Lessons from a Bumpy Elephant Ride

The itinerary of a recent tour to Chiangmai includes a visit to the Elephant Camp where you watch elephants paint and perform stunts as well as a ride on an elephant crossing stretches of a stream and through some forest terrains. Having heard from someone that the ride can be quite scary especially when the elephant goes up and down steep slopes there was some fear when I stood on the platform waiting to ride the next elephant that arrived. The woman in the same tour and queuing after me told her husband she wanted to quit after observing the height of the row of elephants approaching the platform. That made me more fearful. The next elephant that approached which was meant for me and my husband to ride turned out to be quite short and young and measured only two third the height of the matured elephant trotting behind it. The woman behind me then suggested to me to swap elephants. I told her no way I would do that because I was just as nervous. So my husband and me stepped onto the seat fastened above the young elephant. What I didn't know was shorter doesn't mean safer.

It was already past two and the park closes at 3 pm. Either the trainer riding the young elephant or the elephant itself or both were impatient and wanted to reach home base to rest. So whilst every other matured elephant went slowly in an orderly manner down the slope following the one in front, my young elephant and its driver were bent on overtaking the elephants in front sometimes sidestepping on untrodden path and going "stomp, stomp, stomp" instead of the slow and steady step by step rhythm. Even after getting used to the initial fearful sensation of falling I could not help but pleaded the driver not to overtake; all to no avail because he didn't understand English. Nevertheless I got used to their style and kind of enjoyed the last stretch of the ride.

Thinking through the sequence of this encounter, I was fearful, I was given a chance to choose what unknown to me was a less hazardous alternative but I declined out of fear and selfishness. Fortunately all went well. I just think that sometimes in life you can actually walk away from something which could have been good for you. If out of ignorance then nothing much can be said but if out of selfishness then you deserve it. (Maybe the elephant wanted to teach me a lesson). Fortunately I got away with just a bumpy ride that scared the wits out of me.

Anyhow with hindsight I wouldn't wish that for the lady, would I?