Chiang Mai - Day 12

We began our day with an hour plus ride to an elephant camp where we were immediately transferred to a chair-box-seat on the back of a mature Asian elephant.  For about an hour we rambled through the rainforest, stopping occasionally to pick up a bunch of bananas and/or sugar cane for the elephant to snack on while we complete the journey.  It was truly a quiet, peaceful venture which we are glad we were able to experience.  Following our ride we were treated to a half hour or so of a dozen elephants ranging in age from 1 year to 10 years old as they performed a variety of very entertaining tricks and skills. We had lunch in the clubhouse of a local country club, where we were offered the option of playing golf -- could not imagine playing 18 holes (or even one hole) in this heat/humidity.  So-o-o onto another shopping opportunity, this one a local bronze works.  They showed us step-by-step how they hand craft table ware, and then took us into the showroom where, in addition to the table ware, they had hundreds of other items for sale.  Fortunately most were so big we weren’t even tempted.  Our final stop took us to a silk factory where they showed us how silkworms are transformed into silk thread and then woven into beautiful silk fabric.  Again it was expensive enough that we were able to resist.  After a short rest at our hotel, we were off again, this time for a cruise on the Ping River through the center of Chiang Mai.  Lovely sunset, great hors ’d oeuvres and a very relaxing way to end the day.