Braving the drizzle, elephant trekking was on the agenda for our final day in Koh Samui.
The adventure was booked through an agency and transportation was provided. Choosing the 1:00pm departure gave us time to walk on the beach and enjoy the sunshine that dared to peek out at us that morning.
A tuk tuk soon arrived to collect us and we were on our way. The route was very familiar as we had been to this area two days prior…Namuang Waterfall is at the same location.
Before climbing on the elephant, I was approached by a photographer to take pictures of me at the end of the trek. He had a professional camera and charged 200 baht ($6) and promised to deliver the pictures to my hotel that evening.
Soon, I was strapped into the seat and ambling off into the jungle. My driver’s name was Dang and he offered me an umbrella to protect me from the steady drizzle that refused to quit until we neared the end of the ride. Our trek was to last for 30 minutes and since my travel companions were on an elephant in front of me, I was able to take pictures of them and they were able to get some of me.
As we neared the end of the pathway, through the river, towards the disembarkment platform, I saw my companions’ driver hop off of their elephant and move them one at a time off of the seat onto the elephant’s head. He proceeded to take many pictures for them with their iphones. My driver asked me if I would like to have pictures and I responded, “Yes.” I am not sure if he misunderstood me, but when we moved to the area where my companions’ pictures had been taken, he prompted our elephant to continue walking. As we walked into the river, I asked him when we were going to take pictures and I was harshly reprimanded that it was too late for him to get off of the elephant. I was taken aback by his rudeness as Thai people are usually quite pleasant. So shocked that I was, I hardly could muster up a smile as the professional photographer approached me for pictures.
Once I was back on land, I was so disappointed that my companions’ experience was so different than mine. I immediately went to the ticket window and asked the women working if all drivers offer to photograph their riders. I explained that I had witnessed many people receiving that courtesy, however, as a customer paying the same amount as them, I should have received it as well. They must have motioned to the manager because he was immediately at my side. He realized how disappointed I was and he quickly ushered me back to the platform and onto another elephant. He spoke to the driver who took me back to the end of the pathway, jumped off and began to take photos for me. The professional photographer spied me and came over to do more photographs as well. I was able to sit on the elephants head and as we were led away, the photographer leaned in to me and said only so I could hear, “These were much better with only you on the elephant. I’m glad you came back.”
Giving the manager a huge hug, I couldn’t express how grateful I was for that act of kindness that he extended to me. It had been a trying day and that event had been the straw that broke the camel’s back. Certainly, I understand that he wanted to keep a customer happy. In this age of Trip Advisor reviews, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and blogs, I am sure that he realizes that a bad experience can travel a long way from the island of Samui. However, it meant more to me than he will ever realize.
And yes, my photographs were delivered as promised…and I looked magnificent…without the driver on my elephant!
Transportation is provided three times a day to the Namuang Waterfall area where the treks are done. The cost is about 700 baht ($20) for 30 minutes and 1000 baht ($30) for 1 hour. We asked for and received a discount since there were three of us booking, 600 baht each ($17) for 30 minutes.
For more pictures, please see my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe.