Oh vow!!! It really surprises me how's good this camera.. It gives me such good quality of photos since I bought this cam about two month now.

It's about two week that I went to Chiang Mai to find good photography book at book store at the big shopping mall and I got one about how to shoot landscapes. I just took a look very quick about how to adjust the camera setting. Then I just tried several mode, in the book it shows me this setting " AV" I do not know what 's this mode means, but it's about dept of field which is means " Depth of field" haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa  let see my pictures and you will see all details of its picture from the front through the end of images.. Let try if you have SLR camera. I am really keen to purchase new ultra wide angle lens, but it 's extremely expensive tool..

Let enjoy me photos taken about a couple ago in the forest while walking into the forest to pick up the elephants with our tourists in three day mahout training course.

Lai has been working as the mahout at least 8 years as when I first started working at the camp about eight years ago, I saw Lai working as the secondary mahout of one tuskless elephant " Sridor Tadang" the handsome elephant at the camp. Then when the mahout of Pang Kod was assigned the new responsibility to train the young elephant at the Elephant Training School so Lai was assigned to take care of Pang Kod..

When I first worked at the camp I have learned and known that Pang Kod is very nervous elephant like she is afraid of dog, car even the falling leaf. And I realize that when I first handled the mahout training course I saw that the tourists in the training course are not allowed to ride the elephants back into the forest as all elephants are very nervous of every things that they heard. Then we tried to put the tourists to ride elephant half way to the forest and after that all elephants are familiar to the surrounding nature and tourists so they are okay to walk into the forest with the tourists on the neck.

Okay let talk about Pang Kod and her mahout!!! Now Pang Kod she is still very stubborn, every time she works in the mahout training course, she must have Jojo stays near her as Pang Kod She blindly loves Jojo. I think every realize that if they are on Jojo.. right???

Lai before working as the mahout, he used to be the soldier for two two and worked in Bangkok before. Lai he has an aunt working the moment as the mahout took Lai to work together at the camp so Lai becomes the mahout by luck at the camp so far..

Lai has a lot of sense of humor,  he always make all tourists smiles and laughing.. With good new of him is Lai just had little son as he was marriage very long time ago, but he did not have any baby. So a couple month ago Lai he is very happy that his wife gave first baby. So it makes Lai happier.. Congratulations Lai...

It takes me about one night to upload the photo of the tourists in our three day mahout training course and two day course..

Thank you very much for Yael, Liba, Julia and Tiffany in Joining our mahout training course.. Please email your family to view your photo on net.

And Special thanks for Jo and her mother Josephine in three day course during 28-30 of July..



Please visit their photo gallery

Adding photos of Yael and jojo on the blog today just want to say thank very much for joining our mahout training course during 28-29 of July..

Yael and Liba from America and Tiffany and Julia from Australia in our two day mahout training course.. They told me that they had very wonderful times with their elephant at the camp and they did not want to leave.. I will add their photo of the gallery tonight, if any one want to see those photos of their course, please visit the gallery part..



I am jealous of Jojo..

Taking this pictures of Prathida and Wanalee this morning with very pretty background of blue sky.. I bought this camera about two month ago, I have taken a lot of photos since I bought, but I have no chance to take the pictures of good light as since two month ago, the weather is too bad as it 's cloudy and rain almost every day.. Today I woke up pretty early as then went to office to prepare some elephant command sheets for the new tourists today and I found the sky is pretty clear and blue so when my tourists arrived at the camp and I took them to ride elephant.

So I took many shots of them this morning including blue sky too. But sadly my old lens need to be cleaned as you can see a lot of dust in side..

I wish you will love it..

Yesterday when all my tourists left the camp in the morning so I have half day free with Bob who came a long from Australia to visit his elephants at Thai Elephant Conservation Center..

I went to meet Bob in the evening and and convince Bob to visit Mahout house " Mr. Pun" but we passed my friend's house who takes care of the most beautiful tusker at the camp " Plai Jum Pui" ..

I took yesterday about 300 photos in about twenty minutes as Jampui is standing close to my friends house and then we went to visit Pun' s house while he was cooking dinner.

Pun is one of greatest mahout who has been taking care of Tantawan more than 14 years since she was donated from mining camp in Kanchanaburi as told by Pun. And I took a couple shots at his house..

Just add  very quick thank to Bob from Australia to visit the Thai Elephant Conservation Center during 25 - 27 of July..

Bob has been visiting the Thai Elephant Conservation Center many many time ago, he just follows in love with this place so far.. and he call Jojo his elephant " My son"  and other elephant that he comes a long to visit is Tantawan the first elephant that he rode in the past..

Bob he is one of real elephant lover from Australia, he visits the camp and stay over night at the home stay accommodation even he can not ride elephant.. I think he will be back again in March in Elephant Jumbo Buffet during the National Elephant Day on 13 of March as expected to happen.

Thank Bob..

I took these pictures yesterday as Jojo is hitting the water and tried to get the tourists and mahouts around him wet.. He is such playful elephant at the camp...

Any body misses Jojo, just add some comments about him...

I just took these pictures this morning as John taking his elephant " Prathida" to stand of the dead wood.. and suddenly Prachuab she just rushed to Prathida as her close friend what what happen to her friends..

Note: I just had several emails from Erin that she can convince her mother to participate in our mahout training course.. I am so excited to meet here again as Erin was and left here a couple weeks ago for the mahout training course and then she just came back for here elephant  " Prathida " again

Hi Karen I just added this photo for you if you miss your elephant Wanalee.. Wanalee she is adopted and named by King Sister. Wanalee means the lady in the forest and she deserves this name so far..

Wanalee is very intelligent elephant who perform the highlight of elephant show at Thai Elephant Conservation Center such as putting the hat of the tourist or mahout's head. Especially Tiam always shows how strong the trunk of Wanalee is by sitting on his elephant trunk and Wanalee just lift her mahout and walk around...

Tiam is great mahout too as he has been looking after his elephant since Wanalee was about 15 days old. Now Wanalee is 11 years old,  So Tiam he can not see the body 's size of Wanalee is bigger and bigger and every day but he realizes that it becomes more difficult to get on and off Wanalee every day...!!!!!!! haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..

Karen or Nola or Nicole and and body who miss Wanalee, this picture is for you.

Hi Kat I just bought all elephants bananas this morning on behalf of you.. Thank you very much for give me 100 Baht to buy bananas for all elephants..

Actually Kat wanted to give me 100 Baht in order to buy Peanut for Prachuab her elephant in her mahout training course course on 4-6 of July..

Kat she just kept crying on the end of the day when she knew she had to leave her elephant, parting is such sweet sorrow for her.. The only thing that she can do for her elephant is give me 100 Baht for peanut, I had been trying to buy peanut for Prachuab, but I can not as the local did not harvest the peanut yet.

Note: Kathrina and Pavel are from Czech Republic have been joining our mahout training course at least four time so far. They just come back for their elephant is Prachuab and Jojo and visit me too. They are really great people who always visits the website to see what happen here. So this website is about you are at home, but it's like to be at the camp that you can enjoy the photo of elephant at home so I am very glad to be behind of this happiness..

Ps. Kat now you can apply as the member of this website and they can add some comments if you miss elephants..

Just add very quick thank to Louis from Switzerland in joining three day mahout training course at Thai Elephant Conservation Center during 22-24 of July..

On the first day I asked him about how do you know about this place and this mahout training course and he told me that his dad have been visiting the camp very often.. Oh I got it and I asked him your dad name is " Peter Maagg" and he said yes he is.. So I still have very good memory about Peter who always take " TooK Took car " from Chiang Mai to the camp..

Louis told me that his dad is a bit crazy as to take the Took Took from Chiang Mai is too far and dangerous.. So Louis told me that his dad will be back again in the future.

So this time I just put Louis  to jojo..

This was taken in the morning a couple days ago as Singha Khon she is grabbing her trunk with her month.. It is said The trunk of elephant was developed from upper palate and nose..

I think it's true and the the trunk is regarded as strongest organ of elephant which comprised of forty thousand unknown muscles..

Jojo is the real lover at the camp as he has at least three elephants always stick with him, those elephants will always walk with him.. Pang Kod, Prachaub and Wanna. But seem Jojo just make it easy, he did not make any attentions to those elephants at all. Pang Kod she is just every crazy about Jojo and Wana she just run to Jojo when she first meet him..

This morning I took this pictures of Prachaub and Jojo are putting the trunk to each other, I do not know what does it mean in elephant life.. Kissing????

I took this picture yesterday of Singha Khon, the great mother of all elephant as she already had two baby elephant so far and now she is pregnant for about ten month as told by the mahout..

I am so excited to see her baby elephant again, because of last 4 years ago I went into the forest to pick up her baby with the mahout after the mahout found that his elephant gave birth of her second baby by herself. I was so sleepy because it 's very early morning.

Now her second baby elephant is 4 years and just celebrate birthday on 12 of June last month..

Thank you very much Sharon, Mathew, David, Sarah, Carolyn and Danny, Cherie, Susanne and Nicolus and John in our two day mahout training course and three day mahout training course during 19-21 of July.. Sharon and her family is from Australia the number one fans in our mahout training course as the Australians are the most tourists in our mahout training course as Australia is closed to Thailand and Asia, this is what I think.. And It seems there are a lot of American tourists in our course too like Sasanne and Nicolus..

Danny  and Cherie are from Australia as well .. Anyway thank you very much for joining course mahout training course..

Now your photos are uploaded so it will be completed by tomorrow any way..

Ps. During this three day and two day night course at the camp, all tourists are very happy and every always grins even some of them can not ride their elephants through the course..



This is Sharon from the top view ( elephant eye view)

It 's pretty great opportunity today to ride on the back of Jojo and try to take the photos of the tourists in three day mahout training course and two day mahout training course... It's not my first time as I used to ride of Pang Kod and took the pictures for the top view and that time it makes me not to ride the elephant and take the pictures.. I do not mind about falling of the elephant or the camera would drop from the elephant, I found after I got off the elephant was very very sore leg..

Oh my Buddha!!!!!! My legs were sore and very tight for about one week..as I had to squeeze my legs on elephant so I had to get off after taking a couple shots.. But this time I got on Jojo just sat behind Danny.. I found I felt okay as Jojo he does not move like Pang Kod of my first time.. or I think that Jojo realize that I am getting older or he cared and worry about me..

Just come back from the forest about one hours ago with our tourists in three day mahout training course, but this morning is very special as we have two little lovely Thai girls came a long with us to collect the elephants with their parents and mahouts..

This little girls she is gorgeous  looking  and cute. They are not afraid of elephants at all as we put them together on one elephant " Wanna"

This two girl are sister, but I do not know who is younger or old sister as they are one year different.. But I know their name " Naam Fah and Naam Nung" I wish if their parents are going to visit my website, hopefully they will add some comments and tell me which one is older or younger sister..

( For their parents please email so that I can send the photo of your children)

I took this photo yesterday at the show while Jojo one of my favorite elephant was push the log to pile it up.. Jojo is tuskless male elephant who born and belong to the camp..

Yesterday is holiday in Thailand as Buddhist Lent, there are so many tourists visited the camp like today as well. Jojo he always love to show off when a lot of tourists are watching him working and Jojo is the star. He is real one man show :P      Does any body notice this??????

If miss Jojo or like this photo , just add some comments to say hello to him..



Look at his leg (one is up) how dedicated he is...

Hi every one this is the video of Prathida while she was beating the drum  at the showground.. Prathida she is regarded as best drummer at the camp. She just beat the drum without command of the mahout.. She just keep beating that drum till John told her to stop.. If any body miss her, please add some comments by registering as the member of the website and then you will get one email to activate your account. In the past there were so many people want to share some opinion, but they can not as some error of blog application, but now that error was fixed this morning so now you can add some comments..

Now I am active again as so many people really miss their elephants and those want to express their feeling of missing the elephant.. So I wish to meet you here again..



Unable to view this video, please download Adobe Flash Player

Yesterday some one at the office told me that there were 4 tourists asked for my name and I am really  afraid that tourists wanted to start the mahout training course without making advanced reservation.

Finally I got it I found John brought his daughter for a day trip and his other 2 friends.. and John just sent me the morning in the same morning to book for the mahout training next month..

John he was here before in three day mahout training and he loves it and his elephant is Prachaub our fattest elephant in the show ground.. Okay John I will check in the availability of the training course next month and email you back soonest.

Just added the photo of Cole  ever youngest tourist of Jojo as in the past Jojo always had big tourists for the mahout training course.. During 7-9 of July I have properly 8 tourists for the mahout training course including one lovely family from the State, one girl from Canada, two little boy from the State and one girl from Chiang Mai.

One the first day Cole told me that he needed big elephant so I decided to put him with Jojo. Cole he is very good to his elephant, the size of Jojo did not trouble his mahout training course at all even Cole did better Job than some tourists. So Cole became youngest tourist of Jojo so far..

Another little boy Sam also came along with Cole from his second time of the mahout training course and his elephant is Lookkhang and this time he also requested the same elephant... But it was pretty sad on the second day that he was sick so he had to go back to Chiang Mai to meet his Grand Pa, but he still came back next day to complete his mahout training course..

I think it is not too late to say or sing " Happy birthday Song " to our lovely baby elephant " Seven as he was born on Seven of July 2007 by his mother Pang Kaew.

Yesterday I did not realize that Seven turned one year old so I did not buy any things for him, but today I did. So if any body wants to say some things to Seven, you are very welcome to add some comments of this entry...

This photo was taken this morning as Prathida and her close friend Prachaub was playing each other while we were taking the elephant for bath..

I do not know what does it mean when two elephants put their trunk to their friend's month, I think it is one of the way to communicate to each other..

I just went back from the forest this morning with Seven tourists in our three day mahout training course and two day course.. The rain kept pouring a whole night and elephants covered themselves with mud So it causes all mahout difficulties to clean it off from elephant's back, because it was very sticky...But we still walk into the forest to collect our elephants and our tourists did not mind about the rain..

Especially that I was told be the mahout that when the rain starts falling and next day, their elephants become a bit stubborn, and it seems was true as I heard John kept calling Prathida his elephant to come to him and she just ignored his commands.. haaaaaaaaa.... But anyway all elephants were very happy last night as the rain gives the weather cooler and cooler and our surrounding natures become very green..

I wish you guys will come back to join our course in near future again.. You are very welcome to add some comments or just say hello on this comments..



Muddy Princess...haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa



Prachaub and her first pretty mahout as Prachaub always has the male mahouts for their training course, Jessica was model from England..

Just added this photo on net to keep in touch with every body which they won't be disappointed when visiting the website.. I remember that I took this photo  a couple day ago while Prathida was hold here friend's tail and walked into the show ground to perform the first show.. This photo is also added on the gallery....

Ps. The tail of that elephant must be Prachaub as she always walks ahead of Prathida, but not walking from the forest, Prathida is the first of all elephants who always be the front of the herd..