Thailand is all about the elephants! Now that logging is mechanized (and technically outlawed in Thailand) the elephants are out of a job. But Thai elephant population lives on with their newfound job of carrying people and performing in shows. I leave it to you to decide if this is a good thing. Elephant camps do ensure that the elephant population of thailand survives. Of course, it would be really great if their habitats were preserved and elephants were all free to wander the forests.

We went to a beautiful elephant camp just North of Chiang Mai. The seat lurches forward and back as the elephant plods her way over the forest hills. The hills are green and peaceful with lots of grass for the elephants to eat and banana trees. The 38 year old elephant seemed happy and reached up once in a while for us to give her some bananas.

In the first picture, my mom and dad enjoy the trip as their elephant slogs through the mud.

In the second picture, as part of the elephant show, many of the elephants have been taught to paint - and not just abstract brush strokes. This one painted flowers with leaves and stems!