So our boat rounds a bend, and this is the scene that unfolds in front of us. This is an elephant camp at one of the hill tribe which exisits to take people, mostly westerners, on elephant rides through the village and river. I saw about 30 elephants in all. It's amazing how gentle a happy elephant is. You literally can go right up to one and "pet" him, and they just tap you with their trunk. You also don't realize how big some of these guys are until one walks right up to you and stops a foot away. That is called trust.