To ride an elephant without knowing

We have a few more days in Bangkok and a visit to an elephant sanctuary pops into our minds. The idea is to feed the elephants, walk with them, and bathe them. As appealing and exotic as it may be, we decide against riding them. I’ve read somewhere that an ethical way to ride an elephant is skin to skin. Anything else is considered animal cruelty. We arrive in an area surrounded by a jungle. It’s hot and humid and adventure is in the air. A few minutes later, we change into blue outfits and with childlike excitement, feed the elephants with bananas and sugar cane. The animals devour them…