...but here in the Golden Triangle it is not often you get to hear classical music played live by world class violinists and Hill Tribe children.

   So when we heard that Aaron Meyer was going to be playing a couple of New Year's concerts in the hotels we decided to make the most of it - Aaron has a musician's interest in world music and noises in general and so, between concerts, getting married and enjoying the New Year he and his portable recording studio were to be found all over the camp.

   First of all though a vow renewal ceremony with 99 monks and 9 elephants for Aaron - but when you have that number of monks no-one misses a chance to get blessed...
 


...and then a serious interview...



...before an open air concert over in the Four Seasons elephant camp (yes Vivaldi was played), backed by members of the amazing Chiang Rai youth orchestra and the hill tribe children of the Suksasongkraw Maechan School - a boarding school that takes in children from the hills that would otherwise not have access to an education.  That they also teach some of them to play violin is quite remarkable.

   I understand that etiquette at these performances demands that one switches off one's mobile phone, or at least sets it to vibrate.  I am still searching the manners manual to find what one is supposed to do with one's elephant...
 


...Aaron is also interested in folk songs from around the world.

   Of course the mahouts all claim to have forgotten any song that is not on a Karaoke VCD, so we thought we would loosen their larynxes a little with a New Year's party at the Anantara camp, it took a little while to get going but by the end there was plenty of dust being kicked up.

   It is nice to see standards being maintained by our well heeled neighbours, no matter what the occasion a well bred New Yorker such as Jason will always dress for dinner - I'll bet he also knows the correct behaviour when introducing young elephant minds to the glories of classical music.



...with Aaron (on the right with his portable recording studio) looking on; Nong Pleum (the human version, granddaughter of K. Lord, Nong Pleum (the elephant)'s mahout) and Nong Rapeepat from Lynchee's Mahout's family lead the dancing.

1,2,3.... ahhhhhh!



HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!