Tiger Temple

Carly and I have been wanting to go to the Tiger Temple here in Thailand for about 12 months since we watched a travel show on TV3 back in NZ.

The day finally had arrived since we said we would go with Kristy and Boom.

We caught PT (Public Transport), a bus, from the Southern Bus terminal heading for Kanchanabery. It was meant to take 2 hours but being we are in Thailand we are on Thai time so it took 3 hours.....quite short really.

From the bus stop in Kanchanabery all four of us hailed two cyclos to take us to a hotel a their recommendation. We felt sorry for the poor guys as Boom and I are not the smallest guys and it was about 38 degrees out.

The hotel turned out to be really nice. It was set on the river and our bungalows were on stilts over the water. The time was about 2.30pm so we booked to be picked up at 3.30pm to go to the Temple.

The ride out was quite eventful as the taxi was a Ute that 8 of us on the back of (seats provided). For no apparent reason the tail gate would just decide to open up. First time I think Boom nearly smudged his paints (I nearly did) being he was sitting right next to it.

We made it safe and sound to the temple and after paying the entry fee were pointed in the direction of huge gates. Walking through the gates all of our eyes are scanning the area to see if tigers were hiding in the scrub all around us. It was quite nerve racking until Carly read the leaflet we were all given telling us we had to walk down the road 400m to enter the temple.....at least one of us was onto it!

On entering the temple we are confronted with heaps and heaps of wild life. There were; Water Buffalo, Wild Pigs, Deer, Elk. Chickens, Horses, Cows etc etc but flag all that boring stuff we are here for tigers. We walk down this kinda canyon and as we come around the corner there are about 10-12 tigers walking around and sitting while westerners are going up to them getting their photos taken......the heart skips a beat as this cats are big!!!

We all line up and hand over a donation of 100 Baht each. Carly and Kristy are off first lead around by temple volunteers getting their photos taken with different tigers. Carly look a bit scared but sorry Peter and Wendy she was on her own then!!!!

Next mine and Boom's turn. It looked guy how the volunteers lead everyone around by holding their hand but as soon as I walked past the rope my hand was out wanting to be lead. You really realise that man sits very low down on the food chain if it was left up to brute strength. To say I was nervous would be wrong. When you walk up to these huge cats you understand that over the next few mins what ever happens is out of your control. I know I patted a few tigers as I have the photos but I could not tell you what they felt like (I can't remember) it all just seemed like a dream.

After our photos we headed up to the main area and found were the cubs were kept. Not long after that they walked all the adults back to their enclosures right past us.....absolutely amazing!!!!

In the next few months people will not be allowed to go near the tigers. They are building an island for them were they will release the wild animals we saw earlier so the tigers will learn to hunt for themselves. Eventually to be released back into the wild. So on that note we all felt kinda special to experience something like this!

Yes when we got back to town we all went and had a few drinks.....Quite a few!!
The next day back on a bus for Bangkok. Just short overnight visit but well worth it!!