It seemed a good idea at the time

The yearly elephant celebration in Surin drew in more than the typical attention recently after including an effort to go into the hallowed Guinness Book of Records. Sadly, the only record attained was that numerous trainee “volunteers” roasted in the sun, exposed for hours to heats reaching 39C.

In what the organisers promoted as a “historical minute” the trainees had actually collected in the open air Elephant Program Arena in an effort to set the world record for “the variety of elephant dolls folded from Surin material in one sitting”. One believes that would have been among the more odd records to appear in the Guinness publication.

There is no concern the dolls are extremely appealing and worth promoting since weaving is a vital part of Surin’s economy. However thinking about the heat maybe more believed ought to have been offered to the trainees with a minimum of some sort of roofing system to offer shade.

The Surin celebration currently has one entry in the Guinness book for the “longest buffet line for elephants”. Obviously in Nov 2003 an overall of 269 elephants lined up patiently for the buffet that included 50 tonnes of vegetables and fruit. The jumbos were apparently extremely well acted, just getting penetrated the food after being allowed.

This remained in sharp contrast to the last wedding party I went to in Bangkok. When it was revealed the buffet was open there was overall trouble and a mad stampede to the food deserving of the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Dealing with the music

A woman elephant from Surin starred in among my preferred pachyderm tales back in 1991.

The elephant had actually simply treked 500km from its Surin house to Bangkok with a mahout aboard intending to make a couple of baht from travelers. The elephant was not too amazed by the Huge Mango with its backfiring samlors and burping buses and undoubtedly ended up being a bit irritable.

However what truly disturb the elephant was when it encountered a kindergarten band tuning up– adequate to shatter the nerves of even the most docile monster.

Upon hearing the very first squawk of an out-of-tune trumpet the regrettable elephant lost its cool and went on the rampage, spreading the young artists. It was rather a sight with deserted trumpets, recorders and drums cluttering the roadway.

Luckily nobody was harmed and the elephant was ultimately controlled by a number of tranquiliser darts in the behind. It was then reclaimed to where it belonged … the jungle.

Greatest, biggest, longest

Thailand is no complete stranger to holding strange records consisting of the world’s most significant omelette, the biggest plate of fried rice and the fattest Chinese dumpling. Then there was a lady called the “Scorpion Queen” who invested 33 days secured a box with 5,000 scorpions. Oh well, various strokes for various folks.

According to the Department of Truly Ludicrous Records, numerous daft happenings in Thailand belong to Valentine’s Day. Back in 2001 Trang hosted the biggest undersea wedding in which 34 couples stated “I do” while using flippers and snorkels and seen by puzzled jellyfish. The accompanying music was rumoured to be the Bee Gees tune “How Deep Is Your Love”.

For several years Thailand was the happy holder of the most costly family pet wedding event record when 2 felines, Phet and Tactic, got married in a solemn event that apparently cost countless baht. They did it in design with one feline getting here by helicopter and the other aboard a Rolls-Royce. Including a touch of class to the event a parrot was the very best male and an iguana a housemaid of honour. I am not making this up.

All you require is love

Pattaya stays at the leading edge of daft Valentine’s- associated contests. Some years ago a Thai couple broke the world record for the longest tape-recorded kiss– 50 hours of constant snogging. Simply think of that. One girl left when she passed out after thirty minutes, most likely the best strategy. Possibly her partner had actually been consuming garlic.

In 2014 the kissing was changed by a hugging contest. More than 20 couples climaxed lasting an advantageous 26 hours, 26 minutes and 26 seconds. No rewards for thinking what were the popular lottery game numbers that week.

Incorrect turning

In November 2015 Thailand broke another record albeit accidentally when the kingdom held the longest-ever half marathon. Towards completion of the race baffled authorities inadvertently pointed runners down the incorrect roadway, including 6km to the race. This led to the individuals running 27km rather of the typical 21. A few of the less healthy runners were apparently less than entertained.

Luckily it was a Fantastic Thailand occasion so in such a way it measured up to its name.

Popularity at last

Throughout the week a cabby asked me which nation I was from. It is a typical questions and I described I came from bright England. He reacted that he had actually currently thought I was English since I appeared like Boris Johnson.

This was a bit worrying and I recommended I didn’t look like the previous prime minister at all apart from undoubtedly being not able to string together 2 meaningful sentences.

However the cabbie firmly insisted, stating my hair was easily of Boris, as in “all over the location”.

I believe that is what is called a backhanded compliment.

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