At Texas A&M University, the seniors stroll around campus before the last home football game to remember all the grand things that happened there. When it was my turn, I took a lap around campus and thought, “This will be more meaningful given some more time. Right now, I am annoyed with upcoming finals.” Anyway, it’s called Elephant Walk—because the seniors are walking around campus like old elephants about to die—and it’s one of A&M’s great traditions. Now I’m doing an elephant walk of our Thailand elephant walk.The day began dark and rainy, clearing to a tenuous cease-rain as the afternoon drew on. As previously mentioned, riding elephants was awesome. For being so huge, they sure can be quiet! We lumbered along, swaying from side to side. I told Chris it felt like making a turn on the scooter. Lean…lean…lean…lean…. Sooooooooothing. We started off crossing a surprisingly deep river. Our elephant just walked right down the steep bank, through the muddy, coursing water, up the opposite side of the bank, and along her merry way. Our guide was sitting on her head using the tops of her ears as foot rests. We sat on an elephant saddle on her back. We’d brought a peace offering—a huge bunch of bananas. Elephants eat about a bajillion every day. More than Chris. We fed a few to our elephant, but then another elephant behind us saw the bananas and snuck up on us (have you ever had an elephant sneak up on you?). I looked down to my left and YIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!! There was a trunk reaching into my purse! How do you deter an elephant thief?? I don’t know either. I shrieked and grabbed my purse like an old lady. Thailand is in Southeast Asia so obviously these are Asian Elephants. They were smaller than I expected—quieter too. Can you imagine running into a wild one in the jungle?! And their trunks were bristled with spiky hair. I asked Chris if we could have an Asian Elephant in Krueger Keep. He said yes. Then later he said no. I’m still holding out for a small elephant…but where we would grow all the bananas it would need? But wouldn’t it be cool to ride around the grounds sitting on an elephant head? I never did like horses. We disembarked the elephants and proceeded into the jungle for some trekking…sort of. I wore sandals. This domesticated monkey followed us around while we looked at Thai silk worms’ silk (mustard colored, unlike white Chinese silk). He swung overhead through the trees and sometimes rode on the guide’s shoulders. The monkey even joined us as we rafted slowly across a pond. Then we finished our expedition with some Thai food and flame-throwing! Look out, it’s Chris!!