Elephant Polo: The Sport of Kings

By Christopher Linch

One thing I must do before I kick the proverbial "bucket" is to see an Elephant Polo game. Elephant Polo, as you might guess, is a variant of polo played aboard an elephant. The home of the game is Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge, Nepal, but can also be found in Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and England. New York has a team: the Blues. Treetops is the home of the World Elephant Polo Championships. The 2008 Champions were England's "Air Tuskers".

Basic polo equipment is used, although the mallet is modified to reach from the back of the elephant to the ground, some six to nine feet. The field or "pitch" is shorter than a standard polo field (the reasons for this will be discussed in a moment). Due to the difficulty in steering perhaps, each elephant has two riders. The first is the "mahout". Familiar to us from Rudyard Kipling novels, this is the guy who rides on the elephant's head and encourages both movement and direction. The second rider actually plays the game by whacking the ball and calling out directions to the mahout.

The game was apparently a favorite of the British Colonial period in India, and reemerged after a heavy evening of drinking by the owner of Tiger Tops and his cronies. Some celebrity adherents of the game include Ringo Starr, Bryan Ferry of Roxie Music, the actor Steven Seagal, and the late adventurer Sir Edmund Hillary.

The World Elephant Polo Association governs the play in Nepal and Thailand. The WEPA strictly enforces rules regarding elephant welfare and game play. Other tournaments are managed independently. Most games are played today for charity. Aside from winning the game, other prizes include Best Dressed Team. Any excuse for champagne will do.

The game is played under the auspices of the World Elephant Polo Association (and yes, you can get a polo shirt!) which governs the play in Nepal and Thailand. The rules regarding elephant welfare are strictly enforced. Tournaments are not lengthy, and generally are played for charity once a year. Other prizes eagerly anticipated include the coveted Best Dressed Team Award.

Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge is an award winning wildlife safari and eco lodge in the heart of Chitwan National park. The Lodge is noted for it's eco-tourism model, it's conservation activism, it's organic cuisine and it's tree house accommodations. The lodge offers elephant safaris to view Bengal Tigers, Bison and Rhinoceros,.

The championships are usually scheduled at the end of November and beginning of December.

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The Unique Charm of Bangkok

By Chris Linch

Thailand has historically remained an independent kingdom (Siam) and has never been conquered by another people. As a result, the country has managed to keep its culture strong and uniquely its own. A wonderful place to experience the unusual charm of Thailand is in the capital city of Bangkok. A fascinating mix of the old and new, Bangkok offers the best that modern life has to offer without sacrificing its rich historical heritage. A large city of approximately 10 million people, Bangkok is the heart of the country spiritually, economically, and culturally.

Bangkok offers a rich variety of experiences. There are 400 Buddhist temples alone. The city boasts world-class shopping, dining and theatre. A particularly charming way to explore the city is by canal boat on the Chao Phraya River. A fascinating glimpse into traditional life is on view along the canalsa monk begging alms, a farmer delivering his vegetables by boat, a child on his way to school.

If possible, time your visit to take advantage of one of the colorful festivals that Bangkok celebrates:

1)Bangkok Songkran: The Thai New Year is celebrated with parades, music troupes and boat racing.

2)Chinese New Year Festival celebrates the best in Chinese culture. Enjoy Chinese Lion and Dragon dances, special recipes, traditional costumes, and music.

3)Loi Krathong; One of the most beautiful festivals, this is the "festival of the lights". At night, celebrants gather waterside to float lotus-shaped boats decorated with flowers and lit candles, as a thanksgiving and worship of the Goddess of Water.

Other things to do and see in Bangkok include: a trip to the Royal Grand Palace, or the floating market on the River Kwai. See the reclining Buddha at Wat Yai Chai. Take a Thai cooking class. Enjoy traditional Thai dancing, or a kickboxing demonstration. Relax and indulge your senses at one of the famous Thai spas. Shop at open air markets, or an upscale Mall.

With so much to see and do, Bangkok will charm and delight the most discriminating traveler.

About the Author:

Chris Linch operates a website where you can book Cheap Hotel Rates. This information was contributed by his experiences and research.

Dive into Thailand

By Ed J. Price
Out of all the different countries in the world, Thailand is still considered to be one of the most exciting places to visit. Renowned for its huge shopping malls, elephant rides and exotic adult clubs, Thailand also offers wonderful scuba diving sites. Dive Thailand has fast become a favorite destination for many people looking for dive holidays and sites. Thailand has a warm climate with the months between October and April being the best time to visit the country. The waters around Thailand at this time of year are ideal for scuba diving. The rainy season falls outside his window.
Diving Phuket.
The largest Island in Thailand is Phuket. It has fast become one of the destinations of choice by many tourists to Thailand. With its rich underwater ecosystem, Phuket is a great place for scuba diving. From reefs to wrecks and even underwater volcanoes, dive Phuket has it all. The waters surrounding Phuket is also full of marine life such as coral, fish, turtles, dolphins, sharks and even whales. A few of the more popular dive sites in Phuket include the Similan Islands, Shark Point, King Cruiser Wreck and the Andaman Wreck.
Hin Mouang
Hin Mouang is famous for its pelagic fish, making it one of the most famous diving sites in Thailand. With breathtaking underwater peaks, large fish shoals, pretty carpets of anemone, gigantic corals, gorgonian, and other extravagant sights, this place makes diving Thailand simply spectacular.
Hin Daeng
With close proximity to Hin Mouang, this place is another totally unique site that Thailand has to offer. Common features of the waters in Hin Daeng include morays, octopi, shrimps, crayfish, gray reef sharks, leopard sharks, and barracudas with the occasional sightings of manta rays, whale sharks and nurse sharks.
Koh Kraden Wreck
Just off the coast of Koh Kraden lies the Koh Kraden wreck. Its fame comes from the fact that it is a sunken Japanese destroyer. Over the years, it has become a breeding ground for flora and fauna. Other marine creatures that frequent this site include sea horses, giant morays, soft corals, lion fish and great schools of fish.
Koh Dok Mai
Well known for its night cave diving is Koh Dok Mai. This dive site is littered with sea urchins like lobsters, moray eels, leopard sharks and also sea snakes. This is an ideal location or those searching for a different diving experience.
Dive Thailand is a great scuba diving destination with a lot to offer. If you consider going there on your next diving trip, you are sure to have an extraordinary time with many wonderful memories to savor.
About the Author:
Ed J. Price has had a keen interest in scuba diving for many years. For more information on diving sites worldwide and various Thailand destinations such as diving Phuket, visit his online resource site now.