Visiting Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, a Buddhist temple in Western Thailand about 2 hours from Bangkok, which keeps many animals, including some tigers that visitors can feed and pet.
“Have my photo taken with a tiger” has been on my Dreams List for years and when I realized that I had the chance to make that dream come true, I went for it.
What I didn’t expect was that not only did I get to have my photo taken with tigers, I got to feed them, bathe them, walk them, and play with them! I think it might have been the best day of my life.
Feeding my first tiger!
Feeding a smaller baby tiger.
Posing with the baby tigers.
Walking one of the baby tigers down to get a bath.
Playing with a young tiger.
Once I realized that the tigers played just like my cats at home, I got the knack of it. I'd drag the toy along the ground until a tiger would chase it, and when the tiger was ready to pounce, I'd lift the toy in the air so that the tiger would jump to get it.
Playing with 5 young tigers.
Giving a tiger a bath!
This tiger is eating cooked chicken out of my hands.
Look at those teeth!
Just taking my tiger out for a walk...
Watching the tigers play in the canyon. The humans stood inside a little caged area.
Watching the tigers play in the canyon was WAY cooler than any tiger show I'd ever seen at Discovery Kingdom.
Posing with a sleepy tiger during its afternoon nap. You may have noticed my "costume change." I didn't intend to wear multiple outfits to the Tiger Temple, but I'm happy it turned out that way because I think the blue shirt looks great with the orange tiger. LOL.
Most of my tiger adventures took place during the morning, but at that time the tigers are too alert and playful to take pictures like this. So I came back in the afternoon after having lunch and swimming in the river with the elephants (I got my clothes totally soaked, which was why I needed to change).
Double the cuteness!
This is my favorite photo from my visit to the Tiger Temple. It's so beautiful and peaceful that it almost doesn't look real. But it is. And I'll cherish these memories forever.
My new dream is to go back within the next few years and volunteer at the Tiger Temple for a month. I hear first month volunteers get to take care of the baby tigers. Are you in?
