Day 4 // 7 Jan

The 3h bus journey to Chiang Rai was definitely not the most comfortable or pleasant ride as the bus wheezed past uneven roads. Nevertheless, what awaited us at Chiang Rai definitely made the torturous bus ride worth it. Our first stop was the most beautiful temple I’ve ever seen – the White Temple. With its white exterior and elaborate design with pieces of glass plastered onto the walls, shimmering under the sunlight, the ethereal beauty of the White Temple was not something that could be matched up with by any temples in Singapore. Even a work in progress can command so much awe from us. The completed work of what can be said to be the most beautiful temple in Chiang Rai is definitely something to look forward to.

But today, what struck me the most, other than the strikingly beautiful exterior of the temple, was not the sea of hands, the “gate of heaven”, the ubosot or even the golden toilet. Rather, it was the fact that this temple was built to be “a centre of learning and meditation” and “every detail of the temple encourages the visitor to reflect on the Buddhist teachings that show the way to escape from the worldly temptations, desires and greed and focus on the mind instead”.

However, through the interviews conducted, and observations of the behaviours of tourists, it soon became evident that most were merely interested in the beautiful exterior and architecture of the place and not about the meaning behind the architecture or the heritage value it entails. To be honest, if I were a tourist visiting the White Temple, I would not have been any different from those we observed today. I would be the usual ignorant tourist, busying snapping pictures of the architecture instead of listening to the tour guide. Is this an indication that heritage sites are no longer places where people learn about the culture of the country? Rather, have it merely become a tourist attraction where people visit just for the sake of visiting? This is apt in the context of Singapore as well. In the midst of heritage preservation efforts, would the Singapore government be so preoccupied in trying to preserve Singapore’s heritage that they neglect the fact that it may backfire and reduce such heritage sites to a mere tourist attraction?

On the other hand, while the Black House appeared to be dull, it did not pale in comparison to the White Temple. It was a place that evoke a feeling of serenity, something that I really enjoyed. As the trip draws closer to the end, I am already starting to miss all the interviews we conducted, the nights we spent together, and the laughter we shared. Let’s hope that tomorrow will be an even better day, ending our trip on a high note.