Always fascinating to see oneself through the "camera" eye of someone else..... even as scary as that may be!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Teaching on... the wild side!
One of my Thai students captured this image of me while teaching....
Always fascinating to see oneself through the "camera" eye of someone else..... even as scary as that may be!
Always fascinating to see oneself through the "camera" eye of someone else..... even as scary as that may be!
An elephant still loves me!
Two weeks into volunteering at Maetaman Elephant Camp ....
The elephants still love me!
Of course ... it helps when I'm the one who gives them their mid morning snack ... done with great care so that all I get is elephant tongue on me ... without my hand becoming part of the snack!
The elephants still love me!
Of course ... it helps when I'm the one who gives them their mid morning snack ... done with great care so that all I get is elephant tongue on me ... without my hand becoming part of the snack!
How to control and elephant?
I continue to be amazed how these little Thai mahouts control these huge elephants! Other than with their voice commands... which I find fascinating that these gigantic mammals respond to ....
A short stick with a metal tip.... whether the sharp end is placed on the thick skull of the elephant... or...
The metal tip is hooked over the elephant's ear ..... the elephant responds!
A short stick with a metal tip.... whether the sharp end is placed on the thick skull of the elephant... or...
The metal tip is hooked over the elephant's ear ..... the elephant responds!
Oh the joys of being a little kid again, playing in the mud .... with real, live, elephants!
This was truly one of the high points of my week..... giving the elephants a mud bath! Now it is a little uncertain, who got more mud on them, me, or the elephants ... but a good time was had by all!
After trekking up into the very lush green jungle,
About a mile or so in the mountains,
We arrived at our destination.... a black mud bath area....
The elephants were not hesitant at all about getting muddy...
In fact, the elephants played and played in the mud .... the mud coating helps clean their skin, and kills larva which may have lodged in their hide.
So I slipped and slid through the mud, right along with the elephants, having to move out of their way from time-to-time as they frolicked in the mud!
As the rain fell.... I just stood out in it .... hoping the drops would wash away at least a little of the mud!
This was truly one of the high points of my week..... giving the elephants a mud bath! Now it is a little uncertain, who got more mud on them, me, or the elephants ... but a good time was had by all!
After trekking up into the very lush green jungle,
About a mile or so in the mountains,
We arrived at our destination.... a black mud bath area....
The elephants were not hesitant at all about getting muddy...
In fact, the elephants played and played in the mud .... the mud coating helps clean their skin, and kills larva which may have lodged in their hide.
So I slipped and slid through the mud, right along with the elephants, having to move out of their way from time-to-time as they frolicked in the mud!
As the rain fell.... I just stood out in it .... hoping the drops would wash away at least a little of the mud!
Temple ... 160 steps to the top!
On our way back from cutting corn to feed the elephants, we stopped at this temple..
We could see it for miles, since the gold peak of this temple reached so far into the sky.
The inside of this temple was very different from most I've seen in Thailand .... this was more of an octagon, with Buddha statues around the sides and oil paintings on the walls.
In the center of the temple, we found a spiral staircase leading to the very top.... 160 steps took us there.... (great workout!)
The view from the top of the temple was spectacular!
A great meditation room at the very top of the temple.... where I paused...
We could see it for miles, since the gold peak of this temple reached so far into the sky.
The inside of this temple was very different from most I've seen in Thailand .... this was more of an octagon, with Buddha statues around the sides and oil paintings on the walls.
In the center of the temple, we found a spiral staircase leading to the very top.... 160 steps took us there.... (great workout!)
The view from the top of the temple was spectacular!
A great meditation room at the very top of the temple.... where I paused...
It's elephant mud bath time!
I am not sure who enjoyed this activity the most ..... the elephants or me!
With the rain falling, the elephants immediately walked into the mud bath ... and I quickly followed with container in hand to scoop up the black mud cleaners and rub it on the elephants.
With the rain falling, the elephants immediately walked into the mud bath ... and I quickly followed with container in hand to scoop up the black mud cleaners and rub it on the elephants.
Cutting corn... feeding the elephants
This part of the work week never seemed to change! Cutting enough grass or corn to feed the elephants!
So this week it was cutting corn ... easier and faster to chop down than grass.
Bundle up the cut corn with a cord ....
And feed it to the elephants.....
So this week it was cutting corn ... easier and faster to chop down than grass.
Bundle up the cut corn with a cord ....
And feed it to the elephants.....
Packaging tasty "elephant" snacks!
A fun addition to this week's schedule....
Had Ivona, one of the other volunteers, and I making elephant snacks!
Best part was giving the elephants their mid morning snack.
Had Ivona, one of the other volunteers, and I making elephant snacks!
Best part was giving the elephants their mid morning snack.
Teaching English.... the fun continues!
These students would crack me up as they'd go through "My favorite food is .....!"
Frequently I'd stop my teaching to help a student with the pronunciation of a specific word.
The group of "M2" students learning "Row, row, row your boat!" They immediately got it and were able to sing it in rounds..... little out of tune at times, but they were singing in English!
Everyone loved this gold bouncing ball .... here ... one of my favorites! "My name is Alice and I come from America where I sell Apples!" Toss the ball to another student and move to the next letter of the alphabet!
I learned on this trip that students in general do much better speaking English when they have something in their hands ... like a big green ball. Much more fun to do math this way!
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