Friday 10th Feb.

Digging out the mud bath

Ready for elephants

Buddhist chanting filled the still air; the morning prayers had started pre-dawn and the sounds filtered through the sanctuary as the sun rose. Our daily routine of breakfast and cleaning the shelter was followed by a work party armed with shovels and picks heading to the mud bath area. The pit had almost been completed and with one large chunk of sandy soil forming an island we worked steadily breaking through the challenging grassy roots of the top layer, scooping away the softer substrate. Of course, as we neared the end, it didn't take long before the mud started to fly! No one seemed to escape at least some of the gooey, muddy-red spray - some more than others got their fair share!!!

Tree blessing ribbon

Setting off into the jungle after lunch, each of us carrying a golden yellow ribbon which had been blessed by the local monks. We reached an area that had not been protected yet, and each of us chose a tree. It is believed by villagers that if you harm a tree that has received a blessing, that you will in turn receive bad luck for the rest of your life. Jordan and I chose one of the largest trees - big enough to require not only both of the pieces of ribbon that each of us carried, but we also used a third piece that Chan had brought with her. It will take many years for the jungle to recover from the heavy logging and subsequent fires that have ravaged the parched landscape left behind.

Sweet and juicy sugar cane

Sugar cane harvest

It was extremely hot this afternoon - it felt like it must have been in the upper 30's, the hottest day yet. We set off in the pickup truck to a nearby farm to cut sugar cane - 120 stalks in total and load up and process once we got back to the sanctuary. it was definitely time for shower #2 of the day to cool off and clean up before elephant food prep and feeding.

The showers consist of a large bucket of water and a ladle - the water heating to air temperature during the day, and cooling slightly overnight - which made the morning a very fresh start to the day! The sinks are outside at the ends of the building for open-air teeth cleaning and shaving.



Les, Jordan, Sabrina, Pauline1, Elizabeth and Julie

Five of us set off with Say down the Anlong Veng highway to a nearby family run store - our beer consumption had exceeded our expectation and so another replenishment run was required to see us through the last couple of nights. The family were the most congenial hosts, they had no beer available at that moment, but made us most comfortable, bringing out seating and pinning up a sarong from a nearby tree branch to create some shade, while one of the family set off on their scooter to obtain a supply to sell to us. We sat and socialised as the full moon rose above the forest canopy around 7:00pm and the crickets sang in unison at the arrival of darkness.