So we are back in KL wasting some time until we get on our night train back to Singapore. It reminds me of the Orient Express. But its not. We have had some really awesome experiences the last few days we have been out of contact.
First we went to the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sactuary and hung out there all day with Raz. He is known as the Elephant Man and he gave us a private tour of the sanctuary. We got to see the injured rescued elephants and a 6 month old elephant!!! He was so cute. He sucks your thumb just like a baby and you blow into the end of his trunk and he will blow back. Its like an elephant game. But it smells when he blows back! ha ha It was an experience to remember. Then we washed and prepared the elephant’s food. The workers have this machete and chop all of the watermelon and papayas up right in front of you. Its pretty neat. I got to show my muscle by picking up heavy banana tree trunks and throwing them to the ele
phants. Then we got to ride on them. It was totally different than anythingever done. It almost feels like you are going to fall off because of the way the elephant shifts with every step. But I held onto the elephant guy so I was safe.
Then we hung out with Raz and the baby elephants and had Malaysian tea which is delish! We also had a cultural experience before we left by going to the Kindergarten in the village with Raz and meeting the kids and teachers. They fed us dinner. Just totally out of the blue and unexpected. The people here are so nice and giving. They smile all the time too. Everyone is just happy to have you there.
After that we took an hour and a half ride out to our hotel in Cherating. At first it was like National Lampoon’s Vacation. The hotel looked all ghetto at night and not like the pictures and it was weird. But then in the morning we woke up and the beach was right there. Our hotel was on the beach! It was so cool. We went out into town and did a local craft called Batik. (don’t pronounce the K though…the girls at the hotel giggled and said oh “Bati”….ha ha ha English K. That was interesting. I will show you my beautifully colored Batik that is my own design and made all by myself! Its super cool. We need to frame them when we get home. You draw a picture on a piece of cotton. Then you use wax to outline everything. Then you use watercolor to paint it. Its amazing!
After that we went to the Turtle Sanctuary and saw lots and lots of baby turtles. Green sea turtles to be exact. They said if we came back that night we can release them. So of course we went back around 9pm. Jay and I were there with 3 other people. Each person was given their own baby turtle to touch and hold for awhile. Then we walked down to the beach by only the light of the guide’s flashlight and put our turtles on the sand and watched them race into the ocean. My turtle was the first to take off. But as soon as the water came in, he decided he wasn’t interested and came back up the beach and then tried to walk over to his friends. Eventually, little Felix (that’s what I named him), decided it was time to make his journey out into the ocean. It was like releasing a kid into the world. I hope that little guy makes it ok. He was so cute!!!