(NOTE: The last entry I made, "The Slide" for some reason shows up before the previous entry. I can't get it fixed. If you haven't read "The Slide", then that is the last entry. Now, on to today.)

The skin is tough, the ears are huge . The ground seems far away.

What a fun hike I had at the waterfalls. A good lunch of Pad Thai and a fruit plate of watermelon and pineapple and I am ready for another adventure.

In Thailand, elephants are the most revered of all animals. They are amazing animals and are still a very active part in Thai society and culture.

Today I go to the Elephant Camp to ride an elephant. This is on my bucket list, which I am crossing things off of more often now. I am a little disappointed, though, as I see you get to ride these elephants riding in a chair on top, while the mahout rides the elephant.

I really want to ride on the elephant itself. Oh, well, I don't say anything but tell my friends that I will enjoy this today but before leaving SE Asia I will find a place where I can ride on the elephants' neck.

I am directed to a platform on high stilts . I climb the stairs and, there, I see my mahout (elephant trainer) on the elephant and the bench seat ready for me to ride. They tell me to step on the elephants' back and sit down in the seat.

We ride though the fields and trees along the river. Each step the elephant takes I go from side to side with him. It is more side to side motion riding this seat than I thought it would be. Hold on!

After 5 or so minutes, the mahout stops the elephant and gets to the ground. I motion with my camera if he will take my picture on this beast. He doesn't understand english, but understands hand signals. He kindly takes several pictures with me in the seat.

Then, I motion if I can sit on the neck. Yes, he motions back. I move down the elephants back and wrap my legs around his neck. Tough skin and some hair. He takes some pictures.

I figure he will want me to move back to my seat and let him back on his beast, but he starts walking and lets me stay on the neck of the elephant . This is just what I wanted. What a great experience.

Riding on the neck, there is not as much side to side motion as there was in the seat. There is some though, and I hold on to the rope around the elephants neck.

We walk through the fields and trees along the river. The mahout is happy to walk an let me ride. Then, the elephant starts up a hill and begins to trot a little. It is fun, this quick pace. I love it. I hold on to my rope.

The mahout is calling something to the elephant but the elephant just wants to get up the hill. I don't know where the brakes are, and really don't want to use them anyway. At the top of the hill the elephants finally listens to the trainer and starts walking again. The mahout looks at me and says,"OK?" I laugh and say, "OK". He laughs, glad I liked the ride.

He walks and I ride and he gives commands from the ground and the elephant stops and turns at his orders. I ride this way until we are just about back to the starting point. Then, the mahout gets back on and I slide to my seat.

I get off and give him a nice tip and he gives me my first wail. I don't know if I am supposed to waii him back or not.

It was so much fun and I'm glad he was the one I rode with.