserved rest.




I am given a beautiful lunch which is weird because I'm the only one here !!





The video on my camera is not very good quality but here is my first upload !



All commands are in Lao so it's a language lesson as well.



Then it's back to Topi (without Howdah now) and off for an afternoon trek through the rain forest and down   ( and into !!! )   the river.

Topi effortlessly climbs up and eases down the steepest slopes where ...
... had I been on foot I would almost certainly have stumbled.

She is so sure footed that I'm not in the least worried about any accidents.
She picks her way so carefully through the undergrowth stepping delicately over any obstacles.

I am astonished and amused by her grace and elegance.
I am smiling - almost laughing - because she is so good at what she does.

Well,  we've never seen an elephant trip up or fall over have we ?



But now it's time to play !






I had no idea that elephants will go completely underwater.


Topi loves it.

( and so do I ! )






Ohn decides to join in leaving Tai on the river bank to take some more pics.








What a fantastic day,  Topi returns to her place in the forest and I float back down the river by a different mode of transport. !



Video quality on my camera is not so good but here's a clip to make the Grandchildren laugh !