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Riding a Jumbo
 Siamese
soldiers rode elephants into battle as the tanks of ancient battlefields.
Now tourists can ride one, too. Though you can go for an elephant
trek on many Thai islands, the most scenic outings are up in the
great green north. Atop the elephant’s back you can climb hills,
ford streams and lumber through the jungle. Some of the camps also
put on shows. For an incredible display of the animal’s might,
just watch them hauling logs.
At the National Elephant Institute, in the northern
province of Lampang, tourists
can also sign up for courses on how to be a mahout. Learn how to
‘drive’ the beast, how to take them to the river for a
bath, and even sleep with your own elephant out in the jungle. Please
bear in the mind that these intelligent and endangered creatures,
which have the same lifespan as a human being, are sacred to Thai
people and that a white elephant once graced the flag of Siam. Even
today, you can still see Thais walking under the elephant’s
belly, like ancient Siamese warriors used to do, in order to bring
themselves good luck and strength.
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