Well Hello There Fellow Travelers And Hivers!
Last week Saturday I wrote a post about some long forgotten photos I found on a long forgotten memory stick that I dug out the back of my closet. It's been somewhere around ten years since that adventure and looking at the photos now it really feels like it happened in a different life time!
I'm scared at how time flies for me lately, my old man told me many years ago I think I was 11 or something at the time. Well he told me "The older you get the faster time goes by." I wish I believed him more than I did.
Anyways! The elephant park adventure is not quite done yet! We still need to go for a ride on them! The riding of the elephants only happened on the second day after we got accustomed to them and they to us!
I have to say, this place was a beauty and beyond! It almost felt like we were smack dead in the middle of a rain forest with a small clearing in the middle! The smell, the feels and the wet dampy atmosphere aahhhhh nothing better than being out in the thick of it!
We had an early morning, mostly because we were all so excited to go elephant riding but also why sleep away our vacation? We enjoyed a cup of coffee from the second story balcony of our room and bathed in the light breeze and sunlight.
Judging by the photos there was another group that rode before us, we were group three. It doesn't really matter does it, I still rode an elephant! Can you believe that!
What I found weird was that we didn't mount up at where most of the people mounted up. They came to fetch us and we went for a walk, quite a far walk actually into the green fields of the lodge and down slopey hills. It does make sense that they would rather tire us out than the elephants forcing them to walk up and down the hills, after all they are great big lumpy beasts.
I had no problem with this, I was young and besides that I was full of excitement!
And before we knew it, it was our turn to ride the great lumpy peacefull beasts!
Mum was the first to get mounted and well after that I can't really remember who got on second but again that is of little importance right!
With mum being short as short can be she needed a little help getting up on the back of the elephant, #shortpeopleproblems right 🤣 of that much I have no knowledge I am built fairly long but even that can pose its own problems from time to time hey.
I can remember my heart started pounding as it got closer for me to get up on the back of one.
She was barely on it and I heard her laughing with fear! Laughs one can't really see her face now but sheeeshh I can tell you riding the elephants was the easiest part and the scariest part was when they stood up or went down so that you can get off it!
It felt queer, almost as if you'll be falling off! But we didn't though!
And here I am, ten years ago. Dayum! I look years older now, well I am of-course but sheesh this doesn't look like me at all! I look like I should be in primary school!
Damn what did I try to do with the hairstyle, well it wasn't a style at all I think back then I just wanted to grow it!
There we were treading slowly but steadily through and over the low lying hills! Notice the slope? It was there where I really thought I was going to fall off the elephant but the guide assured me that everything would be fine! That didn't help my heart from freaking out at all though! 😂
Although I have to say I would do it all over again! 20/10!
There I am again! You can't really see me I'm tucked away behind the tour guide! But at this point it was starting to get hella exciting!
Since last week I've been brewing on the idea of doing such an adventure again! The last time mums took me but this time I think I need to spoil her with such an adventure!
Once again the tour guide does deserve some recognition ey! Well at-least one of them! They really put in some effort to make it worth the while for everybody at the lodge! More friendly and dedicated staff I am yet to see!
I originally didn't plan on adding these close ups of the elephants because I didn't really have any context that I could think of to add with them.
BUT they are indeed beautifull and beyond! It's actually quite sad when looking into their eyes from close up. They look somewhat sad to be honest. But when you start walking around them they do get more alive!
The gentle giants of the earth! Gentle but they can trample one so easily!
Dated 03/06/2023
elephant
Connecting the people of #HIVE across South Africa. #hive
