Break - Fast!

Ten weeks without a break make for a very loooooong first quarter. Now, to the majority of you with real jobs, that probably doesn't sound like much. Ten weeks without a break, you say. Blach! Try 365 days with only 2 weeks off! Well, you're right. Your life sucks. But to a teacher and students, ten weeks straight weeks seems like an eternity. The kids are tired, antsy, and easily get off task. The teachers are tired, antsy, and reach for a drink more quickly than usual after work is over.

So by the time October break came around, we were ready to get out of town. Our friends Kirk and Julie came for a visit from Hong Kong. Jirk and Kulie, as we like to call them, are Canadians (eh) and they worked with us at Ruamrudee for 4 years. Now they are off to new adventures in ubercool Hong Kong, but they couldn't resist one more vacation with the Kirchners. We had big plans! We were heading to Chiang Mai and this is how we envisioned our trip: hiking in the hills near Chiang Mai, abseiling treks, maybe a cooking course, helping the poor, sheltering the homeless, vaccinating children, and rescuing stray animals.  This is what really happened: waking up at 9am, eating a leisurely breakfast, playing cards, strolling through town, eating lunch, napping, eating dinner, playing more cards.

The one adventure we did have was visiting the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/ The park is a sanctuary for Asian elephants that are overworked, disabled, or orphaned. The founder, Lek, rents or buys elephants from their owners and gives them a life of leisure for as long as she can afford to keep them. The elephants are free to roam around the grounds, form social networks, and take baths in the river whenever they choose. The Thai government does not fund the sanctuary; it is funded entirely through donations and visitors to the park. It is a must see if you are ever in Chiang Mai!

This elephant is one of 32 rescued by Lek. 
She broke her leg while working in the logging industry. 
Her owner decided that since she couldn't work, 
she would breed. Her hip was broken when a bull 
much larger than her tried to mount her.  

The elephants and I after a bath. Phew, was I dirty! 

And speaking of dirty, have you ever been slobbered on by an elephant? 

After Chiang Mai we went to Pai, a town about 3 hours northwest of Chiang Mai. Apparently a Thai movie called Pai in Love was filmed there recently. The weather was cool and rainy, and I'm sure there are great things to do there. We can only tell you there's a great Mexican restaurant and some beautiful places to play cards.

What a find!! Buffalo hats at a rest stop on the way to Pai make great Halloween costumes!

The wildlife run free on the road to Pai.