I caught up with my country manager and some friends in Bangkok, living it up in a very swanky apartment of a boss of a friend, then on to some nearby towns to the north to witness the traditional Thai wedding of a fellow volunteer (in the process, appearing on Thai TV), and to do the tourist thing again amongst ruins, elephants and monkeys in Ayuthaya and Lop Buri with volunteer buddy Liz. Busy!
Danielle was planning her wedding from the very start of our assignments, so it was great to see her big day. It was the first wedding held at this particular Elephant Kraal, the community living at the park went all out and everyone had a part to play in the traditional activities. Colourful and Elaborate, I'm inclined to say, and there was a strong media contingent to capture the day.
The ceremony: monk chanting, water blessings, wrist strings, dowry gifts....
.....a village procession, & lotsa, lotsa elephants (including a day-old one)
The ceremony: monk chanting, water blessings, wrist strings, dowry gifts....
.....a village procession, & lotsa, lotsa elephants (including a day-old one)
Probably the craziest tale to tell would be about the phenomenal number of monkeys at a temple in Lop Buri, and being chased by one beady little rat-like one we named Clefty. The stuff of nightmares. There were some pretty mangy looking gremlins making mischief.
After all that touring around, we relaxed back at the central Bangkok digs - poor volunteers love freebies, and boy I loved that pool.
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