Old stuff that I wanted to keep... Redated.

I vaguely remember that there's a friendly python at Xishuangbanna (somewhere in the tourist area). You pay the owner 10 yuan and can have the python wrapped around your neck for some photos. I did. But of all the people who did it, I was the only one that the python was scared of. As soon as I put it on my shoulders, it tried to run away. I pulled so hard at its neck that it turned out to be a tug of war between me and my serpentine pal (or foe). I don't know why. Even the owner grinned. It was like something out of a comedy show. You should try it. It's fun.

I also had an elephant massaging my stomach. But I was too tall, so when the tamer lined us up on the ground, I was misaligned. I was slightly worried, but nobody else noticed.

The elephant went from person to person, walking gingerly and hesitantly, heeding each and every signal its tamer was sending. When it was my turn, the giant paw of the elephant's right front leg landed, not on my tummy, but somewhere perilously close to one of the more delicate parts of my anatomy. Then the massage began. The audience started to giggle.

When it was over, I jumped up, ran across the court and disappeared into the crowd.