tigers and waterfalls

The Erawan National park is easily the most beautiful place I have ever been. We visited the 7 tiered Erawan waterfall there (although it seemed like more?) and went swimming in the most beautiful clear blue water. After a long hike, it was really refreshing to jump into the cold water. There are even some small caves you can swim into and look at the mineral formations. The wildlife was interesting. As we went into the pools, there are a lot of fresh water fish (most of them small). They would come up and try and nibble on our legs. I don't think they could do any real dammage, but it was more just um, weird. There were several little monkies we say picking fruit up in the trees. Most of them were really shy, but there was one male that attacked the hikers in front of us and tried to grab a bag. I think he was just scared or had his family close by. The hike was awesome and it definitely made me miss the mountains back home...

Later we went to visit the Tiger temple, where Ben originally wanted to volunteer at. It was an experience, but kind of a sham. I'm sure all of the tigers are drugged and they couldn't possibly be all rescues. While it was an experience touching the tigers, I was still sad at how they live there. The admittance was 400 baht per person (almost $10), and you could have special time/photos taken for 1000 baht, or you could have time to play with the tigers in the morning for 4000. It is the most crazy expensive thing I've heard of to do while I've been in SE Asia. And, on top of that, there was a girl who was attacked the month prior and had to get the tiger ripped off of her plus a ton of stitches later. It was hard to get all the details, because the volunteer had a slight speech impediment and was Austrialian (at fist I thought maybe she was just from New Zeland...) Anyway, I think the attacks are the main reason the Lonely Planet has taken the Tiger temple out of the guide book. Anyway, I wish they just portrayed the place for what it is rather than hiding behind Buddhism and a false 'tiger rescue'. I honestly have no idea what Thailand's regulations are for keeping/caring for wild animals, but I'm praying that these places (like w/ the elephants) would become more humane.

In spite of my disappointing animal encounters, I feel really blessed that I could have this time traveling and having these experiences. I'm glad God shows us an uncensored world, and I'm glad He's helped put things in perspective... but I'm most glad that someday He will make all the wrongs right, and recreate a world without suffering and injustice.