The Next Jane Goodall but with Elephants!

I love elephants! They are so cute and snuggly and scratchy and their snouts are super hilarious...Matt thinks I have a special knack for those guys so all you vets I know (basically Dirty and Greggy) watch out - Mat says I'm the next Ms. Goodall. Chang Mai Northern Thailand has been fantastic although the slash and burn method of farming is killing my lungs. This time of the year they burn many of the fields in the area to clear them in case of a natural fires and to get ready for the following season so the air quality is pretty bad. Anyhow... since we have arrived we have gone on a bamboo rafting trip, an elephant trail ride (where I got to play with a baby elephant), visited some local tribes (although that part was super lame since they bring endles numbers of tourists to visit these hill tribes and they have become traps for selling bracelets, earrings, purses, etc., etc) played with 14 month old tigers, took a thai cooking class, and had two super amazing thai masages where they stretch your body and do all of this amazing stuff to work your muscles. The area where we are also has fantastic cuisine (don't try the sushi) such as green curry, fresh sweet pork sticky buns - my fave, pad thai, banana pineapple smoothies, fruit in general, tofu in many forms, and of course Matt's new favorite the amazing fresh squeed OJ. Yes I know they have that at home but it's 1 million % better here.

So today I took a ride with Matt outside the city and got to play with tigers (yes, real tigers) and had the most fantastic time!! I go to rest my head on one of their backs and pet them and play with them in their cages - I was a bit nervous but had the time of my life. It was a once in a lifetime experience and the pitures are the best. I mean I was in heaven and so happy and thrilled and scared and could not belive that I had the chance to do that. Really, only in Thailand.

Tonight we leave for Bangkok - another overnight train although this time we don't have a sleeper, just seats which I am a bit worried about. We are meeting my friend Kevin from work in Bangkok for the day then headed down to the long awaited beaches of Thailand. I am super excited for some water time although for some reason I feel the beaches in India wil be equaly great so I'm not worried about our limited time down south.

Matt and I finally figured out how to post pictures so we will put a few up from time to time on the blog. We probabaly won't be on the internet as much this week as the place we have been staying is always connected but thanks everyone for the fabulous emails so far - it's nice to hear from you. This trip is one incredible day after another. Traveling is definately a bit tiring but we are about to RELAX on the beach for the next week so don't feel too sorry for us. Lots of love!