Tickling Big Cats At Tiger Temple Thailand - Kanchanaburi

by Malcolm
(UK)

Tiger temple Thailand is the place to go if you want to tickle a tiger!

You can tickle a small cub or a fully sized one the choice is yours.

I did both.

This is one of my best holiday stories.

You do, though, have to realise that this is more than a tourist attraction.

It is one of life's great experiences.

One you want to share.

You visit a Buddhist Monastery called Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery.

The Abbot-Phra Acharn Phusit (Chan) Kanthitharo started it in 1994.

Because the Abbot upholds the sanctity of compassion and kindness to all living creatures no animal is turned away.

It has always welcomed different animals such as wild fowl, peacocks, wild boar, deer, buffalo, cow, horses, wild goat and gibbons.

In 1999 the Abbot accepted a sickly-orphaned tiger cub whose mother had been killed by poachers and from there it has developed into the sanctuary it is today.

Most people visit tiger temple between 1.00pm and 4.30pm after the animals have been fed and taken into the canyon for a rest. And they bask and sleep in the full sun with the odd squabble breaking out between them.

The full-grown tigers are walked down to the canyon everyday with just collars and a piece of rope to lead them.

When in the canyon some are tethered but most are free and control is exercised with a squirt of water and a flap of a baseball cap.

There is a viewing area where you wait until it’s your turn to go and ‘Tickle the Tigers’! It’s hot so having plenty of water and a hat is sensible.

A helper escorted me, to go and sit on a rock with one of the big cats and stroke it while it dosed. What a feeling!

Then two helped me to sit down on the ground while another tigers massive head was placed into my lap. Here it was snoring away oblivious to my presence.

While this is happening the attendants are taking photos with my camera to give me some fantastic photographs of the occasion. When that was finished I could go back to the viewing area and stay as long as I wanted.

After being in the viewing are for about 10mins I was asked if I would like to lie on the belly of a fully-grown 300 pounds plus sleeping tiger.

I didn’t need any persuading.

I jumped at the chance and apparently not many people get the opportunity to do it.

The experience is indescribable.

Lying on top of a fully-grown tiger and hearing it’s breathing and its beating heart was awesome, in every sense of the word.

I’ll never forget the day I tickled a tiger!

It made a terrific short breaks vacation from Bangkok.

I don't think this fits in as one of your independent travel reviews but it was a marvellous day!