About three weeks ago we decided to travel into the city to the Yunnan province nationalites park for one last free day before we started teaching, We heard there were elephants so we couldn't say no! When we walked into the park we were amazed how huge it was! Rows and rows of people trying to sell you things like fans and statues carved from elephant trunks and what not, it almost felt like lagoon to us with out the rollar coasters.. We had something better.. Real, huge, hairy Elephants! We saw woman in cool dresses next to the elephants and wanted to take pictures with them until we found out we could wear the dresses they were wearing and then take pictures with the elephants. There is a rope you hold onto around their neck that you hold and then you lift up your leg and lean into them and their trunk lifts you up with ease. Although we must say that once your up there their trunks get a little curious and start sniffing you leaving a trail of who knows what on your clothes! Then while your still dressed they take pictures of you in your outfit and make you do these ridiculous poses. Once into normal clothes we found a zip line that went across this really pretty lake, we have never seen someone so glorious then Brit strapped in from every angle, flying down that line with every limb soaring out. It was getting closer to lunch time so we all went to a resturant, it was beautiful! They had dumplings and pineapple rice, sprite and noodles! It was like a three dollar meal! We all split up until it was time for the elephant show later that day so we went exploring, we saw cool chinese statues and buildings and a million different kinds of chinese cultures! They live there in the park, so in reality if feels like your just barging in on them during dinner time, they pretend to not notice you. Apparently they get paid to live in there and show you their culture. There are about 56 different cultures in China and 27 are just in Kunming. Two o'clock came around and we hustled to the Elephant show. We were told not to sit front row because they blow things that.. well.. shouldn't. There were 4 elephants, 3 females and 1 male. What was cool was that you could touch them and take pictures with them and feed them and there was no threat, in America it seems like you can't even get within 10 feet of them! The first audience participation Lexxy was called up and she was able to ride in between two elephants as they held trunks and walked, She, of course, waved and blew kisses and we swear it that just because you're American they will laugh and clap at everything you do. They made the elephants shoot hoops and sit down cross legged, walk a little board and even dance! The next audience participation they called up Natty, they made her lay face up and put a blanket on top of everything but her head. The elephant starting to "massage" her with his ginormous foot, gently patting her front side. The elephant was getting a little fiesty in our opinion. By this time Lexxy and Brittany were in tears they were laughing so hard. Just watching Natty's face and body move so helplessly was hysterical! It got even better when the elephant starting to.. we wanna say slam.. her body with his trunk on her chest! hahaha! Good Lan it was funny. Apparently they were seeing if the elephant could tell if it was a boy or a girl. Shows how smart an elephant is! After the show we were able to actually ride the elephants, (is it cool if we said for a couple miles? Sounds better) Once you ride an elephant it's no going back to horses and rollar coasters. It was on of the best ways to kick of the school year!
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