Too many volunteers!

This week marks the end of my third week here and the start of my fourth and it has been a complete 180 in terms of the number of volunteers. For the first five days it was just Charlotte and I, and then for the next two weeks it was Charlotte, Louise, Jess, Christina, Robbie and myself so there was always plenty to do. This week, we are currently at 17 volunteers with a couple more coming. Only five of us are in the bungalow with a couple more at the house, but 10 volunteers are staying offsite and coming here in the morning. It is clear that they have overbooked the number of volunteers here, so consequently there is not that much to do. After our morning elephant duties there is just too many people and not enough to do. The eco garden is coming along very nicely because there are so many of us, but the afternoon slow period is even more obvious with no tasks at hand for us. I'm glad that this is happening now instead of week one for me. I can't imagine how August will be when they have the highest number of volunteers. Looking forward to a cookout tonight up at the house with drinks provided. I have yet to try aarack, which is a coconut liquor that I'm convinced they drink more than water here.

I still love working with Lakshmi and I feel like we are getting more comfortable with each other. She lifts her trunk in the morning we she sees me, which is a sign of greeting I hope, and she messes with me in the river by splashing me and whacking me with her tail. I think she is the most intelligent of the elephants here, especially since she does most of the elephant paintings. Elephants are so expressive and you can tell when one of them in unhappy about something. One of the mahouts got kicked in the head by his elephant yesterday. A strong reminder that they are still very strong and dangerous animals.