S.P. Publishing Group Co., Ltd. 11/1 Soi 3 Bamrungburi Rd., T. Prasingh, A. Muang., Chiang Mai 50200 Tel. 053 - 814 455-6 Fax. 053 - 814 457 E-mail: guidelin@loxinfo.co.th

	---> MORE Features/Stories: _________________________________ Flowers used as a ceremonial donation The old way of celebrating the Thai New Year The costume of a Sang Long Lanna Musical Instruments In Thailand, small fish are pets since the old days Recapturing the Royal Past through postage stamps Chiang Mai Night Safari Souvenirs Naga collections A Quick Look at Thai Currency Six Thai compound words with ‘Mae’ The Chiang Mai International Food Festival 2011 Accessories provided by Thailand Cycling Alliance Seven things to know about Ligay Seven things for your Songkran Festival Wandering around Gad Mua Lanna’s Talismans The Chiang Mai Winter Fair What's to be found at Nimmanahaemin Art Promenade? Camping & Trekking equipment What we eat instead of meat - The Kaset Protein What’s inside the Tan Kuay Salak basket? Herbal Life The Podology Center Mind Over Matter: Edible insects Boxing Outfits: Check out the what and why of muay Thai Surviving the Heat! Chiang Mai Highlights Close Shave in Chiang Mai HALLOWED GROUND GOLFING WITH THE GHOSTS European Union Film Festival 2009 THAILAND'S SURVIVORS - Wonderful creatures BEYOND THE SEA - Chiang Mai's unseen industries THE ASTONISHING SUCCESS OF BEER LAO THE ANGRY JAO TEE - A true Chiang Mai story Kong Lor Cave: Remarkable Treasure in the Heart of Laos KHAOSAI GALAXY: THAILAND'S GREATEST WORLD CHAMPION The Wild Elephants of Laos Up Close and Personal A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE: Chiang Mai's Sunday Market What on earth do Thai people have to smile about? CHIANG MAI - HUB OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKET FANCY A MAGICAL SPELL BY THE SEA? A DANISH HERO IN CHIANG MAI WHITE BOVINE SHINES at Four Seasons Resort Buffalo Camp Why Wai? Why do Thai people wai? 'Monk Chat': Interactive Visiting at Wat Suan Dok Doi Suthep Pui: Chiang Mai's Defining Mountain THE MYSTERIOUS WHITE CHEDI Weird and Wonderful Chiang Rai OF KITES AND KINGS - AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS TOO Ganesha: God of Art and Remover of Obstacles CHINESE NEW YEAR THE CHIANG MAI WINTER FAIR: Don’t Miss It Five Fantastic Days in Chiang Mai European Union Film Festival 2007 Doing the Mae Sot Loop Firearm Fun in Chiang Mai HERMIT SUTHEP: Founding Spirit of Wat Doi Suthep CHIANG MAI PUB CRAWL II With an Addendum CHIANG MAI WEATHER GOES OFF THE GRAPH - AGAIN!! Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: A Shock and Awe Campaign Chiang Mai Shooting Club and ATV Park The Meditation Retreat THE AMAZING SURVIVAL OF A PRECIOUS TIGER ANGKOR AS IT WAS, ALIVE AND BUSTLING UP TO THE MAE SAI BORDER AND ACROSS TO TACHILEK THE WANDERINGS OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA LUANG PRABANG Dowager Duchess Sitting Pretty Exploring Kong Ta Walking Street ELEPHANTINE Coup for N. Thailand BIKING IN CHIANG MAI Durian - King of Fruits (but a bit of a ponker) Back to Battambang RESURRECTION OF THE CHIANG MAI SIXES TEXTILES WITH A HISTORY THE GENTLE ART OF WALKING THE (CHINESE) YEAR OF THE DOG AHEAD OF US EGGHEADS OF THE NORTH - REJOICE! The 4.p.m. from Chiang Mai to Bangkok Mountain-biking up Steep Doi Pui Close Shave in Chiang Mai A Trip to Nan: In Nature's Embrace The Rice Birds: Folktales from Thailand THE EUROPEAN UNION FILM FESTIVAL 2005 UP THE PING RIVER with a paddle A Model Weekend at Lisu Lodge It's not full-scale War... it's just Paintball !!! TWO WHEELS UP DOI KHOM RONG The Spa Boom - What's in it for Men? THE LONG JOURNEY HOME Riverine Life in Thailand FINDING THE REAL THAILAND: at the Dalaat Pratu Gom Ang Khang in the rain SWAN LAKE IN CHIANG MAI: The Chiang Mai Ballet Academy THE GYMKHANA CLUB: In the Shade of the Big Tree LISTENING TO THE DEAD: The Chiang Mai Foreign Cemetery MOO KHA TA: A NEW WAY OF EATING CRICKET EXPERIMENT BACKPACKING IN VIENTIANE FLYING INTO HISTORY GETTING ABOUT IN CHIANGMAI SUBURBAN WILDLIFE: Nest-building ants DOCTOR WITH A DIFFERENCE THE STREET VENDORS: A story worth dying for AN EARLY MORNING STROLL DECORATING YOUR GARDEN WITH A BUDDHA KHRU BA SRIVICHAI: THE SAINT OF DOI SUTHEP OASIS IN THE CLOUDS: Rejuvenation in a Secret Valley

Thai Smile, Elephant Style

There are so many things to do in and around Chiang Mai, and meeting elephants is one of the items high on many people's agenda. So it's a shame to visit North Thailand and not rub the trunk of one of these powerful and yet endearing creatures. Thai Smile is a tour operator based in the centre of town who can facilitate this. Offering a range of trekking and culture orientated tours, they like to draw specific attention to their ‘Full Day Elephant Adventure'.

This day introduces visitors not only to elephants, but also the people who train and care for them, known as 'mahouts'. You get to learn some of the basic skills mahouts employ, which start quite crucially with how successfully to get on and off the beasts! You then ride astride the elephant's neck, learning from the mahout how to steer, and with him riding up on a mountain ridge and later down in the jungle.

Having spent about 3 hours making friends with the elephant, the neophytes on the tour then change, being transported to the Mae Taeng river. A 45-minute rafting escapade takes place followed by an introduction to two lesser-visited Akha and Lisu villages.

Having spent about 3 hours making friends with the elephant, the neophytes on the tour then change, being transported to the Mae Taeng river. A 45-minute rafting escapade takes place followed by an introduction to two lesser-visited Akha and Lisu villages.

Sounds like a fun-packed day, wouldn't you say? And if you really want to come hand to trunk with an elephant this is a fine opportunity to do so. So drop by the Thai Smile Tours office on Ratchadamnoen Road, or call 0-5341-8518 for more information.

G.M.