Chiang Mai, Thailand

**There’s a message from a special guest blogger at the end of this post! 

Early morning barista magic...Natalie’s cat! Rose dug into her teddy bear before I could get a photo. 

After breakfast, we boarded a van for an hour drive to visit an elephant sanctuary.

Unfortunately, Hillary’s stomach has been bothering her for the past day and she was not well enough to take the three hour elephant trek through the jungle. Natalie was anxious about the ride, so she stayed behind with Hillary. The sanctuary gave the two of them a hotel room on property for the day with WiFi, so they were happy campers.

Before we left for the trail, we learned all the differences between Asian and African elephants. Then we met the elephants and fed them bananas. 

Mallory’s elephant was a five year old “baby”. She was very comfortable riding. Total pro!

Rosalie was on her own elephant to start but I asked to have her ride with me instead. It would have been a long day for her and it helped ease my anxiety! To be honest, I’m terrified of heights and being high up in the mountains was making me nervous. She talked me down most of the ride and was a great partner. We rode Bonchun, a 46 year old Asian elephant, who was adorable!

Jay’s elephant was massive!

At the peak of the mountain we stopped to have lunch and watch the elephants bathe themselves!

Lunch was more pad thai and sticky rice...we’re eating a lot of this but who can complain?

We each got elephant kisses (Rose declined)! It felt like a vacuum suctioning your cheek and was a little smelly. 

We also received facials using clay from the mountain. When we reached the river bed and washed off, our faces were so soft and smooth. 

Before heading back down the mountain, we gave this elephant a spa treatment of her own with the clay. She is seven months pregnant but unlike humans, elephants are pregnant for TWO YEARS, so she has a bit of a way to go!

Incredible views...

Natalie and Hillary met us down by the river where we swam with the elephants. 

We were sprayed by their trunks!

We also hitched a ride!

This photo of Natalie makes me laugh...when they told her to lean back, she got quite the ride!

Right to the face!

We had an incredibly memorable day, one for the books! Jay does an amazing job researching beforehand and I know these memories will last a lifetime!

After heading back into the city, we stopped along the river for pizza. The girls were craving a little bit of home cooking. 

This mojito was much deserved!

After dinner the girls and I went straight to bed. Jay went to a traditional Muay Thai boxing match nearby! We had originally all planned to go but it was for the best that we stayed behind. Jay said two of the matches ended with fighters concussed and it was all very aggressive. 

MESSAGE FROM GUEST BLOGGER ROSALIE...

Hi, 

This is Rosalie. Yesterday me and my family went to the elephant excursion. I had a great experience. It was also my very first time seeing a elephant. They were very cute and calm. We rode elephants up a mountain which was extremely fun (and a little scary). After riding up the mountain we stopped to eat lunch. We had pad thai and sticky rice. It was delicious. After lunch we went to get elephant kisses. I was too scared and chickened out. Later, we did an elephant spa. We got face masks and massaged a pregnant elephant. Then we went back to riding the elephants but I walked instead. When we got down to the river we swam with the elephants. That was my favorite part. We got sprayed with a lot with water by the elephants and got lifted up on their trunks. It was amazing. Then we rode back on the elephants again. I had an amazing time.

Fun fact: Mother elephants are pregnant for two years!

Sincerely,

Rosalie