On Saturday, Daddy brought us on an excursion to Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary, which is located at the Temerloh district. It was ~2hrs drive on Karak Highway (towards Raub and Exit : Lanchang) and small roads (with very good signage to the Santuary), passing small villages and Orang Asli settlements.

When we arrived ~2:30pm; they had finished distributing the ‘yellow stickers’ (which entitled you a ride on the elephant), and only left with ‘red stickers’ (which is just an ‘entrance ticket’). Entrance is free! Can you beat it? It seems the place is getting funds mainly from foreign tourists’ donation.

What the girls got to do was got real close to the elephants. However, Zara thought the elephant was dirty, didn’t want to get too close.

The elephant had just performed a trick (greeting visitors) and being awarded a pack of crysenthimum tea. o.O”

After seeing how the elephant took peanuts from my hand, Zaria too tried to feed the elephant.

Zara afraid of getting herself dirty, stood aside and watch.

Zaria is very proud she dared to do something her sister was afraid of doing.

After the feeding, the elephants were led to the river for a bath. Visitors can join in and bath the elephants. The elephants actually got a bit afraid when a big crowd jumped into the river and chased after them; they actually went to the other side of the river, and wanted to climb up to the banks. After a lot of persuation from the handlers, then only they came to the centre.

Daddy wasn’t properly dressed, so I went into the water together with the girls.

Splash! Splash! Splash! See the huge crowd?

For those with yellow stickers, you can actually take a ride on the elephant in the water.

The elephant will dive into the water.

And throw you off their backs!

After the elephants climbed back up to land, the girls wanted to swim in the water. Gosh, there’s elephants’ dropping here and there, but they refused to get up, so I have to stay with them. The river was shallow and the water extremely cooling, and there’s no foul smell or anything (but still, I DID see the droppings).

I just walked away a bit so that Daddy could take a photo of just the girls and Zaria started complaining “Mummy, why you go away? I’m drowing you know.” o.O”

They were probably in the water for about half an hour before they were willing to leave. Both girls got themselves a lilly leaf (I think that’s what it is).

Girls giving the thumbsup for the trip. I think they really like the cool dip in the pool.

In terms of washing facilities, like all Malaysian public restrooms, they are horrendous. There’s however running water, so I just gave the girls a rinse and got them changed outside of the restrooms. I cringed when I changed myself. BUEK!

On our way back to Karak highway, Daddy stopped by at a road side stall and ordered a durian. (Just in case you are wondering, no that’s not Daddy).

Zara had a taste of durian and didn’t quite like it (btw, we not a family of durian eaters).

Zara and myself waited for Daddy at the orchard owner’s shed, whiled Daddy finished off the durian.

Zara and the orchard owner.

(Daddy likes to rob the colours from our lives black and whilte photography these days; so everything is boring black and white).