Washing the Elephants

Another weekend on campus, so another visit to the elephants.  Today went mid afternoon.  I was in time to see the tourists scrubbing and washing the elephants.  Everyone, mahouts, elephants and tourists seemed to be having fun.
The lady in blue on the right is just about to be lifted onto the elephant via its trunk.  Five minutes later she went past, smiling and lying on her stomach, on the elephant's neck, facing its tail.   A very odd position, but she seemed happy.