Thailand has been an exhilarating and whirlwind experience thus far. The wonder in this trip has been in discovering a whole new world so culturally different from my own. Even amid the many language barriers and cultural differences there has been beauty to be found in every nook and cranny of Thailand.
On Friday we visited the Grand Palace which proved to be a feast for the eyes. We began our tour in the galleries, which had exquisite and intricate representations of the legends and history of the Ramakien. This same level of workmanship continued throughout the Palace in the elaborate and colorful mythical figures that lined the buildings and monasteries. It was even interesting to observe some of the western influences in the buildings in which later renovations had occurred. There were detailed frescoes on the ceilings and plush furniture imitating the royalty of European nations. The Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha was one of the most intriguing places in the Palace. Housing a solid jade Buddha, it is still used today to respect Lord Buddha and His Teachings.
Later, the group escaped the early afternoon heat in the cool air conditioning of the Siam Museum. It was a fun and quaint museum that had several interactive features. The short videos throughout that kept all of us engaged and tried to help elucidate the idea of a Thai identity that we have been studying in class.
After the museum a small group of us decided to visit China Town. This proved to be a mini adventure in the heart of Bangkok. Venturing to China Town by a short boat ride along the city, we landed on a street lined with markets. Going in further we were overwhelmed by the sounds, smells, and traffic that are Thailand. After walking around for a little while we decided to go to a mall in downtown Bangkok. Unfortunately we were unable to catch a taxi out. Thus began our trek through China Town in search of different means of transportation. We asked local shop owners and locals on the street and finally we found ourselves at our desired destination. A few in the group managed to flag down a taxi, while the rest persevered through the MRT ride and harrowing and crowded sky train. Yet thanks to the group’s determination and Lucy’s skills of map reading we somehow found ourselves at our destination.
After having had a long and hot day we enjoyed traditional Thai massages that helped us to relax and forget our tired muscles.
Such adventures make this trip an unforgettable experience. It is rewarding to see the rich culture and history embedded in all of Thailand. Our experiences here are reinforcing what we learn in class outside the classroom. I just want to thank Alston and Barb for the opportunity to have such a life changing trip with amazing sites to see and wonderful people who inspire me to be a more global and active citizen. Thank you!
Sathya
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