Thursday Elephant Trekking + Rock Climbing Got collected from our nice hotel (Krabi Tropical), and set out for the jungle. Since we went for the morning trip, we were the only people there along with another couple. Darren and I shared an elephant, on a little seat on top, whilst the guide rode bare-back on the elephant's neck. I chose the company went with carefully, since I know some on the elephant trekking companies don't treat the animals humanely. However, even the guides we were with, had little poles with hooks attached to the end (feeling a bit dube already). We set off behind the other couple, but then the guide took us along a different path, into the jungle. We had to cross a small river to start, which was a bit surreal, since the elephant took such huge steps, and it prob just seemed like a puddle to it. The guide suddenly gave the elephant a huge thump with the hook and the elephant made a low growl- so I was least pleased. I didn't know how much that hook would hurt a big elephant- maybe it was just like using reigns, but I found that hard to believe. Whilst on the trek, the guide seemed to be talking elephant language and using monkey noises to communicate directions to it. At one point, a big fallen branch blocked our route and the guide seemed to direct the elephant to move it with it's trunk, which it did. Twas pretty cool. Part of me thought the guide and elephant had a good relationship and maybe the way he tapped the elephant on the head with the pole was a friendly thing, but when he really whacked it- there's no doubt that was cruel. Twas really cool riding through the forest under the limestone cliffs. We saw loadsa huge spiders- Joe would've loved it! In fact, Darren very nearly had his face in a spider's web, but luckily the guide warned him just in time! We stopped in a clearing for the guide to take a pic of us and then he acted as if he was gona make off with me camera- funny. We headed back to the main camp and got ton feed Mr elephant some bananas. Darren and I were just thinking how tiny the bananas must seem to them- prob like peanuts! We then watched Mr elephant taking a bath in the river, which was cool- then went for a little swim ourselves. This cool Thai guy chatted to us about the World cup and told us how he's the 'Professor of Elephants' and knows each elephant really well. I asked him if they had a breeding program and he said they do indeed breed them and once the babies are weaned (after about 2 years), they are sent to the Shangri-La Hotel to give little kids rides around the gardens. Then once they are old enough, they come back to the camp to give real treks. He pointed out one of the female elephants that was currently pregnant and she was huuuuge. He then showed us to a small nearby waterfall and Darren launched himself off a tree a few times. I joined in for a bit- there were loads of hidden spider's webs about but was still really cool. My first waterfall swimming experience- something I've been waiting to do my entire gap year! Twas fab. Once back at Au Nang, we grabbed some lunch, got changed, then Darren sunbathed while I got a henna tattoo. We were then collected by the "Cliff Man" dude- Tam. He took us to get a Long Tail boat to Railay. He was so funny- kept telling us about how he just got 'Medicine in me bum". He was a total rasta and was either oober stoned or a bit zonked from the medicine in his bum. I was just hoping he wouldn't be the one at the end of my climbing rope! Arrived to be greeted by our instructor, A. She (well most of the climbers) had awesome tattoos and quite a lot of the climbers seemed to have various injuries, which wasn't very encouraging. But nah, twas all really professional and an absolutely amaaazing place! We kitted up, were taken to the limestone cliff wall and shown the ropes- literally. Just after we had finished learning the knots, a rain cloud hit us. It quickly passed and luckily the sun came out, so the wall dried pretty quickly. One guy went up first to put all of the hooks in, so that I would have a safety rope for my climb. I head up first and was determined not to look down. Was amazing to reach the top and the most fun was always abseiling back down. The views up there were amazing, over the rainforest and limestone cliffs in the distance. Darren made it up after me, then we took a break as another rain cloud passed. The next route was ever so slightly trickier. We had 2 over-hangs that I just couldn't beat. Was fun giving it a go though. There were a group of cocky. inconsiderate Americans there, which was quite painful, as well as a South American dude who was chatting up all of the ladies. The French guy that was climbing with us was pretty cool and is currently working in Vietnam, so we chatted about that for a bit. The workers were too funny. One Thai guy with a Mohawk started chatting to us and came out with "Och aye the noo!" I was flabbergasted- took a second to register what he had said, and when I did, I creased myself that he knew such a term. Turns out he learns a phrase from every set of climbers from around the world and has now got quite a universal vocabulary! After a few hours of climbing, we headed back to the "rock climber's hangout', which was a bar and funky seats next to the climbing office. It was an awesome place- so chilled out and everyone was up for chatting. Tam asked Darren if he'd ever tried "Chang Beer", cause he was wearing a Chang Beer top. He cracked open a couple of bottles for us and it turned out to be the best beer either of us have ever tasted (and I don't even like beer!). We just chilled out for a couple of hours and bought some "Cliffsman" fisherman's pants before we had to head back to Au Nang in the long tail boat in the pouring rain. Was quite a damp, yet amusing journey. We both totally fell in love with Railay that day- twas a really shame we couldn't have stayed there longer- but someday we'll def make it back! I recommend it to anyone going to Thailand- go to Railay!! Once back in Ao Nang, we crammed into the same loo to get changed, which the Thai waitresses found highly amusing. Got a meal then headed back to the hotel for a dip in the pool, which looks amazing with twinkly lights at night.