Beans and elephants
(Elephants and I: Bangkok Zoo)
Today Pete and I decided to visit the zoo in Bangkok since the weather seemed suited to outdoor pursuits (and I must admit that we did not rise particularly early this morning). The zoo was double the price for me as it was for Pete, but as the cost of both our tickets amounted to 150 baht (under £3), I didn’t feel too cheated by the inflated tourist price. We saw very many animals, perhaps not always in the most pleasing enclosures but seemingly no worse off than in any European zoo. The highlights for us were the orangutans, snakes, tigers and of course being in Thailand, the elephants.
I’m not very interested in riding atop any animal and the same goes for elephants, however I have always wanted to know what they feel like under my fingers. I learn a lot about materials, objects and living things by picking them up or touching them; plants, fruit, animals, fish, fabric, wood, anything with an interesting texture. So once we had become acquainted with the sight of the pair of elephants in the courtyard, I bought some green beans from some women nearby in order to feed them. The elephants were very coy, avoiding the curious caresses of a handful of tourists, however they were slightly more obliging after a mouthful of food. The pictures don’t do them justice; being so close to what felt like a huge animal was actually quite intimidating, especially since they kept kicking each other and leaning against one another. With the swipe of a trunk, I could have easily been pushed over, so I was very tentative. The ears feel like warm, floury pizza base before it is cooked, or thick, dusty pancakes. The hair is bristly and wiry, but the skin below is warm and a little coarse, more like leather or stiff, wholemeal bread dough and it feels firm underneath. All this I expected, but the trunk is wet at the nostrils and flexible enough to prise fists open, and as I hoped, the underside of it is softer and flatter and very wrinkly. It felt very odd to be so close, within pinching distance of something so powerful and yet, quite playfully mild, disinterested in any visitor, except one holding out an offering.
mmmmmmmmmmmm leathery beans!
awwwwwwwwwwwwww, i want one, get me one?