Thai Buddhist Temple

BBQ-ed coconut

After washing, changing and returning to my own clothes, we left the elephant camp with gleeful thanks to all. On route we stopped for a cold coconut water drink straight from the coconut. It was one of the most delicious drinks I’ve ever had, especially when hot, sweaty and tired. I was told not to stop after the coconut water but crack open the coconut (the lady had a cleaver) and eat the coconut inside. The real gem was a taste of coconut that had been “barbecued”, as they called it. Smoked is the reality. Wow.

Beauty is a Beast

Then we went to my most anticipated experience of all:  Tiger Camp. I had no idea what to suspect. Again, tons of tourist vehicles. You could sign up to have photos taken or just  a love experience with four types of tigers: smallest, smaller, medium and big. (?). Of course we chose the works. We were let pass the tall walls and gates. In a rather limited areas, were huge areas fenced off with black chain fences at least 12 foot high. Inside, in divisions, gorgeous tigers played rigorously in and out of pools and jumping over giant logs and wrestling with each other. (We had been told to go in the late afternoon when the tigers played in the cooling air.) 

Dare ya!

Getting Crowded Here

The older tigers were separated into groups of four and by age. The babies were in a special area which we were allowed into after reading rules – like don’t touch the tiger on the head or front, always approach from behind then they know you aren’t there to play. Of course no loud noise and a bunch of other rules. I was game. So we slipped off our shoes and were let in an area where the smallest were playing and a photographer (who wore a mouth mask) snapped away asking me to do all sort of stupid kind of poses with the babies. Like growl like a tiger. No, thanks. These are REAL Tigers, man. Don’t you understand?

Did you hear the one……

Then we left that area and moved to another and so forth going through the same poses with the next age level.  In the medium tiger area the beasts were most vigorous and leaping in and out of a pool playing attack or Rambo or something. I sat on the edge of the pool and a pair of them tumbled into the water at the same time and I was showered again in water. Wet again. After awhile, what you look like matters not at all.

The most awesome was moving into the giant tigers’ area. A huge male was sleeping on a slab of concrete. I was told to approach from him from behind and sit on the edge of the table. OMG! this extraordinary orange and black creature looked up a minute from his snooze, and I rubbed his tummy and back and laid on him and 

iced coconut milk soup

The best of the best

held his heavy rope of a tail and wondered why life wasn’t like this all the time. One huge cat more majestic than all the human versions of kings. I breathed along with him a while – might have fallen asleep with the peace I felt – and then it was back to reality. 

Jaed at her Market stall

As we headed back to our Villas, we stopped at a small street market where Jaeb, the cooking teacher, had her stand in order to pick up our masterpieces from the day before. What a treat.! At a neighboring booth was a vendor of the cold coconut milk/noodle/melon/bean/ exotic things soup. Well, it’s not soup. It’s liquid. I purchased a cup. Crushed ice is added to make it really cold. And – well, what else could one ask in paradise?