Rustic Pathways- The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre

Who doesn't want the bragging rights of being a "Certified Elephant Trainer"?

Day to day life included waking up at 6am and trekking out into the jungle to grab your designated elephant and give him or her a morning bath in the nearby lake. As you scrub the caked on mud off of them, they squirt water all over you with their trunks and you can almost hear them giggling along with you. You and your mahout (elephant trainer) spend the rest of the day gathering food, cleaning, practicing thai commands, getting on and off the giant creatures, and building trust between you and your new best friend- your elephant. The mahouts are very very friendly and love to practice their english with you as well as help you with your thai! Each and every time we interacted, we were all sent into a fit of laughter, I miss each and everyone of them. They teach you how to make bamboo coffee mugs, harnesses for you elephant, and even how to make some traditional foods!

The atmosphere of the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre is unlike any other place in the world. I loved it so much, I went back twice! And now because of my weeks in the jungles of thailand I have realized my passion for elephants and plan on working with them for the rest of my life. A piece of me was left here- go leave a piece of yourself alongside mine.