Before I came to the United States, a former exchange student told me to watch out for some U.S. students asking me strange questions about Thailand. “What kind of questions?” I asked. “Something like ‘Do you ride an elephant to school,’” he said. And I thought he was just kidding.
An elephant walking on the street in Bangkok. Credit: ournewoffice.com
Just for a clarification, folks, I do not ride an elephant to school. Yes, we have plenty of elephants in Thailand, but riding them to school is impossible. Especially when I live in Bangkok – a city of 11 million people with the worse traffic jam on earth. Having an elephant walking on the road is illegal. Repeat, illegal. Thus, if you see something like this (picture on the right), call the police.
Aside from that law, Thailand is actually an elephant-loving country. Elephants are the country’s revered symbol. In old times, elephants fought alongside the kings in battles, which is depicted through a famous Thai animation. We love elephants for their strength and cleverness, as we train elephants to play soccer and paint. We set up a special hospital for elephants. And to prove our fondness of elephants, we design a building after them. Ta da:
Elephant building in Bangkok. Credit: neatorama.com
So, to ride an elephant in Thailand is a perfectly logical choice. Chiang Mai is one of the popular places. But for the purposes of new discovery and unique experience, I suggest you go to Surin. This northeastern province of Thailand is famous for its elephants. Here, you will find Surin’s Elephant Village, where the locals are descendant of the Kuay ethnic group. The Kuay are gifted in capturing, training and taking care of elephants. In Surin, unlike Chiang Mai, elephants are considered friends sharing the same house instead of labors. As a bonus, Surin provides you with a plethora of ancient Khmer ruins and ethnic diversity you won’t find anywhere else.
