How Woman Is Woken Up at 7AM While Traveling Blows Minds: 'I Would Cry'

A video capturing a woman getting an unexpected but gentle wake-up call from an elephant during her travels in Thailand has delighted millions on TikTok. The video, titled, "The only 7am wakeup call I'm okay with," was shared by @hannahsgove and has amassed over 136,000 views since it was posted on March 7. The brief clip shows an elephant slowly poking its trunk through a large open-air window and nudging it around a room at the Chai Lai Orchid. The elephant sanctuary, located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is a charity that helps rescue elephants while providing marginalized women with shelter, education, and employment, according to its website. The immersive eco-lodge allows visitors to interact with elephants. ElephantVoices, a California-based advocacy group, notes that the use of elephants by humans dates back over 4,000 years to the Indus Valley, home to one of the first large civilizations in an area around modern-day Pakistan and northern India. The charity reports that while elephants were once employed for war and labor, they are now commonly kept in captivity for entertainment. Scientific research also suggests that elephants suffer greatly in captivity. A 2018 study published in Nature Communications found that Asian elephants captured from the wild in Myanmar experienced significant long-term health consequences. The study concluded that "elephants captured and tamed at older ages show a higher increase in mortality after capture than elephants captured and tamed young," with the effects lasting for years. Sanctuaries like Chai Lai Orchid represent a shift in global attitudes toward elephant tourism. Where once elephants were used in harsh working conditions, performing tricks or giving rides to tourists, many organizations today are pushing for more humane approaches to wildlife interaction.

'My Absolute Dream'

Viewers on TikTok reacted emotionally to the viral clip, with several users expressing envy, awe, and emotional appreciation for the surprising moment. "This is beautiful," said user @pegueroisabel. Another user, @locationswithlois, wrote: "My absolute dream." Others echoed the sentiment, with user Cece Panda commenting, "I would cry tears of joy if I woke up to an elephant poking me with its nose while I was asleep." Juliën Amatkarijo said, "Omg this is literal goals." "Oh my gosh I need this now," wrote a commenter called Sasha. Another user, @the80sEra, summed up the reaction of many, simply saying: "Wow that's incredible." Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified. Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.