Kandy4


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ELEPHANTS! We adored Sri Lanka, and it's hard to pick a favourite experience from so many happy adventures, but if I had to choose, I'd say ELEPHANTS. The elephants of Sri Lanka, wild and captive, stole my heart, and Gordon shares my feelings! They are just the most exquisitely wonderful creatures, and I can't say enough about them. You must always remember that they are wild animals who are quite capable of stomping you to death, but they are also amazing and soulful. Once you've looked into the eye of an elephant, there is no going back. It's magic. The elephants we saw were of the Indian variety, as opposed to African, with the exception of some African elephants we saw at the Colombo Zoo. I think you can tell from our geniune smiles (below) how enamoured we were of our elephant friends. We took a day trip from Kandy to visit the Millennium Elephant Foundation and the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Both were wonderful. The MEF was on a smaller scale, and is something of a retirement home for unwanted elephants. You can purchase elephant dung paper there, and there is also a small museum of sorts. The PEO is quite a large touristy place, with many more elephants and the particularly enchanting baby elephants. They publicly bottle feed some of the babies each day, which is unspeakably high on the cuteness scale! If you're visiting Sri Lanka, I wouldn't miss either of these places.
MORE KANDY PHOTOS ON [PAGE 1] [PAGE 2] [PAGE 3] [PAGE 5] [PAGE 6] [PAGE 7] [THE TRAIN RIDE FROM ELLA]

\HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN

\NEGOMBO

\TISSAMAHARAMA

\ELLA

\KANDY

\COLOMBO

\\LINKS

\CONTACTS

ELEPHANTS! We adored Sri Lanka, and it's hard to pick a favourite experience from so many happy adventures, but if I had to choose, I'd say ELEPHANTS. The elephants of Sri Lanka, wild and captive, stole my heart, and Gordon shares my feelings! They are just the most exquisitely wonderful creatures, and I can't say enough about them. You must always remember that they are wild animals who are quite capable of stomping you to death, but they are also amazing and soulful. Once you've looked into the eye of an elephant, there is no going back. It's magic.
The elephants we saw were of the Indian variety, as opposed to African, with the exception of some African elephants we saw at the Colombo Zoo. I think you can tell from our geniune smiles (below) how enamoured we were of our elephant friends.
We took a day trip from Kandy to visit the Millennium Elephant Foundation and the Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Both were wonderful. The MEF was on a smaller scale, and is something of a retirement home for unwanted elephants. You can purchase elephant dung paper there, and there is also a small museum of sorts. The PEO is quite a large touristy place, with many more elephants and the particularly enchanting baby elephants. They publicly bottle feed some of the babies each day, which is unspeakably high on the cuteness scale! If you're visiting Sri Lanka, I wouldn't miss either of these places.

MORE KANDY PHOTOS ON [PAGE 1] [PAGE 2] [PAGE 3] [PAGE 5] [PAGE 6] [PAGE 7] [THE TRAIN RIDE FROM ELLA]


Rani (a 23-year-old female) and me, and her mahout's arm keeping a leash on her. I fell in love instantly. I wish I could hug an elephant trunk every day. I told her how beautiful she was.	Me, Rani and her mahout. The fellow running the place said she's a really nice, gentle elephant. We agree!

Gordon's turn! Rani's mahout said something to her to make her pose like that. Smart elephant!	Gordon the elephant-whisperer. HAHAHA!

Two elephants at the MEF.	Saying thanks to the irresistable Rani.

I was bathing Rani in the river with a coconut shell when her mahout told her to spray herself... and me. And yes, I was surprised!	Another MEF elephant enjoying a rest in the river, post-bath (another tourist was scrubbing her down when we arrived.)

Rani throws back another snoutful of water!	Come visit! For about 400 - 500 rupees (I forget the exact amount), you can go in, see the displays, ride an elephant around the courtyard, and give her a bath. They also offer longer elephant rides.

It's a little more labour-intensive than washing a dog, but a hell of a lot more fun!	Gordon tentatively scrubs Rani.

Gordon thanks the mahout while Rani looks on. Is she smiling? We think so. She soaked two tourists and got a nice bath to boot!	Rani, post bath. Isn't she lovely? Have I mentioned how much I loved her? I want to go back RIGHT NOW.
MORE KANDY PHOTOS ON [PAGE 1] [PAGE 2] [PAGE 3] [PAGE 5] [PAGE 6] [PAGE 7] [THE TRAIN RIDE FROM ELLA]
All photos and text copyright Natalie Rowe 2008 - Stealing brings bad karma. Don't make me set my lawyer-husband upon you!