Tag: fiction

The Day a Baby Elephant Hugged Me!!!

On By jaganmayanand1 Comment

When my father went to Phuket for his company’s annual sales meeting, my mother and I joined him for the trip. One of the most exciting experiences during our visit was going to an elephant sanctuary. My father’s company had arranged this visit as a team-building activity for all the employees. 

As soon as we reached the sanctuary, I saw many elephants of different ages. Some were tiny babies, while some were very old. There were many caretakers looking after them with great love and care. A friendly guide accompanied us throughout the visit and explained everything about the elephants.

Feeding a Baby Elephant with Milk

Our first stop was the milk parlour. The guide told us that we would get a chance to feed baby elephants with milk. There were many bottles of milk available, and visitors could purchase one if they wanted to feed a baby elephant.

My father immediately bought a bottle for me.

Within a few minutes, the caretakers brought out four or five adorable baby elephants. I was so excited that I almost forgot to blink! I wanted to touch one of them, but my mother was a little worried because she wasn’t sure if it would be safe. My father has always loved animals, so he smiled and gently took me near one of the baby elephants.

The moment the baby elephant noticed the milk bottle in my hand, it came rushing towards me while happily wagging its tiny tail and moving its head from side to side. I had only seen baby elephants wWhen my father went to Phuket for his company’s annual sales meeting, my mother and I agging their tails in cartoons before. Seeing it happen in real life was magical!

The guide stood beside me and helped me place the bottle into the baby elephant’s mouth. It immediately started suckling the milk just like a human baby. It even made soft sucking sounds while drinking. Within a minute, the entire bottle was empty.

Then something very special happened.

The baby elephant wrapped its trunk around me and gave me a big hug! I truly felt as if it was saying, “Thank you.” When my father went near it, the little elephant also gave him a warm hug. My father laughed and said, “He is just a sweet baby.”

That became one of my favourite moments of the entire trip.

Feeding Sugarcane

Next, we went to the sugarcane cutting station. We all helped cut fresh sugarcane for the elephants. My father filled two large baskets with sugarcane, while I carried a small basket specially for the baby elephants.

Many of my father’s colleagues were feeding the bigger elephants, but I wanted to find another baby elephant. Soon I found one waiting patiently. It gently picked up each piece of sugarcane with its trunk and carefully placed it into its mouth. Watching the trunk work like a hand was amazing.

While I was feeding it, my father pointed towards its beautiful white tusks and explained, “The tusks are not used for eating. The elephant has teeth inside its mouth for chewing.”

I learned something new that day!

A Mud Spa for Elephants

After everyone had finished feeding the elephants, our guide announced that it was time for the mud spa.

I looked at my father and asked, “Elephants are so big… do they also go to a spa?”

My father laughed and explained that the elephants would be covered with mud to cool their bodies. The mud also helps protect their skin and is very relaxing. In the wild, elephants naturally enjoy rolling in mud for the same reason.

We were each given a bucket full of mud. Some of the elephants sat down patiently while we gently spread the mud all over their bodies. When I touched the elephant, I noticed that its skin was very thick and rough, and its body hair felt stiff like tiny brushes. The elephants looked very calm and seemed to enjoy every moment.

My father joked, “If someone gave me such a mud spa, I would fall asleep immediately!” My mother laughed and agreed with him. I think the elephants probably felt the same way.

Bath Time!

After the spa, it was finally bath time. The elephants walked to a large bathing area where there were few water hoses and sprinklers. We happily sprayed water on the elephants to wash away all the mud.

The elephants seemed to love it! They stood happily under the sprinklers while the cool water poured over them. Some even played with the water. Soon all the mud had washed away, and their skin looked shiny and clean again.

It was so much fun watching them enjoy their bath.

Finally, the guide thanked everyone and the caretakers gently led the elephants back to their resting area.

What I Learned

This visit taught me that baby elephants behave very much like human babies. They love drinking milk, make cute suckling sounds, enjoy cuddles, and even give warm hugs.

I also learned that mud baths are not just for fun—they help elephants cool down, protect their skin, and even heal small skin problems. Most importantly, I realized that elephants are gentle, intelligent, and emotional animals that deserve our love, care, and protection.

Meeting these gentle giants and spending time with them is a memory I will treasure forever.

Discovering Shrimp Farming in Andhra Pradesh 

On By jaganmayanandLeave a comment

This summer holiday, my father decided to take us to visit one of his college friends who lives in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh. He told me that his friend helps farmers who do shrimp and fish farming. I was very excited about this trip.

We started our journey in the morning and reached Machilipatnam by afternoon. Machilipatnam has a beautiful beach (Manginapudi Beach), so we decided to stay there for one night and travel to Bhimavaram the next day. My father and I both love beaches. We enjoy the waves, the sand, and the fresh sea breeze. I had taken a small basket to collect seashells, but unfortunately it got washed away by the sea. Even then, we had a wonderful time at the beach.

The next day, we travelled to Bhimavaram and reached my father’s friend’s house around 6:30 PM. We met his family. He has two daughters, Devika and Sanvi. Sanvi and I played together. Later, Uncle took us to a nearby park where we enjoyed many activities. It had been a long day, and I fell asleep as soon as I had my dinner. 

The next morning, Uncle and my father were ready by 8 o’clock. My father woke me up and packed a tiffin box for me. Aunty had prepared delicious idlis and pea curry. First, we visited Uncle’s warehouse where he stores shrimp and fish feed, medicines, and supplements. He explained some of the products and how farmers use them. Uncle had started this business only a few months ago, but he already knew many farmers because he had worked in a similar field before.

After loading some feed and supplements into his car, we started visiting farms. As we drove through the city, my father showed me many shops that sold feed, farming equipment, accessories, and laboratory testing services. Everything seemed connected to shrimp farming. Uncle told us that a large part of Bhimavaram’s economy depends on shrimp farming and related businesses. Many people have earned a good income by exporting shrimp and fish.

As we moved out of the city, I could see greenery everywhere. Coconut trees lined the roads, and there were ponds all around where shrimp farming was taking place. Near every pond was a small hut where the caretaker stayed to look after the farm. Around these huts, I saw cows, goats, chickens, ducks, dogs, and other animals.

We stopped at one of the farms. The caretaker was about to feed the shrimp. My father asked if we could go into the pond on a small boat. After speaking with the caretaker, Uncle got permission for us. Normally, visitors are not allowed inside because farmers want to avoid contamination, but they made an exception because they saw how excited I was.

My father and I got into a small metal boat along with the caretaker. He carried a bag of feed and used a rope to move the boat around the pond. At several marked locations, he threw feed into the water. Then he pulled up a net tray from beneath the pond and placed some feed inside it before lowering it again. My father asked why he was doing this. The caretaker explained that the trays help farmers check whether the shrimp are feeding properly. When they return later, they inspect the trays. If the feed is gone, the shrimp are eating well. If feed remains, it may indicate a problem. There were about ten such feeding points around the pond.

Whenever the caretaker lifted a tray, I could see many shrimp inside it. He even allowed me to hold one. I carefully picked up a shrimp, but suddenly it jumped in my hand. It felt like a small electric shock, and I immediately dropped it. I shouted in surprise. My father laughed and explained that the shrimp was simply trying to escape. The caretaker also laughed at my reaction.

After feeding was finished, we returned to the hut. There were goats, chickens, roosters, cows, and several baby goats. I could not resist holding the baby goats. Their mother kept making noises and did not want me to come near them. My father helped me hold one of the baby goat carefully. It very small and adorable.

Next, we visited the cowshed. One cow started walking towards me, and I became frightened. A farm worker quickly came and held her. He explained that the farm owner’s daughter, who is about my age, often plays with the cow. The cow may have thought I was her. My father gently patted the cow, and she tried to lick his hand. He told me that animals can sense kindness and often respond with affection.

The farm also had some very large roosters. Uncle told us that these roosters are sold for high prices because they are used in traditional cockfighting events during certain festivals. I remembered seeing pictures of cockfights at our hotel in Machilipatnam.

By then, I was hungry. When I opened my tiffin box, a small puppy came near me. I shared some idli with the puppy, and we enjoyed our breakfast together. While we were there, Uncle received a call from a farmer who was facing a problem at his pond. We immediately drove to the farm. Uncle inspected the pond and spent some time finding the cause of the issue. After checking everything, he explained that the ammonia level in the water had increased. He suggested the right treatment and advised the farmer on what product to use. Since Uncle had the required material in his warehouse, he asked the farmer to collect it later that day. I realized that Uncle was not just selling products. He was helping farmers solve problems and protect their livelihoods. He was a trusted guide for many farmers in the area.

Later, we returned to Uncle’s house. Aunty brought a ripe papaya from her garden, and we all enjoyed eating it together. It was very sweet and delicious. Before leaving, both families took some photographs together.

This visit taught me that different regions of India have different types of farming based on the resources available there. I also learned how important people like Naresh Uncle are. They support farmers, help solve their problems, and play an important role in making farming successful. I was amazed to see the large shrimp ponds, the feeding process, and the many animals living around the farms. I also learned that farming is not easy and requires a lot of knowledge, patience, and care. This trip was both fun and educational, and it gave me a new respect for farmers and the people who help them. I will always remember my exciting visit to the shrimp farms of Bhimavaram.