Back to the hotel we go. Three hours to Bangkok. We decide that since the day has been so incredible, we are going to end with a bang and finally take Jeff’s recommendation and go to the Bed Supperclub for a late dinner.

Such a Cool Place

Envy?

We shower and get ready. We take a tuk tuk over to the Bed Supperclub. This place is amazing. There is a white banquette that surrounds the dining area. It is literally a huge bed with white sheets and fluffy pillows. Shoes off, in we get. Drinks and dinner is served on a tray that your legs can slide through. The theme of the dining area is the seven deadly sins. Wrath, gluttony, envy, pride, vanity, sloth, and lust. There is a performance with the most incredible costumes designed to reflect each of the sins. They are haute couture. We are having the most incredible day of our lives.

Gluttony And Wrath

On Our "Bed"

The club finishes up its dinner service and there is a 2nd room playing more hip hop and pop music with a totally different vibe and atmosphere. More drinks, dancing. The dining room was all about the beets and performers. A highlight was a beat boy/popper who rocked it out on the deadly sin stage. He was amazing. We spoke to him after and told him how much we enjoyed his performance.

The Germ

Kitty

Of course it turned into a late night. Tuk tuk back to the hotel. On the ride back we talk about Larry and Jeff and thank them both from Bangkok for their fantastic recommendations.

Sex, Drugs, And Rock-n-Roll?

Tuk Tuk Back To Hotel

As if this day wasn’t enough, on our way back to Bangkok we head over to an elephant sanctuary. The place is crawling with Russians. Something about Russians and Thailand…

We arrive and wait for our guide to get things straightened away with our ride. We watch a baby elephant, who I promptly name Rosie, do all sorts of clever tricks. I am first to volunteer and slide under her big foot and she presses it down on my back. Then I see all the Russians scrambling to feed her a bottle. Our ride is all set and we decide to feed her on our return.

Tap, Tap, Tap

The elephant we are about to ride approaches. I can’t believe our day. There is a baby elephant tied to his mother. This must not be possible.

I climb onto the seat that serves as a saddle on the great elephant’s back and Marc joins me. All I can think about is the baby who keeps passing under her mother’s legs and is continually on different sides.

Happy Couple

We ride around a loop through a forest and are floating. We are high as kites on all this animal love.

When the ride is close to being over, the guide ‘driving’ the elephant hops down with our camera. He instructs Marc to assume his position right behind the elephant’s head, his feet behind her ears. The next thing I know, Marc is the one in charge. He is riding me around like a queen.

Baby Elephant Is Thirsty

Professional Elephant Guide

Baby And Mom

Nothing To It

After an amazing photo shoot and yet again another unbelievable experience, Marc takes the seat beside me, and the guide takes us back.

I dismount the elephant and can’t stop thinking about baby Rosie. I am SO EXCITED to feed her a bottle. We approach the cashier and ask where she is. Sorry–you’ve missed her. She’s gone back. Her day is over. WHAT? This can’t be! I know that money talks in this country and smile at the lady. Please? We REALLY wanted to give her a bottle. We’ll pay extra. Enough said. Next thing I know we are getting walked to staff quarters to give Rosie a bottle. Marc has a bunch of potatoes (they were peeled and hard to distinguish, probably tapioca). We find Rosie and her handler. I love her. She is so lovely with her long glamorous eyelashes and eyes that reveal profound thought and intellect. I want to be best friends with her.

Rosie

I feed her a bottle of soy milk that she just loves. I ask if it would be alright if I blow in her trunk. That is the thing with elephants. If you blow in their trunks once, they will know you forever. They never forget. Ever. I blow into Rosie’s trunk and give her a big kiss–a few actually. The only sad part is that Marc wasn’t ready for the perfect picture. We don’t have the moment properly captured on film, but it is captured in my heart.

Thirsty?

Blowing Into Rosie’s Trunk

I move to the side and let Marc have a turn with Rosie. He feeds Rosie the tapioca and she has her mouth wide open. She loves it. We are beyond happy–the day is surreal. Did all of that just happen?

Hungry?

We say a fond farewell to Miss Rosie. We blow her kisses and are happy clams.

More Elephants

We exit the sanctuary. Our driver slows down so we can see the monkeys hanging out on the side of the road. Our guide advises us that most of the monkeys in Thailand have rabies so it is advisable to not get out of the car and definitely do not feed them by hand. According to him, only the Russians do that…

Monkeys

And now, on to the Tiger Temple.

Years a ago, a baby tiger was found and brought to the monks–his mother had been shot by poachers. The monks, being monks, took the tiger cub in and raised him, and then other cubs who were orphaned were also brought to the temple. And a few other animals–often the ones that were in such rough shape, the slaughter houses refused them. It is a veritable Noah’s arc.

The monk who found the first tiger considers this tiger his son. He asked the tiger-will you behave and let the tourists come so I can build you a reserve? The tiger answered yes. That is how this story starts.

We arrive at the Tiger Temple in the early afternoon. It is closed to tourists in the morning. We are one of the first to arrive. We are EXCITED! We get into the temple and start off by petting some of the tigers who are laying down. The only thing we have been told is that you can’t pet them too lightly. If you pet them lightly, they will think you are a fly and will snap at you. Press down firmly when you pet them. DONE.

Careful…

First Touches

Wake Up

Uiii, Careful. These Teeth Are Real

These tigers are exquisite. How anyone could shoot them with anything but a camera is beyond me. We were informed that the value of a tiger is more astronomical now than it has ever been, despite their protected status. The Chinese think that tigers are the ultimate enhancers of male virility. According to the temple, the Chinese demand for tigers are driving the costs way up and keeping the poachers in business. Are male virility aids not available in China? Have they not heard of Viagra? Cialis? I think anyone who purchase any part of poached tiger should be shot. Or be neutered. You will understand and most likely agree with me as soon as you see these pictures.

Firm Pad

Stunning Beast

Belly Rub

After we had our initial petting sessions, we did a tiger walk. Here is what happens:

Monks walk with the cats who are on leashes and you walk behind them with your hand on the tiger’s hind quarters. They take pictures of you with your own camera. We walk down into a canyon with the tigers. We heard a little talk by one of the staff members (a former volunteer from the US who couldn’t leave the tigers) and it was all I could do not to throw my hands up and ask where I signed up. I had visions of a fulfilling and satisfying career handling these majestic beats. Kitty–the big cat handler. But I digress. I haven’t got to the best part. The nursery!

Walk With Monk

Taking a Walk

Marc’s Turn

This Guy Is Huge

We paid extra to go to a feeding session in the nursery. We are greeted by a Canadian volunteer originally from Brampton. He takes us to the nursery where we meet THE most stunning Swedish girl. Tall, blonde, skinny, gorgeous. She looks like a super model. I am jealous of her–but not because of her Heidi Klum good looks–mostly because of her job. She too was a volunteer and said that it doesn’t take much time at all to become really attached to the tigers. No kidding. I am only my 2nd hour at temple and am ready to say good bye to my career, my family, my life–just to be around these cats.

Into the nursery we go. There are 4 tigers. The room is really a nursery and is full of toys. Some of the toys look like regular cat toys–just on a larger scale. I officially don’t want to leave. Ever. We begin playing with the tigers. A broom stick with crinkly plastic bags on one end is a favourite. There are tires that they climb on. They have a blanket that they will lie on and let you pull them around. They are frisky and frolicking. I see one of the tigers jump up on Marc and take a bite out of his calf. I can’t believe it. In one day Marc has been bitten not only a leopard, but a tiger. He’s ok. I laugh and say that he was already bit by a leopard today. One of the other people in the nursery with us asked if it was the leopard over by the River Kwai. He told us that same leopard got his mother early that week…

Now Stop Fighting, Guys

Play Time With Parents

None of the Toys Are Safe

One of the Four

Pull My Blanky, Mom

No, Daddy, I Won’t Let Go

Lovely

Don’t Ya Wanna Take Him Home?

Three Of Four With Mommy

Get Off My Tires!

Paw Size-Off

After 30 minutes of playing with the baby tigers, we spend another 15 minutes feeding them. Through a baby bottle. I don’t think I have ever been happier in my life. I can’t stop kissing the tigers. They are so lovely, so delicious. I want one. I can’t live without one. Marc had to drag me out of there kicking and screaming. I was actually screaming silently because after their play session and a big bottle of formula, they are all knackered and sleeping. I LOVE them.

Lunch Time

Can’t Get Enough

Posing

Brother Is Grooming Him

Almost Finished

Family Picture

Nap Time

There is another optional add-on at the temple. Sign me up. I don’t care what it is or how much it costs. You can pay a minimal fee (I would have paid 10x more and it was a fraction of what holding the baby panda which just got bumped from #1, to #2 place in greatest life experiences) you could have a tiger put his head in your lap. I’ll do it! Marc is so delicious to every cat–including yours truly, he decides to opt out of this. He has been bitten 3 times in one day. I am actually a bit envious. I want to be bit by a leopard or a tiger. I can’t sign up for the next option quick enough. Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

Back down into the canyon we go. I take a seat right next to a 400 kilo sleeping tiger. Next thing I know they have lifted him up and put his massive head into my lap. Marc was allowed to stand behind me for some photos. We make an incredible family. The proud parents have never looked happier or more fulfilled. We don’t want babies. We want tigers! They eat boiled chicken. They drink water out of water bottles converted into squirt bottles. They are gorgeous. They are stunning. They are wonderful. They are loved.

Family Painting

Grin

Chief Monk With Us

Pure Happiness

After we are taken to visit with the rest of the tigers who are true cats and sleeping the day away. Peaceful in the sun. I want to spoon one. I find out it is frowned upon. We move from tiger to tiger, giving them a pat, introducing ourselves, taking pictures. Aware that every second we are next to these wondrous beasts that this is the 2nd greatest day of our lives (2nd only to our wedding day).

Beautiful

Indescribable

Wow!

We can’t get enough. There are 47 tigers living in the temple. They are everywhere. We were just about to leave and a monk calls me over. He is there with his tiger. I begin petting him and the monk tells me to give him a kiss. Avec plaisir! Then the monk takes the tiger’s leash off and says–why don’t you take him home? Pack your bags baby. We are making tracks to Yorkville! More kisses for my 400 kilo tiger baby. Then I have to face the torment of leaving my beloved tigers behind and saying good bye. The monk wasn’t serious that I could take him.

Smile

Yawn

You Can’t Stop Loving Them

The Leash Is Off!

I will go back. I will see them again.

Cat Life

Marking the Territory

Eight Months Baby

I am starting this entry off with a proper shout out and thank you to Larry. A few months before the start of our journey, Larry sent me the PDF of a school project about tigers who lived with monks.

This is where I will start.

We wake up really early to drive 3 hours to the Tiger Temple (in case you want to go, we recommend to book our guide "Tik", who was excellent).

We are almost there, but we stop at the bridge over the river Kwai. While driving past, I spot a leopard. A baby leopard on a leash. We immediately head over to see the baby with the stunning spotted coat. There is a stand in front of a restaurant with 2 hacks who will let you hold, feed, and photograph yourself with the leopard. It costs 100 Bath (3 USD). Feeding time for the leopard is over. He isn’t hungry and large cats do not over-eat. He is spectacular. Have I mentioned his stunning, spotted coat?

Gorgeous Coat

I hold him first. He is a bit rangy, but I am quick. They give him a stuffed animal whose eyes he has already ripped out to calm him. I put him down and let Marc have a turn.

Playing With His Toy

Watch Out!

He Needs To Chew On Something

Marc takes a seat on the platform where the leopard is leashed and he starts circling–despite his short chain. The leopard walks over to Marc, who is smiling for the camera, and takes a huge bite out of his thigh. His brand new pants (literally bought less than 16 hours before) are ripped and he is bleeding. Marc being Marc, laughs, and holds him anyhow for the camera. We get unbelievable pictures because the leopard doesn’t have the stuffed animal in his mouth. Marc then holds him like a baby. Next thing I know, the leopard turns and gets him–a bite on the side of Marc’s jaw. Marc hands the leopard back and the hacks rush to treat him with a half full bottle of antiseptic (this has obviously happened before). I didn’t realize that he was bleeding as much as he was. I sort of missed the 2nd bite–however it is caught on video. The first bite was pretty bad and developed into a huge bruise as well as a scar. I thought the leopard only snapped at him the 2nd time–as he did me, but had no idea that the leopard got him already before.

Ouch! The First Bite

What a Beauty

Brand New Shorts

We both can’t believe that Marc has a story to trump my rice paddy story, but he does. Talk about bragging rights. He got bit by a leopard–twice!

We walk over to the river Kwai bridge, which is nearby. Marc is still bleeding. We take some photos and add to our list of movies that we need to see on our return–Bridge On the River Kwai. We walk across the bridge and make our way to the other side of the river. On our way back we hop onto the platforms as the tracks are still live and a train is coming.

Bridge Over River Kwai

Approaching Train

Lunch.