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2022-07-15 Β |Β β±οΈ 16:01 Β |Β ποΈ 144.6K views Β |Β π 7.8K likes Β |Β π¬ 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 β
- 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 β
- 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 β
- 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 β
- 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 β
- 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 β
- 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 β
- On the walk back, Modi gets more snacks ("bon bons" and melon)
- Pea thanks Modi and says it was fun
Wrap-up β
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"