Setting birds free – a great way to celebrate a birthday
July 23, 2008
Usually when I travel I try my hardest not to be a tourist.
On my recent trip to Lao I celebrated my birthday by doing a tour on a long-boat up the Mekong from the quaint little town of Luang Prabang to the disappointingly ordinary Pak-au Caves to see ………… statues of buddhas in caves.
Enter the children with tiny birds in cages
I do not usually fall for the tourist trick – but these kids were only asking $1 USD per bird and I figured – "what the hell – I’m a heartless cow if I can’t spend $2 USD and release two birds to freedom and make two kids happy – on my birthday."
I could do with a little luck – and double that!
Think back to a few years ago when Richard Geer was suckered into putting an undefined number of birds on his VisaCard in order to help a little Indian girl send her brother off to school with (now) HEAPS of luck.
These kids didn’t take plastic – only crisp US Dollars.
Happy Birthday to me
Adding "Elephant Driving" to Zulu's services
July 22, 2008
Next time you require the services of a trained Elephant driver – or Mahout – consider Zulu Communications as having the skills that YOU need. As long as your elephant can understand Laotion – we’re sweet.
Sue completed a two day Mahout training course in Luang Prabang, Lao where she learned ten key commands and gestures that are guaranteed to have your elephants stampeeding to the sound of your commands.
Just in case you find yourself in the situation where you need to jump on the back of a Laotion elephant and "drive" him to the river for a bath (like we did)- here’s a summary of words and actions that are sure to prove very effective.
Only problem is that the elephant needs to understand Laotion – so we’re not sure that these vocal commands are tranferrable internationally – yet a good solid "heel to the right side of the head" is sure to make them turn left in ANY country.
- Pai or Pai Pai Pai = Walk forward
- Pai Khua or Khua Khua = Walk to the right ( accompany with a kick with the left foot)
- Pai Sai or Sai Sai = Walk to the left ( accompany with a kick with the right foot)
- Thoy = Turn around
- How = Stop
- Ya! = No
- Map Long = Lie Down
- Look = Stand up
- Jab Ow = take something
- Tack Bone = spray water
The elephants actually did whatever the hell they felt like – so yelling " YA YA YA" when the elephant was ripping out bushes to eat while you’re sitting on his head – had absolutely no effect. Maybe I should have been saying " HOW HOW" or "Ya How"………Try it out with your kids first – minus the kicking of course!
No animals were hurt in the process – although you have to be REALLY careful when they poo in the river – they are BIG and hard to dodge!
Here’s the video taken by my travel buddy Peter!
Washing Elephants from Peter Gerrard on Vimeo . Viewing Tip: Switch of HD – it might run better!
Cheers from Sue the Mahout -wearing a blue mahout suit-and riding the biggest elephant in the jungle
