Positioned at the hotel's entrance Popeye and his trainer were there for the amusement of the guests and, I have to tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it. On the side was a table containing banana bunches. For about 20 Baht, pennies in US$, you could purchase the bananas and feed Popeye as he went through his regimen of tricks. The cutest thing is that you'd hand Popeye the 20 Baht note, he would take it and give it to the trainer, and then proceed to the table to pick up a bunch of bananas and bring them to you. It was the cutest thing. With the bananas in hand he would perform different tricks at the direction of his trainer and you would reward him with a banana, or several, following each trick.

I'm sure you're familiar with the old saying that elephants have long memories. I can attest to the fact that they do and, not only that, they are good at learning new things. Popeye soon learned that I was a soft touch when it came to getting fed. He quickly began to recognize me and with that the show was absolutely over every time I went near the lobby. One day, when I approached the lobby, he spotted me from about 50 yards away. I quickly hid behind a fountain in the lobby area. Within seconds he presented himself before me. When I wouldn't budge from the fountain he went behind me and gently nudged me toward the banana table with his head. I couldn't believe what he was doing. His reward several more bunches of bananas. My reward, the delight in having made an unusual friend.