The Elephant Ride

In India if you see an elephant in the street, you get frightened to death. But the elephants in Chiang Mai in the elephant park are all tame. This is the first time I have ridden an elephant.

I feel sorry when the trainers strike them. The elephants are mild, with so much strength. We use the term `inner strength'. Is this mildness not their inner strength?

When I saw Lavanya riding on the neck of an elephant, my ego came forward. So when I took a second ride, I also did not use the seat.

—10 January 1989