Surin Project~ taking Asian elephants off of their chains

Last week we volunteered with the Surin project to help save elephants in Asia from the tourism industry. Going into the project, we thought we would be spending time with the elephants and supporting them to have a life that they deserve. Little did we know that we would also get to know awesome mahots, put on a "Farang" (foreign) show for them, play mahot Olympics, make amazing friends, and get so close to the elephants that they could eat cucumbers out of our hands. Often in life we feel that we are just one person, and that makes it hard to believe that we have the power to make a difference. This experience changed my life, and showed me that Gandhi was right, we CAN be the change that we would like to see in the world. Although where I was volunteering elephants were still kept on chains for a majority of the day, and we had to witness some very sad things such as elephants that were not part of the Surin Project being chained by both front feet all day and night, the project I was a part of helped make a change to get Asian elephants off of their chains. This project helps mahots see that there is  another way to share their elephants with tourists. This is not to keep their elephants on chains and participate in elephant trekking, but to let the elephants off of their chains and let volunteers help to wash, feed, and walk with the elephants. The Surin project believes that by changing nothing, nothing changes. We can all help to make a huge difference if only we have the courage to try. The Surin project was an amazing experience that I will never forget, and I am so happy that I got to help make a difference for the lives of one of the most beautiful, intelligent animals on earth. If you ever go to Asia, you will probably see tourist advertisements to ride an elephant. Please do not let this fool you! Despite their size, elephants are not meant to support the weight of humans on their backs. Moreover, the way elephants are treated from a young age to be trained by their mahot is horrific. If you are riding an elephant in Asia, you are supporting a horrible reality which is this- the elephant was probably taken from his mom long before it was supposed to be, only to be beaten by the mahot so that it becomes afraid of him and therefore will obey him. It is really so sad to see elephants chained up all day long, and when we would see them walking around with a basket of people on their backs we would feel so sad. Be the change and don't ever ride an elephant!! 

After we finished our week volunteering with the Surin Project, Ashley and I traveled with our new friends back to Bangkok. We arrived Sunday and we were never so excited to get a facial and a leg and foot rub simultaneously! It was so amazing after a week of being dirty all day long and only having a bucket to shower with!! After our spa trip, we went to a place called cloud 47 which took us to a tall skyscraper overlooking the entire city of Bangkok, the city of Angels. The view was breathtaking and we got to meet with all of our friends from the project which was really special. We shared a drink and relaxed admiring the beautiful view. After this, we went out on Khaosan road for some more fun. The next day, we rode about an hour and a half away to a place called Ayutaya.There

we saw temples and prayed to Buddha for our friend Brian who passed away last year after visiting his family for the first time in Thailand. It was really special to pray for the first time to Buddha. Yesterday, two if our friends had to go back to the project so we said good bye for now to them. Ashley, Sarah, and I decided to walk around Bangkok and try to find the floating market. At first we tried to find the recling Buddha, but when we got there we were told the temple was closed for a ceremony! Just our luck. So we continued on and searched for the floating market. If you ever need to go somewhere in Bangkok, know exactly where you need to go and have the address in Thai, because otherwise they don't understand anything! We asked so many people where to go and they kept telling us go this way or go that way. Finally we got to a small river that wasn't the floating market at all! Funny that all along we had been asking which way to the floating market and it was actually an hour or so outside of Bangkok-who knew! So we paid 3 baht to cross the river and we ended up seeing a beautiful temple instead. At 5 our friend Sarah had to leave to go back go France. I was so sad to see her go. She was so much fun and we connected so well, I can't wait to meet with her again soon! We shared so many laughs over the last week, as Sarah would say, it was amazing! 

Today Ashley and I decided to check out the Museum of Contemporary Art in Bangkok. The artwork there was just incredible. We were so amazed by it all. 

Now Ashley and I are ready for the final part of our journey in Asia- the islands! We are starting at Koh Samui, then making our way to Koh Phangyan and Koh Tao. I would like to end my trip seeing waterfalls, relaxing on beaches, and diving at Koh Tao! ❤️

Walking with the elephants~ 

Feeding the elephants cucumbers~

Nong Nun with her friend Faisai~  

Jeab and I~ 

Our bucket shower! ~ 

Teaching English to students in Surin~ 

The whole group with the mahots on the night of the Farang show~ 

Bangkok! The City of Angels~ 

The girls.. "maybe our girlfriends are our real soul mates.." ~

A prayer for Brian Roach~ 

Ayutthaya~ 

Tuk Tuk Selfie~ 

More Ayutthaya (Budhha head)| 

And some more~ 

The temple we accidentally ended up at~ 

 more Buddha's! ~ 

Museum of Contemporary Art~ The Three Kingdoms: The Celestial Realm (Heaven), The Human Realm (Middle Earth), The Unfortunate Realm (Hell). All beings of this world undergo Birth, Existence, and finally Decay. This is one law of nature discovered by The Lord Buddha and The Lord taught us for our consideration and contemplation that nobody and nothing can escape this law of nature. 

I have had one of the most special experiences of my life and it only reminds me of why I love to travel so much. Meeting people from all over the world, sharing stories, all while exploring different cultures and helping to make the world a better place.  ❤️