The Day We Walked with Giants

June 2024 — Somewhere in the green hills of Ko Samui, Thailand, we met giants.

Not the loud kind. Not the scary kind. The kind with ancient eyes and quiet footsteps. Elephants, yes—but also something more. Something bigger. Something older than airports and hotel lobbies and the question, “What time is our next tour?”

We had arrived at an elephant sanctuary that puts dignity first. No rides. No tricks. Just real elephants, living real elephant lives. We were invited into their world for a few hours—and it changed us.

Breakfast with Legends

The day began with kitchen duty. On the menu? Bananas, bundles of sugarcane, and something called “elephant protein balls.” (Spoiler: humans should not sample them. One of us almost did.)

We mixed massive bowls of food by hand. It felt less like preparing a meal and more like crafting an offering. Because in that moment, it didn’t feel like we were feeding animals. It felt like we were honoring them.

Banana Bribery & Trunk Hugs

Feeding time is where you learn the real lesson: elephant trunks are basically gentle vacuum cleaners with opinions.

They reached for bananas with such purpose, such precision. One trunk snuck an extra snack. One attempted to investigate a camera bag. All of them reminded us who was actually in charge.

The Slowest Walk That Moved Us Fast

We walked with them—not behind, not ahead. Beside.

There’s something indescribable about keeping pace with an animal that has walked the Earth far longer than you. It was humbling. Peaceful. And just a little muddy.

We didn’t talk much. We didn’t need to.

Bath Time & Laughter

You haven’t lived until you’ve seen an elephant splash water onto its own face with pure, ridiculous joy.

The bath was chaos—in the best way. We got soaked. The elephants got clean. One of us lost a sandal and may or may not have yelped like a cartoon character. (We’re not naming names.)

Reflections from the Shade

This wasn’t a show. This wasn’t entertainment. This was presence. This was permission.

We didn’t do something to the elephants. We were simply with them. And that was enough.

They didn’t need us. But for a little while, they let us walk in their world.

And that? That’s something we’ll never forget.

Travel Notes

• Pack This: Bug spray, water shoes, sunscreen, a respectful heart
• Don’t Bring: Ego, loud voices, anything you wouldn’t show a 7,000-pound wise being
• Book Again? In a heartbeat.

“This was a truly remarkable experience. From preparing their breakfast, feeding, walking with them, bathing them, and being in the presence of these magnificent creatures… ‘magical’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
– Nickolaou Family Logbook, June 2024