At the Rose Garden, after lunch, I got to feed the fish, hold birds and pose with the elephants. The elephants performed a short show of dancing, log towing and rolling, and carefully stepping over their human riders....it was very cool. I thought my horse Caesar was big!! There was a baby elephant and it was so neat! Stinky but cute.
Then we had a cultural show of dancing, sword fighting and Thai boxing. Boxing is like kickboxing and always has music played in the background. The animals of course were my favorite part.
There was one part of the theatre performance where the men would sit and clap and shack very long bamboo poles. Other men and women had to time their steps in between these poles. Like how football players have to develope footwork by running through tires laid on the ground. These dancers then speed up to the music. I thought this is the Thai version of Lords of the Dance.
Amulet--at one of the temples, I bought this small charm of Buddha to wear around my neck. Many Buddhists here do that, like how we wear the Cross from Jesus. I bought one bc I wanted to have something from a temple and wanted to be more like the locals and understand why they do what they do. I have gotten at least half a dozen Thai people recognize and applaud the fact I am wearing that. I guess many tourists don't do that and Thai people want tourists to learn and understand Buddha. So my trinket has been a topic of conversation and they are glad I have it. Protection! They say as I walk by and put their hands together and bow as they do upon greeting someone. I think it's cool that they think it's cool.
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