Seeing Kuala Lumpur with Reggae Tours

I really wanted to see some elephants while in KL but I couldn't find out how to get to an elephant sanctuary without doing a tour. Reggae Mansion Hostel actually provides different tour packages. So I went to the front desk and asked about an elephant tour and I got on the list. I got picked up from my hostel at 8 45 am. I thought I was just doing the elephant sanctuary but there was actually 4 places; Batu Caves, Pewter factory, a store where they made their own cloths with paint colors (not sure of the name) and the elephant sanctuary. This tour cost 190 myr ($65).

​Batu Caves....Again

On the way to the Batu Caves I didn't even know I was coming here because I assumed it was just the Elephant sanctuary but I didn't mind I loved the Batu caves. It was extremely hot though and busier. There was actually some Hindu ceremonies going on where the men pierce their faces. I obviously did not watch that because that kind of stuff makes me squeamish. ​Then I went back up the 272 steps and walked around some more since it was more lively.

I love the inside of the cave, it gets more interesting after the second visit.

There are lots of shines inside the caves. Some are small, like the one below and some are large but they always tell a story.

​PEWTER FACTORY

After the Batu Caves we went to a Pewter factory called Selangor Pewter. I don't have pictures because we weren't allowed to take any. But basically they have lots of pewter, jewelry and silverware. When you first arrive you are given a little demonstration of their high quality tin. Then you go into the showroom which has tons of beautiful jewelry and silverware. Too bad its expensive. But here too the people who work here are way too intrusive. Overall, I think going there was boring since I had no intentions of buying anything.

​Elephant Sanctuary

It took about an hour and 30 min to get to Kuala Gandah Elelphant Sanctuary. When we arrived at the elephant sanctuary we had lunch first. It was the traditional Malay dish of Nasi Lemak, the coconut rice and fried chicken, which was included in the tour price. Then after that we had to watch a video about how the elephants got the the sanctuary, which was a little disturbing. The elephants were destroying peoples crops, so they had to forcefully move them to a bigger jungle, but I hated seeing the elephants being tranquilized. The video was about 30 minutes too long. 

After that we were allowed to feed the elephants until the show started.

This one was the smallest elephant, so cute!!!

I bought a bunch of bananas for 5 myr ($1.70 cad) so I could feed the elephants. They love to grab the fruit right out of your hands so fast.

When the tour guides finally came they brought the big elephants. Then they took them in the river for a bath.

I wish I was in there, it looked like so much fun!

Then after the big elephants had a bath they did a little introduction show for us. They were introduced to us and showed their special talents. One of them bowed, one stood on two legs, etc. It was really cute. I took some videos of the introductions.

After the introductions they brought the elephants closer to us to we could feed them guava that they provided and also take pictures with the elephants.

It sucked that the elephants were so far from us, and also how the guys were sitting on the elephants. I wanted to take some elephant selfies but I didn't want the guys in my picture so I didn't end up doing it.

After the pictures and feeding they brought the baby elephant into the river so that people could bathe it and take pictures. Our tour guide actually advised us that was water was very dirty because the elephants poop and pee in it and there was a lot of bacteria so we shouldn't go in. I didn't get in because I had a cut on my leg which I wasn't trying to get infected. 

Overall I think the day was good. I would have liked to have more of an interaction with the elephants.