The Elephant Resort, situated at the northern outskirts of Ubud, is a resort which rescues elephants from the great danger of poaching in Sumatra. They are brought here to be tended and taken care of, whilst performing activities that attract numerous tourists. Having been accustomed to the usual sight of exuberant toddlers bouncing hither and thither, the elephants display their distinctly calm, serene quality. Their ages range greatly, from calves to old elephants, which stay here for many countless years.

After a lengthy cab ride, we had finally reached the elephant resort. We were greeted with mellifluous, dense jungleland, which emenated a welcoming aura, whilst the sun shone through miniscule crevices in between the leaves. Having paid for the pricey tickets, we walked towards the entrance of the resort, whilst mourning for the expenses which we had paid, that blew a daunting dent into our bank account. We could see the plethora of different scheduled activities that were advertised, such as riding the elephant in a carriage, and washing/bathing on top of the elephant. These were all activities that seemed irresistible to us, and so we embarked upon them all.

The first activity that we decided to try was to ride the elephant. After a few minutes of waiting, it was finally our turn to ride the elephant on the carriage, and we were helped onto it. It was a queer feeling, being many feet off the ground, whilst the elephant walked in its pendulum-like motion, oscillating in a chaotic, unpredictable rhythm. Although at first the odd movement felt nauseous, I eventually grew accustomed to it, and felt as if I were the great, courageous Hannibal riding his elephant. We were following a trail which circled around a dense forestland, using a path which was exclusive for elephants. Strewn across the path were remnants of elephant dung, which lay motionless, amalgamations petrified into a vast graveyard. Being high off the ground, I had a unique view of the surrounding fauna. It was possible to observe miniscule details of high branches from the trees. This was dazzling, as nature exhibited its perfect harmony. My father and I were in separate carriages, but both had drivers that steered the elephant through the winding path. Whilst my brother was enthused in a conversation with our driver concerning a Malaysian kid’s TV comic show, our father had found out about the backstory of his own driver and his elephant, having softened up with a light chat. Apparently, his driver had rescued the elephant by the skin of his teeth, and afterward decided to work here with him. From then on, they have resided here, inseparable for 20 years sharing an intimate, unbreakable bond. Through countless days of receiving excited tourists on his back, the elephant has found safety and even a wonderful life with a human that he is grateful for.

Shortly after, we decided to try scrubbing/washing the elephant. After a short while of waiting, we were called in for our turn to scrub the elephant. There, I saw the great behemoth of the elephant in full view. Its grandeur and perplexity was jaw-dropping to me, as it displayed extreme composure and comfort. Its joints and muscles lay motionless, akin to a stone-cold monolithic statue. As it moved, slow and gradual movements were barely visible, as it picked up twigs and branches that were assorted for him to feast upon. I approached the great beast, and although awe-struck by its beauty, felt comfortable around its magnificent presence. We learned from our instructor that her name was Melony, and prepared to polish the stone carving. We began to scrub its thick and tough skin. Stiff strands of hair jutted out of her leathery skin, speckled across its underbelly and legs. Her skin seemed as tough as the scrub brush we were using. This thick coating was impenetrable, and wore a mundane, grey colour, contrasting from the vibrant surroundings which were around us. The elephant was very tame, as it did not react to our annoying, incessant scrubbing and nudging. Our instructor later requested to record a few videos of us posing with the elephant, who was joyous in a contained manner, contrasting from our boisterous, tidal emotion. Professionally, he took a few videos of us in different poses and positions with the elephant, which looked like a motionless, mould carving. Shortly after, we had to leave the elephant, and paid our farewells to reach the next activity.

The final activity was to bathe whilst riding the elephant. We were led to a small pond, moderately shaded from the steaming light by a light pack of fauna in this area. During the time that they led the three elephants into the pond, we made preparations, and went onto the elephant. It seemed ecstatic to descend into the cold pool; a thin smile appeared beneath their thick trunks. After descending onto the elephant’s back, the rider in front of us, using a hammer-like tool, lightly nudged the elephant’s ear. The elephant dramatically rose up onto its hind legs, and smashed into the water, taking us with it. Great waves of water rose into the air, forming a ring around us. Submerged into the cold water, I helplessly chartered my teeth, both in excitement and frigidity. It was a marvellous experience to be submerged into this cold water whilst riding a great beast, something that I had never done before.