Bangkok Week 697 — Mika's Photos

It's Friday. You know what that means! Time to kick kick kick!

Practicing floating and balancing on his own, with the noodle.

And diving into the water off the board.

And jumping into the water with abandon.

Saturday, we set off for a long-weekend in Petchburi. Here's our lunch stop: at a pomelo farm.

Arlo enjoyed pointing at all the pomelos. Practically a spitting image of our pomelo plantation at home.

Lunch in the hut wasn't half-bad, either.

And here we are at I-Love-Phants lodge...

They have almost 70 Ha of area, home to 25 rescued elephants and over 700 animals in all.

Our room is definitely in the middle of the jungle, but hopefully some visitors will pass by! Arlo is waiting...

There goes someone!

View from where we park our car, with our room in the background.

A few of the elephants liked to hang out right here: by our car.

Well this was a new site: giant jungle ants, carrying away entire pieces of kibble.

And off they all go, to feed the family. It'll be a feast tonight!

Too hot to swim: so let's enjoy an ice cream in the lobby first.

An elephant walks buy, and makes her way toward the swimming pool.

There she goes, trundling right past the edge of the pool. I guess we should head over there too!

The pool, overlooking one of the large elephant areas (with multiple gibbon islands).

Arlo's happy to be back in the water.

This has to be one of the nicest pool views in Thailand!

Getting ready to jump.

Someone's having fun.

Reluctantly taking a rest.

And more jumps!

And we're done just in time for the elephants' dessert time!

It's not a misconception that elephants like bananas. They really do! They pop 'em whole.

These ladies are not shy to ask for more.

Quite pleased with this evening's haul.

Satisfied and full, they head off to walk off their dessert.

Dinner time! It's a western buffet tonight - yum.

Arlo scarfs down a bowl of sticky rice for dessert.

The next morning at breakfast, someone came to say hi to Arlo.

Maybe she's looking to see if he has any more bananas.

Hello, lovely lady.

It is also not a myth that elephants like to throw dirt onto their backs. This one might start growing trees soon.

The morning gossip group convenes.

Mid-breakfast photo, yoghurt face and all.

Can't beat this breakfast view.

The wall was a perfect height for Arlo.

After a short chat, they decide to come back over to see if anything new is happening.

Linking trunks.

Sorry ladies, no more banans yet.

A great opportunity to study the elephants up close.

And off they go again, to see what else is happening this morning...

... except for this gal, who stayed behind to scratch her bum on a tree.

Waiting for our tour of the foundation to start. Arlo's never seen such a large camera!

Going cross-eyed trying to figure out how to use this thing.

The highlight of Arlo's trip: riding on this special safari bus!

They've got a whole lot of rescued gibbons staying with them: these are some of the newer arrivals.

This one is the youngest, and still waiting to be introduced to older gibbons.

Putting on a great swinging show for us.

This gibbon is content to just watch us back.

And here's Jan, a rescued puma, enjoying her shade and keeping a close eye on the visitors.

Another gibbon family, putting on a show.

And this is Canoe, a rescued Chimp who lived in a tiny cage outside a school for almost 30 years. He only drinks filtered water.

Showing off his climbing skills.

And one of the many rescued Malayan Sun Bears who now lives there.

They also have a lot of rescued otters, believe it or not.

Here's one, begging for attention.

Meanwhile, back on the bus, Arlo is quite keen to stay right here thank you.

Definitely the highlight of his trip.

Here's Mami, a Siamang gibbon, who doesn't like to spend time in the trees.

He's the loudest species of gibbon; we could hear him in the morning from our room.

A few more gibbons just hanging out in the trees (where they're meant to be).

I see you, tourists.

Putting on a swinging show.

And here's a Cassowary: considered the deadliest bird because of it's sharp and strong claw. (It can rip open a human abdomen in one strike...)

And this is one of 5 rescued iguanas living at WFFT.

And a giant Hornbill - one of a few.

Arlo's very hungry after a busy morning tour. For lunch? Only grapes, thank you.

He must have had about 50 grapes though...

These two were waiting for us back at our parking spot.

And we were in for an afternoon treat, back at our balcony.

Who's coming?

Two elephants have come to say hello.

And we have front-row views to watch their feast.

They crush and pop the banana trees (not the fruit, the entire tree trunk) like they're cookies.

The inside of the banana trunk is apparently delicious.

What a great view.

Just crushing and popping, crushing and popping.

Elephants? What elephants? Arlo's fascinated by the giant red ants walking across the balcony.

Here comes a third one!

Forget the banana trees, she says. I'm here to get a good back scrach.

And then off she goes, to check out the other guesthouses.

Oh, now Arlo sees the elephants.

Can't beat this balcony view.

Those two in the back are eating as if they've not eaten all day.

Posing with our lady friends.

They came to say hello and good-bye up close, before heading off.

Bye-bye, friends!

It's late afternoon. So that means it's swim time!

Arlo's happy as a clam (or a banana-fed elephant?) to be back in the water.

Hi, Dad!

Sitting on Mum's shoulders. (It took a few tries.)

Hey, there goes an elephant!

Here we go again.

Arlo asked to swim underwater. So this time: without waterwings!

Always a big smile on his face.

And it was his idea to dive in off the stairs.

What a fun way to jump into the water.

Doing his best impression of Dad.

Trying on his Dollarama hat from Granny. It fits.

And a colorful sunset, as a backdrop to dinner.

No buffet tonight, since the "crowds" are gone. So it's a la carte, just for us.

The next morning at breakfast, Arlo made a new friend!

A tiny puppy who was picked up only a few hours ago.

The puppy followed Arlo around.

Puppy knows a fellow kid when he meets one!

Arlo could barely sit at the table. Where's Puppy?

Recalling his Dad impression from the night before.

Getting in one last swim before heading back: this time at the pool villa pool, since they were draining the main pool.

Group shot.

And one more.

Getting ready to throw the Arlo.

And up he goes!

Sitting on Dad's shoulders. This water is much more shallow, so Arlo's much taller.

And down he goes!

Cute little surfer boy, modeling his new WFFT t-shirt.

Cheese!

Before we go, Arlo wants to say goodbye to his new friend: the bus.

Bye bye, bus! See you next time!

Lucky Arlo! Meanwhile in Bangkok, the cement mixer and steam roller that Dad ordered have arrived!

Practicing sitting on his special toilet seat. Although... something doesn't look quite right.

Having a delicious "fish" burger for special dinner.

Hooray! Arlo's 5-year passport is ready for pick-up. Let's celebrate the Canadian way!

This is a boring book!

And then Pu arrived! Everyone wants a hug with Pu!

Reading Picturepedia together.

Looking at all the different trains.

What's for breakfast, Pu?

And listening to Pu's radio.

Hanging out with his sister.

Night night! See you next week!