The Journey On Elephant Back!

Well Hello There Fellow Travelers And Hivers!

Last week Saturday I wrote a post about some long forgotten photos I found on a long forgotten memory stick that I dug out the back of my closet. It's been somewhere around ten years since that adventure and looking at the photos now it really feels like it happened in a different life time!

I'm scared at how time flies for me lately, my old man told me many years ago I think I was 11 or something at the time. Well he told me "The older you get the faster time goes by." I wish I believed him more than I did.

Anyways! The elephant park adventure is not quite done yet! We still need to go for a ride on them! The riding of the elephants only happened on the second day after we got accustomed to them and they to us!

I have to say, this place was a beauty and beyond! It almost felt like we were smack dead in the middle of a rain forest with a small clearing in the middle! The smell, the feels and the wet dampy atmosphere aahhhhh nothing better than being out in the thick of it!

We had an early morning, mostly because we were all so excited to go elephant riding but also why sleep away our vacation? We enjoyed a cup of coffee from the second story balcony of our room and bathed in the light breeze and sunlight.

Photos see verjaarsdag 114.JPG

I can't remember all that well but we must have had the best room in the lodge. The mounting place for the elephants was right beneath where we were staying. Once again we had the better of the views.

Photos see verjaarsdag 116.JPG

We weren't the first group to ride the elephants of that much we weren't so lucky, but our time came and when we saw the other group returning with the biggest smiles on their faces we knew we were in or a memory making journey! One that would not soon be forgotten, even though I did forget all about it as life went on I did also remember that adventure for a few years after it happened!

Photos see verjaarsdag 120.JPG


And off the first group went! It will be our turn soon!


Photos see verjaarsdag 122.JPG

Judging by the photos there was another group that rode before us, we were group three. It doesn't really matter does it, I still rode an elephant! Can you believe that!

What I found weird was that we didn't mount up at where most of the people mounted up. They came to fetch us and we went for a walk, quite a far walk actually into the green fields of the lodge and down slopey hills. It does make sense that they would rather tire us out than the elephants forcing them to walk up and down the hills, after all they are great big lumpy beasts.

I had no problem with this, I was young and besides that I was full of excitement!

Photos see verjaarsdag 236.JPG

And before we knew it, it was our turn to ride the great lumpy peacefull beasts!

Mum was the first to get mounted and well after that I can't really remember who got on second but again that is of little importance right!

With mum being short as short can be she needed a little help getting up on the back of the elephant, #shortpeopleproblems right 🤣 of that much I have no knowledge I am built fairly long but even that can pose its own problems from time to time hey.

I can remember my heart started pounding as it got closer for me to get up on the back of one.

Photos see verjaarsdag 239.JPG

She was barely on it and I heard her laughing with fear! Laughs one can't really see her face now but sheeeshh I can tell you riding the elephants was the easiest part and the scariest part was when they stood up or went down so that you can get off it!

It felt queer, almost as if you'll be falling off! But we didn't though!

Photos see verjaarsdag 240.JPG


This elephant also wanted to be apart of the photos! Who can blame it I would have sought out the attention as well!


Photos see verjaarsdag 242.JPG

And here I am, ten years ago. Dayum! I look years older now, well I am of-course but sheesh this doesn't look like me at all! I look like I should be in primary school!

Damn what did I try to do with the hairstyle, well it wasn't a style at all I think back then I just wanted to grow it!

Photos see verjaarsdag 241.JPG

There we were treading slowly but steadily through and over the low lying hills! Notice the slope? It was there where I really thought I was going to fall off the elephant but the guide assured me that everything would be fine! That didn't help my heart from freaking out at all though! 😂

Although I have to say I would do it all over again! 20/10!

Photos see verjaarsdag 244.JPG

Photos see verjaarsdag 246.JPG

There I am again! You can't really see me I'm tucked away behind the tour guide! But at this point it was starting to get hella exciting!

Since last week I've been brewing on the idea of doing such an adventure again! The last time mums took me but this time I think I need to spoil her with such an adventure!

Photos see verjaarsdag 245.JPG

Once again the tour guide does deserve some recognition ey! Well at-least one of them! They really put in some effort to make it worth the while for everybody at the lodge! More friendly and dedicated staff I am yet to see!

Photos see verjaarsdag 235.JPG

I originally didn't plan on adding these close ups of the elephants because I didn't really have any context that I could think of to add with them.

BUT they are indeed beautifull and beyond! It's actually quite sad when looking into their eyes from close up. They look somewhat sad to be honest. But when you start walking around them they do get more alive!

The gentle giants of the earth! Gentle but they can trample one so easily!

Photos see verjaarsdag 154.JPG

Photos see verjaarsdag 153.JPG

Photos see verjaarsdag 155.JPG

Photos see verjaarsdag 156.JPG

Photos see verjaarsdag 166.JPG


Dated 03/06/2023

To everyone who made it this far into my post Thank you for the read and the support.

If you found this entertaining or educational please consider a re-blog and up-vote.

Most of all please leave a input in the comments below, whether is good or bad critic I would like to know, whether its your opinion or your way of doing things in a different manner I would like.

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😲😲🤯 what an adventure!!! That would definitely be a unique experience.

The elephants do have a kind of sad look to their faces 🤔 but maybe they actually love being a part of the fun for all their visitors : )

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I do think they enjoy the attention, I think it makes them feel special. After all they are very intelligent.

I have to visit that place again! HAVE TOOOOO

Also sorry for only responding now xD xD Kind of forgot!

!PIZZA
!LUV

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Why nobody told me that time flies so fast when we get old. Now I feel like I a racing with time. 😄

Anyways, love this kind of adventure. No elephants in our place and haven't seen one yet. 😪 That must be exciting, riding on this gentle giant.

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That's probably one of the most amazing things about my country, the abundance of wild life! Everywhere you go there is someplace nice to visit!

I really hope you can someday be in the presence of those gentle giants!

As to time flying, it's certainly flying at the speed of light! SCARY

!PIZZA
!LUV

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Yep, time flies and the hair flies !LOL
A lovely memory shared here.

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Thanks bud!

Luckily I still got all my hair, I'm not very worried about that I don't think it's in our family genetics but who knows sometimes it does skip a few generations xD

I am going grey already though xD xD

!PIZZA
!LUV

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Seems like you were already quite a photographer when you were a young lad. I wouldn't worry too much about time flying by for you, I'm sure it still goes a lot slower compared to many of us here ☹️

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Laughs, well yeah I think I have a lot of time left on my hands!

Yeah the funny part is I don't even have a proper camera after all these years, I just keep on borrowing other people's cameras. I should really do some investing and just buy one!

Thanks @livinguktaiwan and very sorry for the belated reply xD

!PIZZA
!LUV

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Wow, I think that climbing on an elephant but also a ride with an elephant can be an amazing experience.
I didn't have the opportunity to see an elephant so close, the only places where I saw elephants was at the zoo, where they were at an appreciable distance.

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If ever the opportunity arises you should come visit South Africa! We have something of everything to see here!

The ride was beyond amazing! I would not mind one bit to do it all over again!

BTW I gave you a follow there, you look like an adventurer yourself, I see quite a few things I like on your profile there!

!BEER

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Thank you very much for following me, if I ever get to South Africa I will definitely try this experience.
I really like traveling and even more so I want to share it with you.
Greetings from Romania!

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(Edited)

PIZZA!

$PIZZA slices delivered:
@papilloncharity(2/15) tipped @technicalside
technicalside tipped bluepark
technicalside tipped papilloncharity
technicalside tipped livinguktaiwan
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