After updating my blog I realised that I forgot to mention our trip to see the Elephants. The day before we left for Racha Island we decided to go on an Elephant Trek. I found one not far from Kata beach and they had a free shuttle service so we were able to avoid being ripped off by the tuk tuk drivers. It is a cute little place, basically just a hut with a bar on a hill with fabulous views. There were 4 elephants with seats strapped to their backs waiting. We climbed up onto the platform so we were able to climb on easily. Our friend Arron took Judd with him on the first Elephant, then Marcus brother and his wife took the second and Marcus, Lillie and I took the third one. It was awkward climbing on and we had to take our shoes off and step onto the elephants back. They then tie this tiny rope across you as a seat belt and the mahout (elephants keeper) climbs up and off we went. It was a surreal feeling. The sway and rock made us feel like any moment we would fall off the side or over the back. And the twists and turns of the windy track up the hill had me sceptical if our huge elephant would be able to squeeze through. But for such big bulky animals they are really quite agile and I watched the elephant in front of us carrying Brett and Tracie and he always checked his footing before stepping, making sure each time the ground under his huge weight was stable. I spent alot of time behind the camera trying not to miss anything. Occasionally Judd would yell back to us from his high perch and wave and Arron said later that Judd did not stop talking for a minute the entire trip. Lillie didn't say a word the entire time, she just sat and stared in wonder at the huge animal we were sitting on, she was fascinated.
Now yesterday back in Patong we met the taxi driver Marcus had arranged to take us to some tourist spots and we first went to a Snake Show which was awesome. As we were the first to arrive the snake men (as they call themselves) took us around each cage explaining the different types of cobras and pythons and tree snakes they had, they got out the non poisonous ones for us to hold and even Judd and Lillie wanted to touch. We also got to have our photos taken with a HUGE Python. It was so heavy, Judd wasn't too sure about this big guy but none the less he still stood next to it and posed for the photos. I got to have my turn and I could feel the snakes tail wandering down near my shorts and after I had to take him off I realised that his tail was wound up the leg of my shorts between my legs. It was so heavy and cold to touch, I loved every part of it. Unfortunately the photos we paid for were terrible but we took our own so thankfully we did get some better shots. Marcus held the Python with Lillie in his arms and when the snake started wrapping around her she freaked out a bit and started pushing at it.
The show itself was great, the snake men pulled out cobras and pythons and mangrove snakes all poisonous except the python. They even got close enough to kiss them. One of the snake men lost part of his lip one day when he was attempting to kiss the cobra and it bit him, he is lucky to be alive. Judd loved seeing the snakes and it turned out to be such a great experience even for us big kids.
After the Snake Show our driver took us to the Phuket Zoo. This wasn't anywhere near as nice as the Melbourne Zoo, but it did have attractions like getting photos with every different animal you can. We got one with a Tiger cub, a Eagle, a Monkey, a Tiger, an Elephant which Lillie and I were riding bare back on. The was a smaller Elephants but she was beautiful with a scraggy patch on hair on her head. I hopped up and a man passed me Lillie and we went for a short walk which felt incredible as we had no saddle or seat, just a small bit of rope to hold onto and thank god I did because she launched back on her back legs to pose for the photo and if I wasn't holding on tight we would have both toppled to the ground. It was an amazing feeling, her bones and muscles under me and when she walked it felt like I was going to slip off her back. Their skin is really rough and tough but soft at the same time.
After the Elephant we came across a full grown Tiger who people were getting photos with. Arron was very keen to get his photo with one. I love animals but this guy was huge with big teeth and massive head so I wasn't so sure at first but I couldn't miss out so Marcus and I both got next to it and gave him a reassuring pat asking him not to eat my head off. His fur was rough and he was so big, I could have fit my head in his mouth easily. We wanted Judd to come with us but he was having a sook over something so unfortunately he missed out and Lillie tried but got scared at the last minute and I don't blame her since the Tigers keeper only had one arm! We also saw a monkey show that wasn't very exciting, Judd wasn't even entertained by it. The Zoo itself is run down and the poor animal enclosures are filthy, barren concrete cells with a small rope for a monkey to swing on or 30 crocodiles in one pen with manky green water. There was even a crappy little pen with some swans in it who's wings had been clipped to stop them from flying away! From a moral point of view it is an awful place and really we shouldn't pay money to go to see these sort of attractions but again there is that part of me that has always always wanted to pat a Tiger and to be able to get so close to one was such a thrill for me. I got a picture with a Eagle as well and the bloody thing tried to fly off on me, thankfully it was tethered but its wings were so big that it scared the hell out of me when he started flapping away. 
I also got a photo with a tiny monkey called Ozzie with Lillie on my lap and the cheeky little bugger reached down and pulled Lillie's hair and made her cry. It was a full on busy day and at the end the kids were exhausted but it was good to get some tourist things done and make some more memories. After the zoo we arranged for a babysitter with our hotel so we could have a night out on the town and check out some of the bars and clubs. It turned out to be a really funny night. The first bar we went to
the bar girls taught us how to play some of the games they have to keep the customers entertained. We played a nail and hammer game where each person gets a nail and the object of the game is to each take turns in hitting the nail on the head with a pointy hammer, whoever gets their nail into the piece of wood first wins. It is harder than it looks because the hammer only has a very small surface area to strike the little nail. The guys really got into this game they were determined to beat the bar girls who are very well practiced at it.
Then they brought out Changa which is a building block game and you have to pull out pieces of the blocks without toppling the tower and then re stacking them on top creating a tall and wobbly tower of blocks. I loved this one, it was fun and challenging. 
Then they brought out connect 4 and Marcus and Arron again kept being beaten by the bar girls and they kept playing over and over trying to win. After the games wore off we decided to check out a Ping Pong show and I was the only one in the group who had seen one before and knew what to expect. The guys were in tears laughing so hard at the tricks these girls could do, it was all pretty tame and nothing too shocking. It was a great night full of fun and laughs and it was well worth the hang over today.
Then they brought out connect 4 and Marcus and Arron again kept being beaten by the bar girls and they kept playing over and over trying to win. After the games wore off we decided to check out a Ping Pong show and I was the only one in the group who had seen one before and knew what to expect. The guys were in tears laughing so hard at the tricks these girls could do, it was all pretty tame and nothing too shocking. It was a great night full of fun and laughs and it was well worth the hang over today. |
| Connect 4 show down |
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