Hey guys... Ok So I am now in Laos and loving it, but I will take you back to Chaing Mai and my Elephant volunteering experience - which was only 5 days ago, but seems like 5 months.

Last Monday 13th - me and Melissa the US girl went to the Elephant Nature park. It was soo good. This park was the brain child of this lady called Lek. If you google Elephant Nature PArk, Chiang Mai and her name you can read all about it. She is a granddaughter of a Shamen of one of the hill tribes and was brought up with Elephants. It started when she rescued one elephant and manged to get land from some wealthy US businessman and then continued to rescue. The stories behind the elephants are horrific - u can see the scars of where the Mahout (elephant trainer) of past used hooks to control them, some of them came from the logging industry and others were used for begging in the street. There was this one that had a broken back (really obvious) where she was used in the forced breeding programmes, which involved chaining the legs open and forcing the bulls to mount them. On this occasion the bull could smell that she had already had an infant and during sex, broke her back on purpose by putting all his weight on her.. it si so sad. But at this park, they have their own mahouts, that no the elephant inside out, they are nto allowed to ahve any sort of tool or weapon to control and only use words. They are allowed to wonder wherever they want and it is they who decide where adn what to do not the mahouts. The have a medical centre, they have daily baths and have specific diets to each Ele.

So after this amazing day I felt I wanted to volunteer. The volnteer programme was meant to be from Mon to Mon but I explained I didn't have time to do a full week, so they allowed me to do 3 days and 2 nights. The following day I rocked up, thinking it would be a gentle introduction... No no, I got there at 9am, 5 mins later, I was handed my wellies (which was to stay with me for the duration) my water bottle and holder and given a shovel... (a shovel??) net thing I new, I was in the elephant shelters where they sleep, shovelling s***... this is no ordinary poo, it is the sie of my head, I was sweating like u wouldn't believe. I soon realised what the next few days would be like. Following this hours work, we had a cup of tea and then into the fiels to do some weeding. We had to wedd around the newly planted trees as they are trrying to create a forest for them, there was everything in this bloody field, with every hand full of weeds came a new species of bug. After this we had a gorgeous lunch - Thai buffet food. Around 2pm afternoon chores began, which believe it or not involved yet more s***! This time pony. There were 2 of us chosen to do the horse, 2 to do the cows and 5 to do the pigs (we got off lightly). we were told the pony was not nice - apparently the other girls were shouting to us to run as the horse was bolting towards us.. we didnt hear them until we swung around and saw this wild creature heading straight for us. My little legs has never carried me so fast - i dived over the fence head 1st - hilarious on reflection not o funny at the time.

In the evening we had time with the elephants - we fed and bathed them. There was no entertainment - only cards in a night light = otherwise everywhere was PITCH black. My hut was about 5 min walk, situated with the locals, on the river. My 'en suite' was a lean too, open holes for all sorts to get in and a hose pipe for a shower with cold water. We had to use a torch to get back to huts - and I made these girls walk me back. There were also 60 dogs, (all had been vaccinated) at the park, but still flee ridden, we were told that they usally find their way into the rooms, which I was having none of - the last thing I wanted was them scratching to get out in the middle of the night, which would see me getting tangled up in my numerous mosi nets (just incase) and then having panick attack cos can't find the door. I was also held hostage in my room by a cat - I opened the door to find one circling my legs - all i thought was rabies, so I went back into room. crept around the back, saw it sitting on my porch, tried to escape - until the b**tard thing spotted me - I stayed in my room for 15 mins until he got fed up!

I finally got my massage in the park. It was GORGEOUS. All you could hear was the sound of the jungle - frogs, crickets and other unidentified whistles and tunes, in smallest of glows from a night light. it was an hour long for 2quid. I decided to have another the next night and she bloody hurt. She was using her elbows... being a polite Brit i grinned and beared it, but the curling of my toes gave it away... I am covered in tiny little bruises. I had to fight the urge not to hit her back ;)

On my 2nd day - We were bundled in the back of a truck where we picked up some locals and were driven to a field. It POURED down. I had long sleeve top on (given by the park, a hat with neck flap, gloves and wellies) no waterproofs and I was Soaked through to the bone. We were given maschettes and had to chop down the whole field full of corn. It was fun but hard work. There was no way of drying the clothes back at the park, so for 3 days I was either wet or dirty, was looking fwd to getting back to Chiang Mai for a hot shower and clean clothes. On the way back froim the field - the truck was filled to the brim with allt he corna nd were expected to sit on the top of this open truck, being slapped in the face by every brack we passed! :) Was fun tho.

And then on my last day- we went to a local school and were split into groups. We could either have massage from kids, make bracelets, cook, teach English or play with the young 3-5 yr olds, I chose the latter - OMG they were so much work, I was shattered.. But so cute! They were all so cuddly and wanting attention all the time! They could be quite aggressive to each other tho, I had to separate 3 boys, who were squaring up to each other - hilarious!

So that was my Elephant Volunteering experience. There were about 20 people on the project - from all over, met some lovely people, one guy to took a shine to me, even tho his lovely g/f was there at the park. Everything I said or did he was turning it into a inuendo, it was like being back at work :) Even when I told him he was making me sick in my mouth, he loved it :) he was from London - he would say - "leAnne you're a facking nu'er - u Wewsh are cri-zy - but I loves ya" Why do I seem to pull these?????

Melissa my US friend didn't come volunteering she went to Pai, so after CM I caught a bus to Laos - the bus from Hell. I am meant to meet up with Melissa again here sometime. I will now start another blog for the Laos installment ;) Get yourself a cuppa!!!! x x x x x