Never Piss off an Elephant
Going on an Elephant Safari
Since we decided not to climb the 1,250+ stairs up Lion’s Rock, we decide to do an elephant safari instead. I want to go early in the morning but the guide that our host recommends says it is better to go at 10:30am since there would be less jeeps. This sounds weird to me and I say how about 9:00 am and they keep insisting that 10:30 was better. We finally agree to 10:00am.
John and I have a leisurely morning. At 10:00am Yashi informs us that the guide says he will arrive at 10:30am. I’m thinking that he is probably doing another safari and gave us a later time so that he wouldn’t lose our business.
We arrive at the safari park around 11:00am. It is blooming hot. Our guide spots a lizard on the tree which he tells us is a chameleon but I look it up and it is an ornamental garden lizard.
We see a few elephants in a different places but despite all the bumping around first roads in the jeep, we don’t see much.
We do spot a very large bees nest which is interesting.
Dangerous Elephant Encounter
At one point our guide joins one other jeep which is very close to what we think are only two elephants. We are even closer than the first jeep , about 10 metres. The elephants are both wildly flapping their ears and growling. This can’t be good. Then one starts to fake charge our jeep. Turn up the sound and click here for a video taken moments before. I jump quickly to the other side of the jeep, stopping the video in the process. The other jeep gets out of there but our driver just moves forward a little and stops. I think he has no idea that we are in a dangerous situation. It turns out the elephants have two babies with them that we couldn’t initially see and are feeling threatened. The mothers show us their sides with their calves between them. They also roll up their trunks. After about 3-5 minutes, our driver says are you ready to move on and drives away.
It isn’t until later when I upload the pictures and describe the situation to ChatGPS that we fully realize the danger we were in. The lesson we learn is to research our safari drivers and don’t just take the one suggested by your host who is more than likely getting a kickback for every tour booked through him.
We drive back passing many lush, vibrant green rice fields. I could happily roll myself around in all the green lushness but then again it is probably filled with snakes, insects and who knows what else.
Ayurvedic Spa Appointment
Back at our accommodations, we relax before our host drives me in his tuk-tuk to an Ayurvedic spa appointment that I booked through him last night. The appointment is over double what normal massages cost here but our host explains that is because you meet with an Ayurvedic doctor first who consults with you and writes a prescription and gives it to your masseuse and then after an hour massage, you have a 20 minute herbal steam bath.
Our host drives me over fifteen minutes to the spa and walks me in (I’m sure to collect his kickback). My appointment with the Ayurvedic doctor consists of her explaining that the price includes a 45-60 minute massage and 20 minute steam bath. I haven’t paid yet and tell her that a 45 minute massage for that price is not ok and that I must be guaranteed to have a 60 minute massage. Seeing her booking almost slip away she agrees. In regards to the Ayurvedic doctor appointment, it is minimal. I feel like she barely listens. I explain about a certain area of my foot to stay away from because of a surgery and a few other issues. She writes it down on a piece of paper.
The spa itself is fine and has soft music but if you are looking for warm and friendly, you have come to the wrong place.
My masseuse starts to massage the foot I said to stay away from. She gives a good enough massage (not my best but not my worst). Then I am sent to the steam bath, sent to the change room and sent on my way without a tea or even a goodbye.
Tuk Tuk Ride Back
I leave the spa with my hair sticking out all over in oily clumps (from the oil head massage part). Not a good look.
It takes awhile to find a tuk-tuk to take me back. (Is it my hair?). They keep speeding past me. I have to walk down the road until I find a tuk-tuk parked in front of a house. A lady goes in and grabs her son who is just coming out of the shower.
I am relieved to have a drive back because it is close to sundown. I show the driver where I need to go on Google maps. He talks to me while we are driving. I have problems understanding his accent so I go into my smiling, nodding and non-committal sound mode to look like I know what’s going on. He says something to me that sounds like “Did you crack the coconut?”
I try a non commital grunt. He asks again, this time more insistently. I reply “pardon?”
He repeats.
I repeat back, “Did I crack the coconut?”
He looks confused and I finally make out “Can I see your Google map?”
He gets me back. He’s probably relieved to be rid of the crazy lady who mindlessly nods and talks about coconuts.
Supper at One Love
I have a shower at our accommodation and with clean hair head out with John for dinner.
There are a number of Rasta/Bob Marley themed restaurants near us. John and I go to the closest one called “One Love”. The manager or owner comes over during the meal to check that we are enjoying it. He is very friendly. John and I are waiting for the bill after the meal and someone from behind me starts massaging my hair and eyelids. I don’t react.
It is the manager. He continues to be friendly and requests that we give him a good review.
As we head to the door the owner gives us both multiple handshakes, hugs and back slaps thanking us for coming and apologized for being emotional!
After we leave the restaurant, I say to John, “Now that was weird.”.
“Definitely,” he replies.
Actually the whole day was pretty strange. I wonder if it’s a full moon.
