Tigers!!

Hmmm... so this is my first post here. Decided to share my trip to the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, Thailand 3 years ago. It was a great experience for all of us who were there!


Walking with the tiger - we're instructed to not be in front of the tiger and always put a hand on the tiger's body to let it be aware of our presence.


The big cat making a pit stop with Sah.


We walked with the tiger until a canyon where we saw many other tigers resting there. They were all very healthy looking and not tied! Then all the tourists took turns to take picture with the tigers - u hand in ur camera to the staff and they will hold ur hand, lead u around from tiger to tiger and take photos of u with the tigers.


At first we were a bit nervous - u can see it from our unnatural smile and body language...






Then, I approached the abbot, paid respect and requested to have a picture with him. He replied,"Ok, come here and sit down with ur legs folded like in meditation posture."

I did as he instructed and before I realised anything, he got hold of a tiger's head and flipped it onto my laps like this!



Wah! I was a bit surprised but with ajahn's presence I was not really worried. Then he said,"I'll move back and u get a picture with him on ur own." And this was what I got:-




Subsequently, all of us in the group were more relaxed and started taking pictures with the cats with more 'intimate' poses...




If u think the above is cool, wait till u see the following ones:-


Sah's bolster.


Hai and his new pet.


KW pampering the cat.


Handsome KS made this beauty felt embarassed. Kekeke!


Hmm... but Prawn still looked scared! Haha!

Saw a report on this temple on The Star today. Looks like recently the tigers are being chained already while posing. To ensure safety i guess... but u feel more heroic with them unchained isn't it? :)