The Elephant Story

A Thai Wai

Mar 04, 2015 | 0 comments

Joey and I spend about forty percent of our time in Thailand, where we wai about fifty times per day. Therefore, as far as foreigners (fahrangs in Thai) are concerned, we can be considered experts. A Thai wai is merely putting the palms of your two hands together, with the fingers raised upward, slightly bowing your head and bringing your hands up toward your forehead. There are a number of outdated concepts about the wai among foreigners such as do not wai younger people or lesser people unless they do so first. However, Thailand has become much more egalitarian so...

The White Elephant

Mar 04, 2015 | 0 comments

Several years ago, the Thai General Manager of our joint Vietnam oil exploration venture named the first two exploration wells “dark horse” and “white elephant” in Vietnamese. When I was told the meaning in English, I knew those wells were doomed, as indeed they were. Fortunately, a “white rhino” well proved successful and enables us to fund The Elephant Story.A white elephant in western parlance is defined as a possession which its owner cannot dispose of and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to it usefulness. Ancient Kings of Siam, now Thailand, used to give them...

Elephant Polo Age and Gender Requirements

Feb 25, 2015 | 0 comments

I am often asked whether there are any age or gender requirements for clearance to play elephant polo. I am happy to say there are none and, fortunately, a clean psychiatric evaluation is not required. Therefore, one can begin training as early as age one and a half evidenced by Edward Story Garschina (fifth Story grandchild) shown below on Naam Fon. Potty training is not required and the elephant is not so fussy about such matters. Actual competition can begin any time even though one’s legs may not be long enough to effectively go around the elephant. Story Dylan Kimura...

The Bai Sai Ritual

Feb 11, 2015 | 0 comments

Many of you have probably seen people in either in Southeast Asia or returning from there with a white string tied around their wrist. It is a ritual that began in Laos even before Buddhism made inroads into the country. The ceremony celebrates important events, like births and marriages, entering the monkhood or a new phase of one’s life. The objective is to establish a bond to maintain balance and harmony to the individual and the community. Bai Sai is usually performed by a senior member of the community or a Buddhist monk. It is...

Dine With an Elephant

Feb 04, 2015 | 0 comments

If you can bathe with an elephant, you can certainly share a meal with one. However, as they eat sixteen to eighteen hours a day and consume over 300 pounds of food per day, it could be time consuming. They eat grasses, small twigs, plants, bushes, tree bark and fruit. Inviting one for cocktails can also take awhile, as they drink twenty gallons of water per day. However, they do enjoy a nice place setting. Speaking of place settings, several years ago, we hosted the World Elephant Polo Association legends for a black tie dinner at the elephant camp at...

Conserve Water: Bathe With an Elephant

Jan 29, 2015 | 0 comments

I am sure all of you have heard of the water conservation effort of showering with a friend. Well how about bathing with an elephant? Elephants love a nice bath given the tropical heat of Thailand. Our first experience followed an elephant trek in the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar join. As you can see, it was a relatively controlled environment in a man made, elephant-sized tub at The Four Seasons Tented Camp elephant facilities. We then graduated to the Mekong River and even drifted over the border crossing at the center of the river into Myanmar. However,...

Ever wondered how elephant polo relates to horse polo?

Jan 21, 2015 | 0 comments

Ever wondered how elephant polo relates to horse polo? Compare the new elephant polo mallets we had made, to the horse mallets hanging in the background. Our mallets have arrived in Bangkok in anticipation of The Elephant Story elephant polo tournament to be held in Moo Baan Chang, Ban Ta Klang in Surin Province, Thailand. The mallets were made by Logi Polo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Logi has become the leading maker of elephant polo mallets in the world.

A VISIT TO THE ELEPHANT VILLAGE (MOO BAAN CHANG) BAN TA KLANG SURIN PROVINCE, THAILAND

Jan 14, 2015 | 0 comments

It is apparent that the single focus of this village is the breeding of elephants given the number of bulls around and the young offspring. The fellow shown below is going strong at age sixty. Since very few outsiders visit Moo Baan Chang, the mother elephants are more open to people interacting with their babies. There are very few places where you could have a newly born elephant wrap his trunk around your arm. There is a strong integration of Buddhism, Brahmanism, and Animism in the elephant village culture. In 1995, the Abbot of Wat Pa Arjiang in Moo Baan...

A VISIT TO THE ELEPHANT VILLAGE (MOO BAAN CHANG) BAN TA KLANG, SURIN PROVINCE, THAILAND

Jan 07, 2015 | 0 comments

Although there are 200 elephants in the village and the mahouts travel with their elephants to the Annual King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in various parts of Thailand, most of their children had never seen a match. Therefore, the children could see it played and obtain first hand knowledge of their fathers’ elephant handling skills. Although the players did not have an elevated load out station to get on the elephants, we all managed to climb up on their backs. You will note that we had some creature comforts with a tented awning and some electric fans in what was...

A VISIT TO THE ELEPHANT VILLAGE (MOO BAAN CHANG) IN BAN TA KLANG, SURIN PROVINCE, THAILAND

Dec 31, 2014 | 0 comments

For many years we have all wanted to visit Moo Baan Chang, the cradle of the elephant culture in Thailand, home to 200 elephants and their mahout families. It is located a long, 7 ½ hour drive northeast of Bangkok near the Thai/Cambodian border. The residents speak a mixture of Cambodian, Thai and several local dialects that no foreign linguist has yet to comprehend. Earlier this year, The Elephant Story Team and our friends from the Four Seasons Tented Camp in the Golden Triangle spent a weekend there. Those of us coming from Bangkok got the better deal as the...

THE ELEPHANT STORY AND FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP ELEPHANT POLO FINALS IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE (Episode 4 of 4)

Dec 24, 2014 | 0 comments

To eliminate any remaining suspense, the exuberance of the senior citizen in the photo pretty much defined the outcome of the tournament. Actually, the Four Seasons team chose to wear the purple and yellow Elephant Story jerseys that were formerly the design of the Sara Story Design team. The Four Season team members are from left to right, Khun Phed, Khun Tak and Khun Ed. Rather than cause any confusion, the younger Khun Ed has been re-named Khun Chang (elephant) as a reminder of an old friend of mine, Colonel Chang in the former Thai Communist Suppression Squad but that...

SECOND DAY OF THE ELEPHANT STORY VERSUS THE FOUR SEASONS TENTED CAMP ELEPHANT POLO MATCH (Episode 3 of 4)

Dec 17, 2014 | 0 comments

On the second day of the “friendly” but ferociously fought match with the Four Seasons Tented Camp team, we all had specific aches and pains, particularly the senior citizen who experienced The Golden Triangle back in the dangerous days. Those days were exciting but few people have any idea of what I am talking about. Moreover, many people have no concept of what elephant polo is all about. I think the photo below pretty much sums it up. You are trying to connect with a small ball using a very long stick surrounded by tree trunk sized elephant legs. Apart...

A TOUGH “FRIENDLY” ELEPHANT POLO MATCH IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE OF THAILAND (Episode 2 of 4)

Dec 10, 2014 | 0 comments

Some years ago, Khun Joey and I played an elephant polo scrum against the former General Manager of the Four Seasons Tented Camp and his wife at the Wang Lao soccer pitch. I played attack and Joey was on defense. Although I do not view myself as a particularly competitive person, I may be the only one who has that perspective. In any event, Joey strayed from the goal and I yelled, ”defense!” That was the last time we played on the same team. I have learned that it is better to play against each other so I can influence...

ELEPHANT POLO IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE OF THAILAND (Episode 1 of 4)

Dec 03, 2014 | 0 comments

Many years ago the Golden Triangle was a very dangerous place. In fact, near the Wang Lao village school is The Hall of Opium museum. That museum says it all about the danger of days gone by. Now, the village is a quiet place where high quality hand woven textiles are made as the people did back in the “black and white days.” The Elephant Story polo team gathered there several weeks ago to compete with our old friends, The Four Seasons Tented Camp team. As you can see, it is most important to be properly attired even for a...

GOLDEN TRIANGLE AISAN ELEPHANT FOUNDATION

Nov 26, 2014 | 0 comments

We talk a lot about the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) but one of the least known facts is they have an excellent intern program which is under the watchful eye of John Roberts who has dedicated his life to elephant conservation. Below you can see John Roberts holding a microphone as a group of Akha students sing in response to the donation of school supplies by The Elephant Story. The GTAEF intern program offers interns interested in elephants to have access to the elephants, to work in veterinary care, to assist in elephant behavioral studies, or simply just hang out...

VIETNAM ERA JUNGLE FATIGUE JACKETS WITH VINTAGE HMONG FABRIC

Nov 18, 2014 | 0 comments

From 1961 until April 1975, 125,000 Hmong Hill tribe people served in the CIA's secret war in Laos. Approximately 39,000 of them were killed in action. Following the end of the war, the Pathet Lao and Vietnamese advisors killed another 230,000 Hmong people. The Elephant Story purchases vintage Hmong fabric in The Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar join and applies the vintage Hmong fabric to Vietnam era fatigue jackets in memory of these courageous fighters. See the Collection

The Adventures of Ed & Joey - October Golden Triangle Visit

Nov 17, 2014 | 0 comments

October Golden Triangle Visit Written by: Ed Story Joey and I were recently up at the Golden Triangle for a stay at our home there, The Four Seasons Tented Camp. Apart from being our physical home in The Golden Triangle all of our friends there ensure that we feel at home there. We had the opportunity to play some elephant polo but before we come to that I wanted to touch on a couple of wonderful things going on in that part of the world. I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Joshua Plotnik,...

A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE 2014 KING'S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT - PART IV

Nov 14, 2014 | 0 comments

THE ELEPHANT STORY FINAL MATCH AGAINST SARA STORY DESIGN IN THE KING'S CUP 2014 ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT, BANGKOK, THAILAND Written by: Ed Story Our final match, or penalty shootout, was against a team that is very near and dear to me, that of my daughter Sara Story. Although each team had only lost one match by one point against the top two teams in the tournament while disregarding handicaps favoring each of us, we faced off for fifth and sixth place. Had we played our respective matches against the finalists, either one of us could have been...

A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE 2014 KING'S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT - PART III

Nov 13, 2014 | 0 comments

THIRD DAY OF PLAY AT THE KING'S CUP 2014 ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT BANGKOK THAILAND Written by: Ed Story The third day of play opened to sunny skies that followed a torrential downpour the night before. As everyone wanted to play an actual match, the only solution seemed to be the sand pit covered polo practice area used by horse polo players. All the various equipment in storage was moved outside of the arena and crude goals and markers were installed. Unfortunately, the elephants could not overcome their childhood days of playing soccer and chose every opportunity to kick...

A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE 2014 KING'S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT - PART II

Nov 12, 2014 | 0 comments

SECOND DAY OF PLAY AT THE KING'S CUP 2014 ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT BANGKOK THAILAND Written by: Ed Story The foremost objective of the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is to ensure the safety of the elephants during the course of the tournament. Moreover, a qualified veterinarian is on duty at all times. Of secondary importance is raising funds for elephant conservation. The individual with ultimate responsibility for this task is John Roberts, Director of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, whose watchful eye is constantly on the polo pitch. John concluded that the field was not stable...