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There’s nothing like A BABY ELEPHANT RIGHT ON THE CITY SIDEWALK (!!!) to make your day - possibly your whole 3-month stay. How could everyone not be amazed?! I wanted to tell everyone “HELLO? Can you not see the elephant right here?! In front of Nuvo Coffee Shop and the digital imaging place? Hello! Everyone! It’s a baby Elephant!!!!”

It was such a perfect set-up. There I was, walking down the BTS station stairs, my eyes down to my feet, mind on the incredibly low prices on the Mac flyer I was reading. And suddenly, there he was. Small but big, and so adorable. His skin was so coarse. It’s like he was a whole piece of rock that was plugged in with big, sad eyes and brought to life. His hair was thick and stood up on its own like a shoe brush. So you couldn’t really pat him. But you know he would like it if you did. He walks towards you with head bowed. His trunk goes to you like arms. And you can't not pay these manipulative, cruel handlers 20Baht to give him a few fruits.

I panicked for a few beats when his trunk raised and started groping the air towards me. Ack! It IS alive, i thought. But he went straight for the veggies. Rather disgustingly, the snout was kind of moist, so you feel like your fingers have been smooched by giant lips. ick. but then, Baby elephant was just too cute. It's been a while since my heart's jumped up my throat.

Besides, he pulled me out. Out of the feeling of routine (and back in Bkk only a day!) and mundanity. Back into a sense of possibility and surprises. And that things extaordinary can still happen as soon as you step on to the sidewalk.