As much as I enjoyed all of my activities and spiritual adventures in Bali, the icing on the cake was riding an elephant.
Towards the end of my stay, I got an increasing yearning to visit an Elephant Temple that I had missed earlier on the tour. The day came when I thought we were to visit the temple, and I found out to my surprise, that instead of visiting a temple, we were going to an Elephant Safari Park, and that I was to ride an elephant!
I realized that Ganesha, the god of wisdom, perception and breaking through obstacles was very much a part of this trip. Ganesha was present in my living accommodations, many shrines that we visited in Bali were dedicated to Ganesha; I’d purchased a silk painting of Ganesha and a carved bone statue as well. It was only fitting that I end my trip honoring the highest form of the spirit – in the animal essence of the god.
As we approached the park, I must confess that a little fear set in surrounding this. But the beautiful drive through the rural countryside to the park and the joking that took place in the van before we got to the park, allowed me to relax - somewhat.
The Elephant Safari Park houses twenty-seven elephants that range in age from three to the mid sixties. My elephant’s name was Olah and she fittingly was just about my age. With trepidation I stepped on the back of Olah’s spine and then sat in a bench chair. I was aboard an elephant!
Within a few minutes I knew that I had done this before and was completely at ease on the top of this enormous animal. The gentle swaying of the chair felt like a giant rocker. As we walked into the jungle I began to see Bali from a totally different perspective. Somehow I was a part of the forest, part of the animal, a part of all of the tropical life. The birds and butterflies flew all around me and I easily glided through the jungle. This is the way to travel!
Olah was happy to show off her prowess for me as she (on command) walked over to a small boulder and gently picked it up and then flung it twenty feet in the air as if it was a light baseball. Next she deftly picked up a small hammer lying on the ground and graciously handed it directly to my “driver.”
Before I knew it, forty minutes was up and I was back in the tame part of the Elephant Park. One last christening occurred as I rode Olah through a pond that the elephants use for bathing.
How many lifetimes had it been since I traveled in this manner? This one ride brought back so many wonderful emotions. I do hope that my next elephant ride will occur soon, and in this lifetime. It’s much too fun to put it off any longer. For I’ve decided to ride with the elephant in wisdom and with perception, as I break through the obstacles on my path. Ganesha willingly will assist, I am sure.