Water Wars and Elephant Kisses

The Songkran (or New Year's) celebration in Chiang Mai, Thailand:

Imagine yourself in the middle of New Orleans during Mardi Gras, except without any lewd behavior or drunkenness.  Instead of throwing beads and confetti, you are engaged in an all-out water fight.  Perhaps you are riding in the back of a truck, carrying a water gun in one hand and a bucket in the other, and dousing any unlucky open vehicle that passes by.  Or perhaps you are riding double on an extremely loud, yet amazingly compact motorbike, wielding a supersoaker to blast pedestrians curbside.  OR even better, you are on hose duty, standing along the road, hose running and spraying cars, bikes, and pedestrians.  All things being equal, you are soaking wet.  But when the weather's approaching 100 degrees F, a little cool down isn't so bad. 

If you find yourself asking, 'Why?', as I did, here's the rundown we were given by our tour guide:  Songkran is Thai New Year's, and originally was a time for cleansing the altars and buddha images with holy water. It was also a time when young people would sprinkle water on their elders as a sign of respect.  One might go to the temple to watch the water being blessed by the monks, and then take some water home to lightly spritz on the hands and head of their parents and grandparents.  Oh, how traditions do change.  

Forget sprinkling, this is a water war.

Andy and I appreciated escaping the water and noise of Chiang Mai city for the surrounding green hills and forests.  We spent a few days trekking through the forest and burning farmland, staying overnight in a Hmong village.  We took a cooking class overlooking a rice field.  But our final Thai day took the cake...a visit to the Elephant Nature Park.  A place where domesticated/working elephants are offered care, respite and protection from abuse.  These huge, beautiful, smart, and sensitive creatures were amazing to see, to feed, and to bathe at this sanctuary set in the hills.  

And they kiss the tourists...as long as there's a bundle of bananas in it for them.  

What's it like to be kissed by an elephant?  Like a sloppy suction cup to the face.  

But, so sweet, you just want another one.  

"Love Blooms on the shoulder of the Elephant who is courteous to the Ant." ~ Hafiz