Surprise Trip!

I knew that Joe and I were taking a trip yesterday - a part of my birthday present. But I just assumed it was a day trip up the mountain - which I was still very excited about! For the past week, we have been practicing riding the scooter together, with me on the back.

**(Just as a quick disclaimer: Joe rented a motorbike --an automatic scooter-- as a means of getting to school and back. This is basically the main form of transportation in Thailand and as there is a lot of traffic in Chiang Mai, no one ever goes very fast at all. But two days ago we bought some heavy duty helmets that we ALWAYS wear. And we never drive at night!)**

With that said, I was excited about getting out of the city for a bit. What I didn't know was that Joe had planned a night at an awesome resort up in the mountains!! It only took about an hour to get there by bike, but it was an amazing ride! We kept ascending higher in the mountains...a breezy ride, palm trees, rice paddies, water buffalos -- and elephants! Needless to say, it was amazing. Because it is the low tourist season, it was basically just us at the resort -- and we were upgraded to a deluxe room! We ate a meal in the early evening, enveloped in a hazy heat, a flock of birds fluttering overhead, the din of the insects rising...and an elephant practicing his polo swing nearby.* Here's a quick pic from the terrace...




*I also rounded a corner and saw an elephant lazily painting a picture, paintbrush in trunk, canvas and easel. Still not quite sure how I feel about this anthropormorphizing of elephants--but I'll admit, it was kind of adorable.