According to our itinerary we are to be picked up at our hotel at 7 am for elephant trekking and kayaking. We are up and ready to go get some breakfast and we sit and wait...and wait...and wait...finally we are told they'll be coming at 8:30. So a bit of exploring is in order. We walk around the hotel and discover the other hotel, that is next to us. There is this gorgeous pool that has parts that go directly up to the rooms, of course I love this because I know we aren't supposed to be there but no one is around not a single person and it's completely quite with the sun shinning and the water perfectly still...so it makes it more fun. We wade through the water and take some pics.
Our driver shows up and directs us to his car. He starts our journey. He informs us that the other two people have cancelled so this will be a private day. It will take about 2 hours to get out to the elephant camp and kayaking area. He puts on some Thai love music and we settle in, happy to be in a car relaxing to music not in a huge group of people. The scenery is amazing high cliffs and luscious green trees creating a canopy down the edges of the limestone. The small houses and people driving were quant and simple adding to the uncomplicated nature of the environment.
About an hour and a half into the drive we slow down. Our driver tells us that if the police ask us if we're his friends to say yes. It is a police stop. When it is our turn to go through the line the police officer asks him a lot of questions. Then he asks Kaleena(who is in the front seat) if he is her friend. She replies yes. I figured it had something to do with us being in an unmarked car but I wasn't sure. He ended up explaining that the police try to get extra fee's from people in unmarked cars taking tourists out. I'm not really sure about the legalities of this situation but hey we were friends for the day.
We arrive at the first stop where we will take a kayak. It was an inflatable kayak and a guide paddled down stream. We were traveling with the current so it was a leisurely ride. We saw a big frog, a boa constrictor, a big lizard(not sure of the name) along with birds and plants and such. It was so relaxing. The mountains and cliffs when straight up covered in green. In one view of the mountain there were about 100 different shades of green. I wish I could stare at it forever, took a pic so we'll see if it represents it the same. I love looking at trees.
After about an hour we got out and they took us back to where we started. A HUGE meal was waiting for us. A pineapple coated fish, chicken and pineapple salad, some wonderful soup. I wish I'd actually paddled a bit to work up more of a hunger but after getting up so early I was definitely hungry. We ended the meal with some mangosteens (a thai fruit, it was really good).
It was time for our elephant trekking. We pull up to the elephant camp. There is an area with picnic tables and we walk down a way to a structure that is elevated so it is above the elephant camp on the edge of the hill. There are a few elephants tied up with saddles on waiting for tourists. Our elephant is waiting for us. We step off the platform and get on. The elephants name was Tu Tu. I really didn't know what to expect but off we went. The first part was pretty mild just walking along...next thing I know we are going into the jungle UP a stream. Kaleena reminds me that we signed up for elephant trekking not strolling. It was fun and a little strange at the same time. I felt a bit weird having the elephant take me up this stream...but hey it was pretty cool. When we got up to the top we walked into the jungle a bit while Tu Tu got a cool down bath and drank some water.
Going down was a lil less scary than going up but equally adventurous feeling. After we made it back we purchased some bananas for Tu Tu and fed them to him. His trunk was rough and he readily gobbled the entire banana.
Our day of jungle adventuring was over and now for our two hour drive into town. We sat back and relaxed as our driver took us back to our hotel the Thai love music lulling us to sleep. No police stop on the way back.
After a good rest in the car we went out to get some dinner downtown. Kaleena did a little souvenir shopping. We ate at a little food stall and I had some great red curry. Got some beer from the 7-11 and headed down to the beach. We talked, sang some songs, looked at the stars and waded in the water. After a while we walked back to our hotel.
When we arrived at the entrance to our hotel two other guests were coming in. Their room was connected to the pool so we went down and swam for a bit. Kaleena participated in some lap races and won! We hung out for a while in the pool. I floated on my back, looking up at the stars. It was our last night in Karabi...off to bed for our next adventure to Phi Phi Island.
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