about We are Akila and Patrick. Our minds (and waistlines) expand as we travel, cook, and eat our way around the world with our two dogs.
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elephant beauty
at patara elephant farm

Two elephants at Patara Elephant Farm

Bo Chang and his mother

Two weeks ago, we had the opportunity to be "elephant owners for the day" at Patara Elephant Farm, an organization devoted to the care, conservation, and breeding of elephants, in Chiang Mai.  To do this amazing day justice, today's post is a pictoral view of these gorgeous animals and, in my next post, I will tell you all about our experiences bathing, feeding, riding, and swimming with our elephants.

Elephant

Bo Chang, a 7-year old male

"If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people, only more so."

Peter Corneille, in Theatreprint

Elephant gathering grass at Patara Elephant Farm, Chiang Mai Patara Elephant Farm
Gathering grass Elephant and trainer at Patara Elephant Farm, Chiang Mai

Elephant gathering grass at Patara Elephant Farm

Elephant face

Sai Thong, a female adult

"Writing a book is like washing an elephant: there is no good place to begin or end and it's hard to keep track of what you have already covered."

Anonymous

Elephant drinking water Elephant drinking water
Elephant drinking water Elephant bathing

Elephant swimming and drinking water

"Let a person walk alone with few wishes, comitting no wrong, like an elephant in the forest."

Buddhist saying

Elephant eye Elephant with trunk raised
Elephant trunk Elephant foot

Elephant eye, trunk, foot

Elephant tail
Elephant ear

Elephant tail, ear

The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?

David Attenborough

Elephant face

Elephants

Elephant face
Elephant faces

Elephants at Patara Elephant Farm

Elephants at Patara Elephant Farm

Coming up next time: Patrick jumps on to an elephant's neck; Akila swims on an elephant's back; and we do a lot of elephant riding, feeding, and bathing.