On departing Chiang Mai with Asia Airlines, we were allowed use of their airside lounge, it was really nice to sit comfortably and have free tea, coffee, orange juice, popcorn and mini tartlets. the flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket was about 90 minutes, then a one hour taxi to Kao Lak where our villa awaited ....
which had its own 25 ft pool, lounge with 2 tv, large comfy bedroom, tea and coffee, mini fridge, rain shower.
The resort had two sides facing The sea, separated by a lagoon with a bridge for access but at low tide we found we could walk across the lagoon bed.
There were pools on both sides, open air restaurants which offered a la carte lunch and dinner, buffet breakfast. All the food was good, we mostly ate Thai food.
The sea was shallow and the beach sandy, a lot of people were surfing.
From our villa, a 5 minutes walk through pine woods took us to the elephant sanctuary.
During covid there was a large intake as the decline in tourism and labour (logging) meant the owners could not afford to keep their elephants,. Some have been at the sanctuary a long time before covid though as they can live to 100, change hands as outlive owners, and eventually are not wanted.
They are gentle although some have behavioural problems like swaying due to previous confinement and poor treatment
There are two babies age 3 and 4 years old. We visited twice and the second time I fed one some milk.
We were uncertain of how the elephants feel about the tourist intervention, they certainly enjoy being fed sugar cane. Some people go with them to bathe, we didnt. The number of visitors is limited and visits are early morning or evening. They are taken out into the forest at night to forage but stay in the compound with their mahout to sleep.
We took a trip into town on market day, some pics below. We love a good market! We got good, strong, mosquito repellent and some nuts and snacks. There was a 7/11 shop and a cannabis shop, which is legal in Thailand in small amounts.
We had a few thunderstorms with torrential rain, The monsoon season is starting. It has been 95% humidity and temperatures in the 30s but we have adapted quickly. We slept a lot and I read 3 book!
It has been a wonderful trip and we have made some great memories.
Another fabulous travelogue, Betty!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky to get upgraded to that fancy suite with its own pool. I'm loving that photo of the swimming pool with the magnificently moody clouds overhead. One of my friends came back from two months in Thailand a couple of days before you and it rained every day for a fortnight, it looks like your weather was a lot kinder - apart from the journey home.
I'd have been in the elephant sanctuary every day, too. It sounds like their living their best lives after such a poor start.
You looked fabulous despite the heat, your eyebrows look so natural! I'm glad you got along with your Crocs. Comfy footwear makes a world of difference.
I hope the journey home wasn't too tiring! xxxx
Thank you Vix, ref brows, I am so pleased with them as I had very little natural brow. I also had my lip colour tatoo'd (lip blush they call it), the colour was as close to natural as possible and carefully mixed beforehand, it was painful/2 sessions of around 3 hours - but worth it as I had lost most pigment in top lip - it was lovely on holiday to not bother with lipstick or in fact any makeup at all - Im tempted to do eyeliner next! There was some rain but as we were travelling around we seemed to arrive just after ! leaving Kao Lak it was super heavy rain and dark skies and I felt sorry for the new arrivals. Betty x
DeleteNot much fun being an elephant in Thailand! They enjoyed your company obviously . Glad you're home safe and sound. Great trip.xxx
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