Please click on this photo and see the full size view.
An auspicious start as one must decide what is a "Hot Color" exactly, and what is
"tiger closeness"?
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Thim had decided already, "No way am I going in with
tigers"! Fortunately she is easily persuaded, sometimes.
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I have had many adventures
in my life. Yet when I heard of a place where one could walk with
tigers, I had to find it.
The temple is near Kanchanaburi, Thailand called The Tiger Temple.
The monk at the temple, Abbot- Pra Acharn Phusit, chose to make it a sanctuary for tigers that have
been taken illegally from the wild or held in captivity.
The Temple is a tourist attraction but it is not included in the popular
guidebooks like Lonely Planet. I am told this is because they believe
it is not really safe, at least by western standards, and they do not want
to be held responsible if the inevitable accident should occur, just ask
Siegfried and
Roy.
The monk insists the tigers are not drugged or restrained in any manner.
The tigers are kept in cages in the evenings and only brought out after feeding, under his
supervision. The sanctuary is a large fenced in area with
trees and other natural flora. Other animals are allowed to roam free.
After paying your admission, you walk through a large gate and just sort
of wander until you find the tiger cage area. After waiting with other
tourists, some of the volunteer guides and workers come over and ask you to
remain in a group. They tell you to please stand up as they do not
want you at eye level with the tigers when they come out. They bring
out the tigers and wait.
The monk finally arrives on his little scooter, and you are told you can
follow him and the tigers as he and guides walk them to an area which can
only be described as a canyon. The tigers are placed in areas around
the canyon and you gather in an area behind a rope.
A few people at a time are allowed in, you must hold a guides hand at all
times when moving and you are told to only approach the tiger from the rear.
You are not allowed to take photos near the tigers but the guides will take your
camera and do it for you. Once you make the circuit you are then led
back behind the rope.
I seemed to hit it off with monk, and that along with a "special
donation" of about $25.00 allowed me to take special photos. He had
me sit down cross legged, which I can't do well anyway, and then he placed
the tigers head in my lap. The adrenaline really flows when you feel
the body heat and the weight of a full grown tiger next to you. Then,
and I still don't fully understand why, he says "Be very careful!".
Careful HOW! I have one tiger in my lap, numerous other tigers
surrounding me, and not a weapon or place of refuge of any kind in sight.
Obviously all went well, I still have all my appendages, and people
continue to visit the Tiger Temple without mishap.
At least so
far..............
It was one fun, adrenaline pumping, adventure that neither of us will
soon forget.
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Thim walks slow on a good day, but today she was
certainly in no hurry to catch up with my friend the monk.
"Wat Pa
Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery"
(TIGER TEMPLE),
Saiyok District, Kanchanaburi Province, 71150;
THAILAND Tel: 034-531-557, Fax: 034-531-558
www.tigertemple.org/Eng/
He says......."BE VERY CAREFUL! "
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The canyon, where the other tigers have already arrived
with their handlers, and we are given our instructions.
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