Day 6 - elephant sanctuary

We spent a lovely day with these elephants.

MandaLao owns a nice big santuary.

We all put on these "ninja shoes". They aren't the most pleasant shoes to wear, to be honest. And aren't cleaned very well since last worn.

We take a boat to the other side of the river, where the elephants are.

The elephant wasn't shy about relieving himself in front of us.

Passing by a site where a new railroad track connects China to Laos (part of China's belt and road project). China is gearing up to be a superpower. Meanwhile, US is investing in...

MandaLao, the elephant sanctuary that provides the no-ride experience. It believes in serving the elephants rather than the other way around, and tries to let the younger elephants return to the wild when they grow older. It was a great experience, and as we learn more, we regret the past experiences where we rode on elephants for fun. You live and learn, this was a fun, enjoyable and educational experience.

Voyagers tips: You can book directly on the MandaLao website and pay online. Be advised, the ninja boots aren’t waterproof, and the inside gets a bit itchy if you wear shorts. I’d recommend wearing long pants inside the ninja boots if it’s not too hot.