It's okay!
Trip Start
May 06, 2006
1
29
81
Trip End
Mar 23, 2009
Kanchanaburi,
Thailand
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Other than that it's been an interesting week or so (no idea when the last update was - totally lost track of time!). The day after my last update we found a little baby pig, the runt of the litter, abandoned by its mother. We took it back with us and with a little trick I learnt in South Africa I tried to use my body heat to keep it warm and we tried to give it some water. It was in a lot of shock though and after about an hour it gave out and died on me - very sad but we did all we could
Anyone for an afternoon stroll?
.In that same week we discovered that the mother of the 4 kittens we'd helped to raise was pregnant again and getting quite big - we haven't seen her for a few days so we're thinking she may have dropped the babies! We'll be very happy if she has 'cos that means we'll have more kittens to replace the 3 the Thai staff took away (will introduce them later with photos!). We only have one left but at least we have him!
I also managed to recieve my first tiger attack. Lucky me huh?! I went into one of the cages to get my baby Fa-Daeng out in the morning and was attacked by Rungdao. She came at me and I thought she was just being friendly (bearing in mind this is the tiger who looks to attack and not just does it 'cos you happen to be nearby!) and so put my hand out for her to sniff. She decided to run at me and somehow managed to get on my back meaning I couldn't reach her to get her off... the girl who had come with me backed out of the cage thinking it was just Fa-Daeng who is managable and I finally managed a slap to the head and got her off. Okay so I had a fair few teeth and claw scratches and some bruises to follow in the next few days but it wasn't as bad as I'd expected! It also made me realise how much my pain threshold has gone up 'cos, other than feeling faint at the sight of my own blood, it didn't really hurt
Chom
!Next up was our mission with the vet. We discovered one of the cows who had just given birth was full of maggots in the 'giving birth area' and so it was our job to clean it out. The volunteers and about 10 tiger boys all managed to catch the cow (no sedation allowed!) and get her to the floor to clean the area. It stank and was full of maggots but we did our best... we heard yesterday it's full of maggots again so we're not sure what the next step is. (just for your info I'm not sure how useful the vet actually is - as with Sri Lanka Saline seems to be their answer to everything and he doesn't listen when you tell him about the sick animals!).
The last story I'll give you is about my walk/run with Fa-Daeng the other day. You often forget that you're not just walking a big dog and that the thing on the end of the lead weighs nearly twice as much as you do - many times I've ended a walk wondering why my back hurts and then realise just how much I've been pushing and pulling a tiger around to keep her away from the pigs, horses, dear and got knows what other natural pay around. Keeping this in mind I was walking Fa-Daeng down to the canyon the other day for the afternoon of tourists. Just as we entered the canyon Fa-Daeng decided she wanted to run and so I took a little jog(!) with her..
Day off anyone?
. all was fine until we were just about to get where we needed to be. I saw another tiger in front of us and there are a few we have to keep the cubs away from 'cos they don't like cubs (and killed some initially) and thought it was one of those so put my feet right into the ground. My shoe got caught and I fell to me knees only to be dragged right down and pulled along by a still running Fa-Daeg. She obviously realised she was trying to drag something heavy behind her and stopped and spun to see me on the floor! It was definitely a video moment and I still had hold of the lead (I'm determined not to let them go no matter what!). I lay on the floor part in shock and part laughing at the whole situation until I quickly realised I had her coming towards me thinking it was a game and that the tiger we'd been chasing was infact Rungdao who was also coming up the other side! I jumped up just as Fa-Daeng got to me and she just playfully grabbed my leg before a quick nudge got her walking again! After putting her in her spot in the canyon I investigated my wounds... a badly bruised knee and a bruised and cut shin, cut feet and some nice bruises and cuts up one side - if they were allowed to be on grass like I want them to be then it would've been fine both grip wise and fall wise but the rocks down there are just an accident waiting to happen! I managed to complain and get sympathy for the whole afternoon (sound familiar?!) though so it was okay and the Thai staff were surprisinly sympathetic (I think probably mainly 'cos I managed to laugh about the whole thing) and all made sure I was okay and had the medicine later to clean it all out properly (man does hydrogen peroxide sting like hell!)
Evil Eyes!
.I think that's all for the excitement at the tiger temple. I will try to upload some photos soon but the computer at the temple is broken so we've been unable to get on the internet for a while (the reason you've not received updates or personal emails and probably won't until my next day off!) and am just about to head into the town for a weekly shop so don't have much time now!
Hope all is well at home - I have a Thai number now which you can either get off my parents if you want to call or email me if you want it and I'll try to get back to you next time I'm online! My old UK number is now working again too but for obvious money reasons I probably won't text back if you get through on it! Take care all and email me with any news soon!
Comments
I see a theme emerging!!!!!!!!!!!
Hollie,
What is it with you and coup's. Australia beware - first Sri Lanka and now Thailand!! It certainly makes for a good travelling story though. Please send me your tel no and i'll give you a bell at the weekend or when it is convenient. Take care hun - miss ya. xox