by Sean Paul Kelley
Member since:
January 15, 2006

Elephants, Tigers, Snakes: Oh My!

September 30, 2008 07:11 AM EDT (Updated: September 30, 2008 07:25 AM EDT)
views: 66 | rating: 9.6/10 (13 votes) | comments: 27

"Hey, watch it with that thing!"Yes, the title is somewhat of a riff off of the Wizard of Oz. But man, did I have a fun day!

First stop: a parasol factory. Sounds boring, but it wasn't.

Second stop: a silk factory. It was very cool. Check out the photos if you don't believe me.

After the silk factory we went to the Tiger Farm. "Wow," is all I can say. The photos speak for themselves.

After the Tiger Farm we visited the elephants.

Finally, I saw a snake show. It was wild. I must admit, I was pleased to see how well they care for the elephants and tigers, but the way they handled the snakes disturbed me.

No, I'm not a mushy PETA-person. But still, it bothered me.

Anyhow, enjoy the photos. It was a wild day.

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Comments: 27

Darin Waugh Sep 30, 2008, 7:32am EDT
Nice stuff, sounds like you had a wonderful journey!
Martha R. Sep 30, 2008, 7:33am EDT
Thanks for sharing your post.
Abd'allah Al Salaam Sep 30, 2008, 7:38am EDT
Living a life full of excitement.
Mary Bee Sep 30, 2008, 8:04am EDT
Great pictures on Flicker.....you are very brave...or crazy? Not sure which...
LeeAnn D. Sep 30, 2008, 8:22am EDT
I am SO envious! I would give anything to interact with the animals like that. Even the snakes:-) What an interesting trip in all aspects.

Question, though. A tiger 'farm'? What were they bred for? Or was it more of a sanctuary for orphaned tigers? Were the elephants working elephants? Were there mahouts there to talk too? The mahouts treat the elephants very well, I've heard. They would have been very interesting to talk to..... if they spoke English. I love ele's.
mary bryant Sep 30, 2008, 8:46am EDT
very nice Thanks
Sean Paul Kelley Sep 30, 2008, 8:54am EDT
The tiger farm exists to preserver the rapidly dwindling stock of Indo-Chinese tigers. They are doing good conservation work there. It was a pleasure to see. The elephant preserve was just that: a preserve, a breeding place and sanctuary for Thai elephants. The mahouts are very possessive of their elephants and treat them very well. One remarkable aspect was how intelligent the elephants were. Gives me newfound respect for the behemoths. They are very kind and gentle too.

Am I crazy? Yes. Happily so.
Mary Bee Sep 30, 2008, 9:07am EDT
It was the snake photo that freaked me out. I have a very high level of anxiety whenever a snake is within 10 miles of me--and I am aware of it.
Nan G. Sep 30, 2008, 9:10am EDT
Wow my bucket list would be getting shorter. Thanks for sharing.
Sean Paul Kelley Sep 30, 2008, 9:13am EDT
Well, Mary, you would have been terrified, because the snakes, even the Cobras were very close. I've got video of me touching the Cobra. Crazy.
Sean Paul Kelley Sep 30, 2008, 9:13am EDT
The more I travel the bigger my bucket list gets!
Nan G. Sep 30, 2008, 9:14am EDT
Ok I just saw you kissing a snake. Try to be more selective on who you kiss please.
Sean Paul Kelley Sep 30, 2008, 9:15am EDT
ROTFLMAO!
Sean Paul Kelley Sep 30, 2008, 9:15am EDT
Hey, look at the tiger pics too! I'm taking a nap on one!
Nan G. Sep 30, 2008, 9:18am EDT
Yes I liked that one and that would be a good bucket list item for me. The snake ... not so much. I so envy your drive to get there and do this.
Mary Bee Sep 30, 2008, 9:21am EDT
I think Nan G has the same snake issue that I do. My son and his wife were in Morocco over the summer...his pictures were freaking me out too! He had more monkeys in his photos...he he.
My other son is thinking of spending some time in Palestine next summer, that is another story.
Kathryn E. Sep 30, 2008, 10:23am EDT
I will look at the photos later.

Your article SPK is Featured in the Triple Name Club.
Kathryn E. Sep 30, 2008, 10:26am EDT
Fantastic photos.
Carol B Sep 30, 2008, 2:45pm EDT
Fabulous photos. What an experience you had. Thanks for sharing them all with us.
amy s. Sep 30, 2008, 3:42pm EDT
sounds like fun
Sharon P. Sep 30, 2008, 4:24pm EDT
Nice, thanks.
suey v. Sep 30, 2008, 8:26pm EDT
Cool....Thanks!
Georgiana S. Oct 1, 2008, 8:17pm EDT
You kissed a cobra? Cool!
I wish I could travel there soon too!
Sharon B. Oct 4, 2008, 1:27pm EDT
Thanks for sharing
Shirl T. Oct 6, 2008, 2:55pm EDT
NICE
Carl "Prime Time" Lee Oct 7, 2008, 12:34am EDT
Thank you for using Gather Broadcast, where there is an open line of communication for all and you’re more than a connection.

Just like the energizer bunny. We just keep going…

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Felicia R. Apr 22, 2009, 3:53pm EDT
Sean Paul I am sorry to hear you are leaving gather hope your adventures in life continue to bring you worldly adventures...

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