Elephants, never forget, but sadly I do.

 I have completely failed to write up about the trip, but as no one reads this account that is fine, however, I still write as maybe one day someone will read it (N) and it helps me remember what I have done and to reflect on how incredibly lucky I am 

Last night as displacement activity I re-watched The Railway Man with Colin Firth, which was set in Kanchanaburi and even filmed I now know in some of the places we visited.   It is not an easy watch but has a joyful end, and is based on a true story. 

I know when I was in Thailand I kept telling myself to enjoy it more and what an amazing opportunity it was and one I was unlikely to have again, but the mind sometimes has other ideas.  However, the day visiting the elephants was just wonderful. It did take longer than expected to get there and I was a bit alarmed when they said we would have to walk through the jungle to find the elephants but the young couple and young Dutchman, who had also booked on the trip helped me when necessary and on the whole I was fine.  And then we found the elephants and were entranced all day basically, only stopping for a delicious and much needed veggie meal midday.   The setting was beautiful up in the mountains.  The place I went to does not allow physical contact with the elephants, but we were allowed to get very close, to the four beautiful beasts. All had been working elephants for example one pair were a mother and daughter who had been separated during their working lives, but who were happy to be back together again in later life.