Chiang Mai-Longnecks, swimming with elephants?
Apr 15th, 2006, 08:00 AM
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Chiang Mai-Longnecks, swimming with elephants?
I am interested in seeing the long neck Karen but do not have the time to go to Mae Hong Son. I have only budgeted 2 full days in CM (I travel in the day before and travel out the day after) and I read somewhere that there is a village north of Chiang Mai. Has anyone been there? Does anyone recommend that or should we try to go straight to Mae Hong Son?
Also, does anyone have recommendations for swimming with elephants? It appears there are some elephant camps near Pai that allow this. Does anyone have recommendations? Thanks in advance.
Also, does anyone have recommendations for swimming with elephants? It appears there are some elephant camps near Pai that allow this. Does anyone have recommendations? Thanks in advance.
Apr 15th, 2006, 08:12 AM
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just a note on the swimming part....please review kimjapan's report in the last few months where she tells of medical conditions stemming from her daughter swimming with the elephants....you may want to rethink it...
with only 2 days in CM, i am wondering if you have time to do either of these two things....do you not intend to visit chiang mai itself??
both of these places are interesting but they seem secondary to a visit to the chief place itself??
with only 2 days in CM, i am wondering if you have time to do either of these two things....do you not intend to visit chiang mai itself??
both of these places are interesting but they seem secondary to a visit to the chief place itself??
Apr 15th, 2006, 08:18 AM
#3
To see the long-necks Karens from Chiang Mai is, I believe, a fairly long drive. If the long-necks are your primary interest, would recommend you spend the 2 days in Mae Hong Son and skip Chiang Mai. HOWEVER, I enjoyed my time in Chiang Mai even more overall (although, I will say the long-necks were a highlight for us). But 2 days is very short for Chiang Mai. If you do the full-day mahout program at either the Elephant Nature Park or the Elephant Conservation Center you can bathe the elephants. I'm with Bob, though, and would worry about a repeat of Kimjapan's problems. Just SEEING them being bathed was really fun (and enough for me). Chiang Mai itself is also worth some time. See my trip report, for details on our experiences there.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34762799
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34762799
Apr 15th, 2006, 09:28 AM
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If you really need to condense your time, there is a half day trip to Mae Sae Elephant Park. You can ride the elephants for one hour, see a circus like show, visit the babies and watch them being bathed. Certainly more touristy, but still, a highlight of our trip and we felt that the animals were well treated. We did this as part of an organized tour in 1/2 day.
Another organized tour took us to a village where four of the hilltribes were represented, including the Karen Long Neck Women and the Hmongs. Definately touristy, but with limited time, I wouldn't have passed it up. It also was a half day trip.
I recongize that both of these suggestions are likely to be flamed by others - and I respect that better alternatives exist to these tourist outposts. Regardless, not everyone has the time to devote, and will accept a reasonable and fun alternative.
Another organized tour took us to a village where four of the hilltribes were represented, including the Karen Long Neck Women and the Hmongs. Definately touristy, but with limited time, I wouldn't have passed it up. It also was a half day trip.
I recongize that both of these suggestions are likely to be flamed by others - and I respect that better alternatives exist to these tourist outposts. Regardless, not everyone has the time to devote, and will accept a reasonable and fun alternative.
Apr 15th, 2006, 02:40 PM
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Here I am, and if you couldn't find my trip report, or if it was too long for you to find the illness part...
In summary. Daughter (8) bathed with elephants multiple times, was submersed, sprayed, drenched..,laughing the entire time, she surely swallowed some of the dungy water...and I mean dungy - filled with elephant dung and who knows what else. Husband did it a bit, but avoided complete submersion (big elephant, tall man) and for the most part kept his mouth shut. I did not bathe at all...basically I wasn't allowed to because I was not entirely comfortable riding my elephant and she didn't get along well with one of the others.
End result...husband developed diahrea and fever 2 days later, daughter developed fever, diarhea, fever, bone aches, vomiting, and subdermal hemoraging...everyone thought she had dengue fever. A trip to the Thai public hospital in Takua Pa (near Khao Lak) and tests and waiting brought the diagnosis of "severe bacterial infection" likely from contaminated food or water. Further discussion with the doctor about my husband's light sickness, and my complete lack of sickness, and the elephant swimming...without being able to test that water specifically and match it to a bacteria culture from my daugther, it couldn't be sure, but it was highly suspicious. She did recover quickly with powerful antibiotics and a cocktail of anti-diahreal, anti-spasm stomach mediciine and electrolytes.
Moral of the story for us...avoid swimming in disgusting water. My daughter, however, says she would endure being so sick again to swim with the elephants. But, she was really, really sick...the sickest she's ever been in her life.
I do, however, recommend the Elephant Conservation Center. We loved our 3 days there, and had an amazing experience. Just the illness...and it's not for sure from there...but so suspicious.
In summary. Daughter (8) bathed with elephants multiple times, was submersed, sprayed, drenched..,laughing the entire time, she surely swallowed some of the dungy water...and I mean dungy - filled with elephant dung and who knows what else. Husband did it a bit, but avoided complete submersion (big elephant, tall man) and for the most part kept his mouth shut. I did not bathe at all...basically I wasn't allowed to because I was not entirely comfortable riding my elephant and she didn't get along well with one of the others.
End result...husband developed diahrea and fever 2 days later, daughter developed fever, diarhea, fever, bone aches, vomiting, and subdermal hemoraging...everyone thought she had dengue fever. A trip to the Thai public hospital in Takua Pa (near Khao Lak) and tests and waiting brought the diagnosis of "severe bacterial infection" likely from contaminated food or water. Further discussion with the doctor about my husband's light sickness, and my complete lack of sickness, and the elephant swimming...without being able to test that water specifically and match it to a bacteria culture from my daugther, it couldn't be sure, but it was highly suspicious. She did recover quickly with powerful antibiotics and a cocktail of anti-diahreal, anti-spasm stomach mediciine and electrolytes.
Moral of the story for us...avoid swimming in disgusting water. My daughter, however, says she would endure being so sick again to swim with the elephants. But, she was really, really sick...the sickest she's ever been in her life.
I do, however, recommend the Elephant Conservation Center. We loved our 3 days there, and had an amazing experience. Just the illness...and it's not for sure from there...but so suspicious.
Apr 18th, 2006, 08:44 AM
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I did go back and read KimJapan's earlier post, but thanks for clarifying here as well. I'll try to talk my wife out of if, but she seems intent on it anyway.....
any recommendations out there for short term interaction (whether swimming/bathing is included or not)? Can anyone give an idea of distance or travel time from Chiang Mai to any spots they may suggest for either elephant interaction or tribal tours (particularly for the longnecks)? I hate to be a terrible tourist, but I simply don't have time to do it any other way. thanks.
any recommendations out there for short term interaction (whether swimming/bathing is included or not)? Can anyone give an idea of distance or travel time from Chiang Mai to any spots they may suggest for either elephant interaction or tribal tours (particularly for the longnecks)? I hate to be a terrible tourist, but I simply don't have time to do it any other way. thanks.
Apr 18th, 2006, 02:15 PM
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As far as I know you need to do a full day program to swim with the elephants. When we did an elephant ride in Koh Samui years ago, we waded through a river on top of the elephant, but the elephant didn't swim. There is also a HUGE difference between riding an elephant in the seat they have on their back and riding on the front, just behind the head. The seat is quite uncomfortable, rocking side to side each step. It's a smooth ride behind the head. The elephants do not (can not?) swim with the seats on them, and the elephant ride is with a seat...never seen an elephant ride offered without the seat. The mahout sits behind the head or walks beside, the customers in the seat. Sometimes you can try sittting behind the head, but the seat is not removed so no swimming.
I don't blame your wife for wanting to give it a go. If it's something she has her heart set on then you might want to devote one of your days to doing a one day program. Both the Elephant Conservation Center or the Elephant Nature Park offer a one day program. The one day program at the ECC is very difficult to book as they are often full, so if you want to do it book asap.
I don't blame your wife for wanting to give it a go. If it's something she has her heart set on then you might want to devote one of your days to doing a one day program. Both the Elephant Conservation Center or the Elephant Nature Park offer a one day program. The one day program at the ECC is very difficult to book as they are often full, so if you want to do it book asap.
Nov 22nd, 2007, 03:31 PM
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I wonder how far it is from Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son. Is it a day's drive?
Where else can we visit the Karen women and purchase their beadwork and weaving?
email: [email protected]
Where else can we visit the Karen women and purchase their beadwork and weaving?
email: [email protected]
