The same day as the Sikh Temple the interns experienced the snake farm and Tiger Kingdom. We first headed to the best bakery in Chiang Mai. Not only do they serve the most delicious treats, they have a lot of American goods such as peanut butter, jelly and bread! I got a delicious coconut cake and coconut roll. We ate our snacks on the way to the snake show. Pam and her 6 year old twins are Ralph’s neighbor at the apartment building. The twins are gorgeous girls. Pam, is the most amazing human alive, I am truly so jealous of this woman and aspire to be like her. She is working on a second Masters at Duke University and is studying mental illness in Thailand for the summer. I learned that she was a Ford’s model, went to Georgetown and worked on Wall Street.
I was filled with anxiety and fear for an hour before we arrived to the stupid snake farm. We arrived moments before the show started and I bravely sat on the second row. Alex and Nate convinced me to sit on the front row, which I did. Before the show started I moved back to the second row. The whole snake show belongs on a Will Farrell movie. It was the shadiest show on earth and I am surprised that I didn’t get bitten by ‘Asia dangerous snake’… ‘most danger all Asia’… ‘very bad for hand’… ‘bad for eye’ The snake host’s English was easing my fear because it was so funny. The show first introduced two cobras. The snake charms played and danced around as the snakes were striking at them. Then the snake charms picked up the snake and while holding their tails lunged them into the audience. I was screaming!! Then they kissed the snakes on the top of their heads; while the host was say ‘sentences’ like ‘oh baby, you beautiful, you so sexy, I want you honey, come home with me’ and other ridiculous statements. They then milked the poison from the fangs into a plastic cup.
The snake charmers put the cobras away so they could open a large brown sack that contained a python. It was large and soooooo scary! It was scarier when it got into the audience!! I was screaming which meant naturally I was forced to put the damn thing around my neck… I was freaking out but lucky for Ralph, he was getting the worse pictures of me ever!! It was a horrible experience that turned worse when they hit my leg with its tail and I thought it was its enormous mouth!!
I ran back to my old seat but elected to upgrade to the third row. The snake charmers then announced the jumping snakes as they throw one into the crowd. I was really screaming at this point… luckily it turned out to be a rope. The jumping snakes were extremely creepy!! The charmers caught one in his left hand, then one in his right hand, and then we grabbed the third snake with his mouth… I was ready to vomit!! Luckily the show ended and I was so happy!!
We walked around the snake farm and I actively looked for the snakes that had escaped from their cages. I walked the wrong way and a python was out of his cage. My desperation for Chase’s approval led me to irrational put the 40lbs thing around my neck!! The things I will do for Chase… Never before in the history of my life would I ever do something so stupid for a guy. Chase better think I am the coolest girlfriend ever!! The snake would have made a better wallet with matching boots but I refrained from thinking those thoughts until the massive slithers was off. Life was instantly better when we left that horrible shady establishment… I am truly surprised no one died!!
A short while later, we arrived at Tiger Kingdom; which once again could be the craziest, most dangerous business in the world. For $40 dollars one can play with large cats, medium cats, baby tigers and lion cubs and this price include INSURANCE!!! The internship paid for us to play with the baby tigers. From the payment area, I watched a trainer play with a huge tiger. He had a big mop-like toy. He was putting it into the air so the cat would jump up and attack it. The cat would land in his swimming pool and then do the trick again. There were people standing yards away watching the magnificent animal play. I was a little nervous because the fence caging these deadly animals was only a small chain linked fence with some wires.
I was so excited to share 4 baby tigers with our small group of 10 people. We had a short wait so I visited the local camel. He was camelious.
We hurried back to the tiger cage after we feed the camel all of the food we bought. When we got back to the tiger cage; some Thai words were flying. Basically, a group with the expensive package was cutting line and going into the cage with us. There were 15 people and 4 baby tigers. The tigers were just as mad as the people; someone was bound to get hurt… ended up being Ralph. Ralph got bit hard on the back by a furious tiger!! OMG I got a little nervous! The thought occurred to me that I was not playing with a big house kitty. Everyone was fighting over the cats. I was trying to be polite and took dozens of pictures for other interns. I also took three videos for a certain intern. Every time I asked someone to take a picture for me they sat there and didn’t even move an inch to get a good angle. This experience was amazing but at the same time it was a little frustrating.
We got kicked out of the tiger cage so quickly so naturally we did what any warm blooded American would do, we complained!! I was trying not to complain but I was so grateful for Alex because he got us access to the lion cubs and a discount on the buffet. The lion cubs were amazing!! They mostly slept during our photo shoot. Every time a wild kitty moves quickly, the human response is to back off. The cubs let me get up close and personal. I got all of the pictures I wanted and I was so happy!! We spent a lot of time with the cubs and my universe was filled with zen. I also got up close and personal with the big cats with the chain linked fence between us and I was scared watching the people in their ‘cages’.
The lunch buffet was excellent Thai food. When Thai food is done right there is nothing better to eat. When Thai food is bad, I lose weigh, which I don’t mind. I took advantage of Thailand’s fine fruit. I ate slowly but was anxious to get out with the tigers again. I played with tigers through the fence; I would put my fingers in and pet their paws and soft fur. It was hard to build trust with these destructive animals but from my observation the bigger the cat the more mellow. The small kitty kats were way more wild then the medium or large kats. I didn’t want the day to end with my new friends. I was sad to leave the wild kings of the jungle but as a jungle Barbie it is my duty to return and show my family…. More to come in three weeks!!
After taming the wild tigers and lions, I tamed the wild markets of Chiang Mai and settled their uneasy money woes with some hard earned American money… Gotta love a discount and to barter with prices!! God bless Thailand! I love this wild country!!
