...because 40 years just fly by. (June and Garry's vow renewal in camp)

By John Roberts
29 November 2009 01:12:00

It is well known that we need no real excuse for a party here in the Elephant Camp but occasionally some folks come along with the perfect excuse nonetheless.

    So it is with many times repeat guest June 'the rain Queen' Billings - so called because she has the uncanny knack of bringing rain from the bluest skies and the driest of dry seasons (we're thinking of sending her to Desert Islands or the new Anantara up there in the empty quarter just to give her a real challenge) - she is, of course, also part parent of Tawan, the little big fella that we bought out of hospital in Surin in the days before we learned that buying elephants only put other elephants in danger (in fact, it is his ex-owner that taught us this, converting the money we give him plus some insurance into two new baby elephants for the streets), elephant polo lines-lady and holder of other accolades too numerous to mention here.

    Having been married to Garry 'the sun king' Billings for forty years and accompanied by him on several of her elephant expeditions June contacted us some time ago to request a surprise party to celebrate this and we thought, where better than the elephant camp?  We're not very good at keeping secrets but, well, we'll try.

    The morning started with a seven monk and food offering blessing with all the Anantara department heads...





...followed by a little rest to absorb the merit and put the eles to bed before things really got started in the evening, we invited a local village Brahman in to give a baisri (บายศรี) ceremony (which, unfortunately I failed to get photos of) and then let the mahouts, hotel staff and children enjoy a good, old fashioned, elephant camp party...



...food was moo katar buffet, a kind of Northern Thai Korean barbeque thing, cooked over hot coals...



...we pulled up the rugs (well the new 'hybrid' silks - traditional Surin design with more modern plain scarves - sorry, little advert for the ladies' business)...



...as ever in the ele camp the kids are invited too...



...OK, OK, not so old fashioned, the old songs now come through the computer, complete with word prompts karaoke style, 21st century mahouts...



...kom loys (โคมลอย) to bring 40 more years of good luck...



...then let the dancing begin...



...into the night...



...as it was such a special occasion and the Billings' had treated us to this party, we flew in a Swiss T.V. Superstar and anchor lady just for one song.