Farangy: Surin Elephant Round-Up and Elephant Buffet in Nov 2012

Me in front of a neighboring schools float

Tug of War- One elephant, One hundred people

The town of Surin is famous in Thailand for elephants. Everyday you see elephants walking the streets with their owners trying to get people to buy food to feed the elephant. Its an extra way for these families to earn money. Normally they living in the elephant village and get money from performing shows there. Beginning in the 1960's elephants were captured in Cambodia and trained as working elephants in Thailand. With civil war and decreasing economic value the elephant owners needed to train the elephants for entertainment. They do things like play soccer and have tug of war contests with humans, and always win, even against 100 people.

Once a year, Since the 60's all 200 elephants from the elephant village journey into Surin, 60 kilometers.

This is beautifully carved watermelons and pumpkins.

More elephant food elegantly made

The event was Nov 17th and 18th. It started on Thursday with the first display of all the floats on the main road in Surin. There was a float making competition in which local businesses and schools compete for who can make the best, most beautiful float. The floats also feature food for the elephants, elegantly carved into flowers or other beautiful designs. The floats also featured traditional Thai dancers and music as well. All day Thursday the floats are placed around Surin to be viewed and judged.

Our school's float which won 1st place

Carved fruits and vegetable

Me and the white elephant

On Friday was the official opening of the elephant round-up and the world's largest elephant Buffet or sometimes called elephant breakfast. The floats are all lined up for the elephant precession at the train station round about in Surin. There is a high school band playing and lots and lots of elephants as well as elegantly dressed school children as Thai dancers.
There was even a white elephant (though I was later told that elephant was painted). The parade goes through town celebrating elephants. Many different Thai dancers are involved in the parade as well as Thai traditionally dressed men riding the elephants. There are baby elephants also. After the parade the food from the floats is feed to the elephants. Unfortunately I was at work and did not get to witness this.

On Saturday and Sunday there is an elephant show at the stadium. Hundreds of people attended the show. It is like an elephant circus. I went to the show on Sunday. The elephants hula hooped on their trunks. One was able to paint a picture of a tree. They played a soccer match with on even getting injured and the other red carded for the injury. It was all part of the show.
Volunteers were taken from the audience to lay down while the elephant walked over them. The end was an epic battle scene with men sword fighting and elephant (slowly) charging. There were even fake cannons shot off. It was a cool show to see. Just like being at the circus. There were a ton of foreign and Thai tourists brought to the sleepy quite town of Surin. It was quite an exciting and busy weekend.