The day after Ayutthaya, we explored Pattaya which is around 2 hours from Bangkok. So, from Bangkok, we rented the same van we used in Ayutthaya with a guide and driver to tour us around.

Read about my day in Ayutthaya (click here)

In Pattaya, we went to Nong Nooch Gardens. It’s a 600-acre park with beautifully landscaped gardens patterned from Europe and houses more than 50 different animals like elephants, tigers, and birds.

Park admission ranges from 300-800 THB. Thais and foreigners possessing Thai driving license can get a ticket for 300 THB. For foreigners who aren’t interested in watching their cultural and elephant shows, the ticket price is at 500 THB. And for foreigners watching the shows, the ticket price is 800 THB. For ours, we got the 800 THB to watch the shows.

As you go inside the park, you are welcomed by the one-of-a-kind car collection of the owner.

Then to the elephant stables where you can feed and take photos with the elephant. You can buy some bananas for 50 THB for elephant feeding and have photos with the elephants for 100 THB.

Lunch is actually already included in the entrance fee. Cool right? And it’s buffet! I ate Pad Thai again btw.

Now for the shows, the first one was the cultural show which was very impressive, I must say. Normally, I would be long asleep watching cultural shows or documentaries but this one, I was wide awake the whole time. Elephants were even included in their show!

After that, we were directed to another stadium, for the elephant show. (the most exciting part of the trip!) Of course, we sat in front to be as close to the elephants as possible. So, just like any other tourists, we bought some bananas and fed the elephants, took pictures and was a bit terrified at first.

Then suddenly, a man approached me and grabbed my wrist, pulling me into the middle of the arena where two gigantic dolled-up elephants were standing. 

I couldn’t really understand a thing the guy was saying but it seemed like he wanted me to stand in between the trunks of both elephants, so I did. Then the elephant trainers began counting 1… 2 …3…annnnd oh my gosh!

The elephants lifted me by their trunks!

I thought to myself.. this is the best elephant encounter I have ever experienced in my life (Oh my goodness... Oh my goodness x100) ! And I have to thank my Tita Mia for it!!!

Never in my life had I imagined that I would be carried by an elephant with its trunk across an arena let alone be lifted by an elephant’s trunk at all!

After the show, we continued strolling around the park, took some photos, and went on with our Pattaya tour carrying with us the joy and memories of our unforgettable elephant interaction!

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Love,

Tyra