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AN ELEPHANT TAKES A BATH - A Day In The Jungle With My New Best Friend!

πŸ“… 2022-07-15⏱ 16:01
πŸ“… 2022-07-15 Β |Β  ⏱️ 16:01 Β |Β  πŸ‘οΈ 144.6K views Β |Β  πŸ‘ 7.8K likes Β |Β  πŸ’¬ 1.6K comments

Pea spends a day at an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she feeds, rides bareback, mud-bathes, and river-bathes an Asian elephant named Modi. The video is a lighthearted vlog capturing the experience with lots of Pea's playful personality.

Pea preemptively addresses critics about supporting the elephant tourism industry ​

  • She researched extensively to find a reputable and ethical agency
  • Chose this place specifically because they don't allow howdahs (heavy saddles used for elephant rides) which irritate elephants' skin and damage their spines
  • This sanctuary only allows bareback riding, plus playing with, bathing, and feeding the elephants

Meet Modi β€” an Asian elephant ​

  • Pea explains the two types of elephants: African elephants have smaller heads but bigger ears; Asian elephants have bigger heads and smaller ears
  • Modi is female β€” female Asian elephants typically don't have tusks (or grow very small ones); males have longer tusks
  • Pea describes Modi as gentle, playful, and smart β€” Modi kept trying to spray Pea with saliva
  • "They're very emotional creatures"

Feeding Modi ​

  • Modi eats a lot of bananas (at one point eats the banana leaf too β€” Pea: "not the banana leaf... okay that's fine")
  • Also eats rambutan and peanut brittle/peanut butter treats
  • Pea: "She likes her sweets" and "She's got a big mouth... I can fit a head in there"

Riding Modi bareback through the jungle ​

  • Pea weighs about 110 pounds (jokes she might be 120 after eating a lot of bugs in Thailand)
  • The other elephant at the sanctuary is pregnant, due in two months
  • Pea narrates Modi doing her business mid-walk β€” "That's a big poop, the size of a coconut... she's doing number two and number one all at the same time"
  • The jungle reminds Pea of where she grew up in the Philippines β€” she used to go out every afternoon looking for bird's nests as a child
  • Contrasts the ride with her earlier tuk-tuk experience: "This is the reverse of that Formula One tuk-tuk β€” this is more calm"
  • Modi starts getting hot and sprays Pea (with saliva or water)

Mud spa ​

  • Elephants cool off in mud as their version of sunscreen, mosquito protection, and skin moisturizer
  • Pea and the elephants get covered in mud together

River bath ​

  • Pea scrubs Modi in the river to remove the mud
  • Modi lies down in the water and clearly loves it β€” keeps submerging
  • Pea gets into a rhythm of scrubbing ("scrub scrub scrub scrub") and plays with Modi in the water
  • Pea: "I can live here" β€” clearly having the time of her life
  • Also uses the river to clean herself off
  • Says the water is "a little muddy but plenty good enough to clean the elephants and me β€” it'll renew your soul"

Heading back ​

  • On the walk back, Modi gets more snacks ("bon bons" and melon)
  • Pea thanks Modi and says it was fun

Wrap-up ​

  • Pea is showered and cleaned up after the mud bath

  • Calls it one item off her bucket list β€” something she's wanted to do her entire life

  • Previews more Thailand adventure content coming in a few days

  • Ends with a comedy bit comparing herself to Maryann from Gilligan's Island β€” "We both have bubbly personalities, we've lived in bamboo huts, and both of us are stuck on a tropical island doing whatever we can to get off"


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