Up bright and early, we checked out and grabbed a tuk tuk to the elephant nature park HQ. However, our 'driver' apparently couldn't drop us at the centre, so we had to trek with our heavy backpacks, completely unaware of our location. Locals were helpful however, and even a stray dog decided to lead us half the way.

Once arrived, we filled out forms, ate complimentary muffins and handed over our details. Soon, we were confined to a mini bus suffering a documentary on the park, featuring a guy from Neighbours (I didn't know this, it was pointed out to me by an Australian volunteer). A couple of hours later, we arrived at the park. This is when we learnt that the ENP (elephant nature park) was also home to over 400 dogs, unknown numbers of buffalo, 2 horses, 100 rabbits, 8 kittens, numerous cats, poultry, birds, and cows. Apparently they just take in any animal in need.

We had a tour of the park, checked into our room, and began our first task: bathing elephants in the river! We grabbed buckets and got stuck in. We filled buckets of river water and threw them over the gentle giants....and each other. A water fight was in action!

We then fed elephants from a platform, placing fruit and vegetables into there trunk, and taking photos. They were beautiful.

Later that evening, the staff and people from the community gave us a welcome ceremony. Myself, Will and another couple were asked to come to the front with the Shaman (a holy and spiritual figure in Buddhist communities). He explained that he was going to rid us of bad luck, and give us good luck. He chanted and sang in Thai, whilst we sat with palms together. He then tied white string bracelets around our wrists (left for girls, right for boys), whilst entwining them in his fingers. It was a religious ritual, and an amazing experience.

Later that evening, I received some extremely bad news, some that I'm not going to discuss on here. But whilst in tears, threatening to rip off my bracelet and throw it at the Shaman, a friend kindly explained to me that perhaps this is the beginning of the escape of bad luck, and good luck was soon to follow.