Baan Chang Elephant Park Part 1: Waterfalls, Rapids, Rafts & Lanterns At $100 for only 2 days, this was the single most expensive thing I paid for in my trip so far, and I couldn’t be happier about the decision to push through with it. I initially just wanted to take mahout training (elephant whispering), but when I saw Baan Chang’s packages, I figured I’d take 1 “adventure” day as well. Let me take you step by step through Day 1. :) [[MORE]] First: Akha Village There are a number of hill tribes advertised by different tour operators in Chiang Mai, and while I LOVE the idea of visiting hill tribes and seeing them in their beautifully woven traditional garbs (I love indigenous textiles), something about the other tours (particularly to the longneck tribes) made me feel like visiting them would be akin to visiting poor Mali in Manila Zoo, so I was quite put off by the idea and decided not to do something like that. Akha Village didn’t feel zoo-like (though I noted how the ladies seemed rather desperate / dependent on tourists buying souvenirs). Our guide also took us around the village showing elevated bamboo houses with thatched roofs, which amused my western tour-mates, and reminded me a lot of traditional provincial homes in the Philippines. And then we’re off. Second: Trek to Waterfalls Having never owned a pair of trekking / hiking shoes / sandals, I didn’t buy one specifically for this either. And I was okay with that. Even when early in the trek, I fell flat on my butt on account of the super slippery mud brought about by the rain (Mishi, you would have been happy to see this happen to me). At this point, I am glad that Hariharalaya had got me accustomed to walking barefoot on the ground, and I continue some 45 minutes to the waterfalls on bare feet. :) I was on the same tour as Welsh couple Joe and Amy, and Swedish-Canadian couple Dag and Michelle, and I appreciate the fact that they kept checking up on me and how I was doing (Michelle, in particular). It really is sweet how some strangers look out for you when you’re alone. :) [With Michelle on the trail] [Joe & Amy] [See first photo in this post for waterfalls :)] While I thought the Mapawa river trek and Iligan waterfalls (both in my beautiful country, The Philippines), which I had gone to on a Cagayan de Oro trip earlier this year, were more awesome than this, I was still happy to have gone on at least one trek in Thailand (:P), and with good company. But we were just getting warmed up for… Third & Fourth: White Water and Bamboo-Rafting I didn’t expect much from this either because I was told it would only be 45 minutes (as opposed to my 3-4 hour rafting adventure again in CDO), but we did have a couple of thrilling moments. I realized we don’t ALWAYS have to compare which one was the more adrenalin-pumping adventure. What really matters is that we have good fun either way, and it wasn’t hard with good company. :) When the river’s excitement died down, we changed rafts to enjoy a more peaceful ride through the river. [With my “arch-nemesis” Dag, and people from another group] [Michelle & Amy] … Overnight at Baan Chang Elephant Park  After that, we head back to Baan Chang to get cleaned up. Since we booked a 2-day thing, we had accommodations at the park. And while the rooms were spartan, the surroundings were uh-mazing. [Dag & Michelle by our baan / house] Longan trees surrounded the place, and you were free to get as much as you could eat. They were big, sweet, and juicy too. My dear mother would have a field day here. Later that night, we would have dinner. More than we could really eat. And even later that night, we would be in for a bigger surprise. If you plan on going to Baan Chang for an overnight stay and be delighted by an activity that is not otherwise stated in their brochure / catalog, then DON’T READ ON. I was happy that I didn’t see this coming. After dinner, our guide Woody… …created a bonfire, and he and the other mahouts would gather around singing their campfire songs of choice (Boyzone and other boy band-y songs, but good fun nonetheless) with a makeshift drum set from aluminum containers of oil. They also roasted a couple of bamboo stalks, which we would later discover encased sticky rice with coconut milk and sugar (like the Filipino suman). But the most delightful surprise was yet to come. Woody later brought out these giant paper lanterns for us to send a wish to the heavens with. Bye-bye, wish. Please come true. Day 2 post on my mahout training coming up. But hey, Day 1 and I already got more than I hoped for.So thank you, paper lantern.  Catching a falling star and putting it in her pocket,Jen Follow my tweets • Find me on Facebook • Sign up for my newsletter • E-mail me  Baan Chang Elephant Parkwww.baanchangelephantpark.com147/1 Rachadamnoen RoadMuang, Chiang Mai, Thailand+66 53 814174 / +66 89 6355206info@baanchangelephantpark.com - They reply efficiently!
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Baan Chang Elephant Park Part 1: Waterfalls, Rapids, Rafts & Lanterns

At $100 for only 2 days, this was the single most expensive thing I paid for in my trip so far, and I couldn’t be happier about the decision to push through with it.

I initially just wanted to take mahout training (elephant whispering), but when I saw Baan Chang’s packages, I figured I’d take 1 “adventure” day as well. Let me take you step by step through Day 1. :)

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