Early Sunday morning, I walked with Joy to get a coffee before the unbearable heat set in. I walked past the neighbor’s garden, rich with color and vibrant beauty. The grass was freshly cut, and as green as it was at the peak of spring. The rising sun cast an orange haze against the gray, empty pavement and row of seemingly deserted buildings. No cars lined up for blocks past the corner intersection. There was no crowd across the street waiting impatiently for the New York City bus to take them into work. I didn’t even have to wait to order my coffee at Dunkin Doughnuts. I smiled at the thought. Living in the most densely populated area in the country, right next to the city that never sleeps, I saw that maybe on Sunday, it at least rests.
Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le...
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