Le Promenade de l'Elephant

Outside of Luang Prabang, we went on an elephant walk.

It's a messy affair.

First, we took a rickety boat ride to the elephant camp.

Then we rode the elephants.

The elephant wranglers didn't speak a lick of English or French, and our Lao is poor to very poor, so all of our Asian elephant fun facts come directly from primary research and a crappy brochure.

1. Elephants eat branches off trees all day long.

2. Elephant urine smells sweet, kinda like marzipan.

3. Elephants recognize themselves in mirrors, an ability previously thought to have been possessed only by apes.

4. Elephants have short wiry hair on their heads which feels awful when rubbing against your inner thighs. Important advice: Wear pants for riding elephants, and never show up for a date with stubble.

The end.