Ride an elephant

“I thought how cool without actually taking a close look at the elephants, and my guide for the day brought me to the very front of a ledge where I can board one myself. When the multiple guides were now telling me to board the elephant and cheering me on with a smile, I began thinking to myself, “wait so I just step on its back with my bare shoes? Wouldn’t that hurt it?” I was in disbelief how careless everyone was. I immediately regretted my decision as I felt my entire body weight (+ that of my heavy backpack) rest on the elephants back. My regret only got worse once I saw the dude who was handling the elephant I was on hit the elephants head with a really sharp metal hammer to make it start moving. I began to feel very uncomfortable and it wasn’t until that very moment that I started paying attention to everything, noticing the chains on elephants legs, it’s neck, the blood, and as I was riding my elephant, there was a bunch of other tourists riding some in the opposite direction. As these other elephants were walking the opposite direction, I couldn’t help but notice the elephants’ faces. They looked exhausted”