Chiang Mai - Elephant Riding

My first day in Chiang Mai I hired a car and driver to show me around.  He was excellent and gave a running commentary on the city and life here.

The elephant place was about one hour from my hotel, so lots of city to see on the way.  They have about 40 elephants there - they raise them there, and I saw several babies.

There was the option for the show, for elephant riding, or both.  I chose both.

The show began with the elephants walking in circus style, trunks holding the tails of the one in front, and then they started the games.

One was good a hulu

Most of them were able to put a hat on their minder's head

It was kind of cute, as they tap it down once on...

Then the got out the paints and easels, and the elephants showed off their artistic skills.  Some of the drawings were pretty random, but I'm sure one of them intended flowers - it was quite good.

The minders showed several ways of getting on and off of the elephants.  They can stand on the trunk and the elephant will lift them onto the head, or they can stand on a leg, and the elephant holds it out and they basically walk up it.

And then it was time for my ride.  Us tourists don't get to ride bareback - we have to sit in the box.  I was surprised by the feel, the lumbering walk of the elephant sways a lot from side to side, and also lopes up and down - you have to hang on all the time.  The minder, however just sat cross legged on the elephant's neck and seemed in perfect balance all the time.

It wasn't constant walking - the elephants want to eat constantly, so we kept having refueling pit stops on the way.

Anyway, here are the rest of the pics...