Meeting our friends quite early we jump into our now regular taxi and head south. Our first stop is the Elephant Park we have read about. With so much more to offer it is really like an adventure playground, but we only want the elephants.
After paying we’re taken to another site not far away and up into a tree-house which is actually the ”mounting block” which has been reimagined for elephants. From here we watch as Bembo comes around the corner, and patiently waits as we get onto her bench.
We amble off along the path, just like riding horses she knows where to go so our mahout (keeper) isn’t really doing much more that the occasional steer or encouragement, using his feet on her ears – clearly the combined accelerator and steering wheel of choice!
Meanwhile we’re the petrol pump, feeding Bembo hands of bananas every time her trunk comes snaking around begging for more! We have to stop for potty break, but otherwise just carry on round the area. We visit the accommodation section, fourteen mahout’s houses for the fourteen elephants that work here.
After our ride there’s a short wait until we are taken back, during which I watch a group of Indian lads being given the snake experience. The yellow python is common in Thailand and the surround countries and is technically known as a Burmese Python.
We move on to the coast. Our destination Is the incredible teak temple known as the Sanctuary of Truth Museum. This place is extraordinary, a testament to both craftsmanship and faith.
Firstly it’s physical existence is extraordinary, being built entirely from teak, without a single nail, screw or dab of glue. The crafters are constantly evolving the design and construction our guide shows us how basic joints are made, as well as more complex sections. He explains that ten years from now there will probably be new sections we cannot imagine right now.
Spiritually it is equally complex, the main tenets of learning are the seven pillars of truth, from which there have been many derivations including that of TS Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia. However these go back much further to Buddhist philosophy and cannon dating back 1500 years.
It’s too complicated to write here, suffice to say every one of the 117 columns which hold up this magnificent structure has a story, teaching and impact on our way of life today. Our guide is incredibly knowledgeable and imparts the philosophies of learning, tolerance, kindness, forgiveness, survival, beginnings and death.
We move on to a nearby market area for lunch, but our friends reject this in favour of another place they know. A few minutes later we’re sat down, driver invited, and enjoy a fabulous lunch with squid, prawns, crab and chicken.
It’s a good drive back to our berth, it even takes 15 minutes from the dock gates to the ship, a measure of how big Laem Chabang port is. So we decide we’ve done enough and head back home.
After a tearful fairwell to Suphoj and Art, we are back in a timely fashion. Sadly we cannot say the same for another group, and whilst we didn’t see it someone posted photos on Facebook of a group which didn’t make it through the traffic madness and are left on the dockside as Westerdam sails away.
After a vast quantity of canapés, we go down to the showlounge to watch Sueli Tang, a pianist, but sadly we find the setup rather disappointing, from the over-mic’ed piano to her over-complicated arrangements. We fail to return for the last third of her show.
Dinner of course doesn’t disappoint, and we have a fabulous evening with favourites and new choices, plus yummy macarons to end the evening.
