Chiang Mai Continued

I'm downloading a ton of pictures of our trip to Chiang Mai today, I promised my Dad that I'd get the elephant pictures up by Sunday! The second day at Chiang Mai we visited one of the surrounding elephant camps located about 1 hour north of the city. We were waiting to go on an elephant ride until we arrived in Chiang Mai because I wanted it to be a jungle adventure and we were not disappointed. This particular elephant camp is the home to 74 elephants. Our guide has ridden Poo (Man) Billy for 15 years. Poo Billy was 26 years old. Elephants can live as long as 80 years of age. Every day of the year Poo Billy and his trainer take visitors out on jungle rides. We had an hour ride over a mountain, ending at a long-neck tribal village. We were told that this tribal group originates from Myramar and from the age of 5 wear these rings around their necks, never taking them off. Because of the language barrier I never understood the significance or the application process but it causes their necks to be elongated. I'm afraid now it may be a ploy to attract tourists? After leaving the small village we went for an ox-cart ride through a small village followed by a bamboo raft ride down a calm river enjoying the jungle scenery. Before calling it a day we visited a tiger park where the boys were allowed to pet a tiger. Can you believe all that in one day? The following day we slept in and then went on a white water rafting trip, it was great. The return home in the back of the pick-up was almost as exciting as the water trip-approx. 5 miles with our guys on top of the rafts and pick-up. On the way home we saw many workers in the fields tending to the rice fields, it's so labor intensive. (FYI-click on pictures for commentary.)