Day 4 (07.01.16)

Today we went to Chiang Rai; the white temple and the black house! I now understand why all the other groups stayed a night in Chiang Rai, THE JOURNEY THERE TOOK SO LONG! Nevertheless, the 3 hour bus ride there and back was filled with fun and laughter as I talked to Vanessa and caught up with her about life. We experimented different psychological theories about association and talked about how we both wanted to travel the world.

The white temple was an absolute beauty! I’m amazed at the intricacy of the design and architecture, the choice of placing mirrors all around the temple to illuminate the place and the activities provided to make visitors remember their visit here. They gave all visitors the option of writing on a “body leaf” to symbolise that they were present at the White Temple and for blessing.

Honestly speaking, I wasn’t very comfortable entering temples from the start. Their association with the Buddhist religion and the fact that they are places of worship caused me to feel intrusive for entering. That space was a sacred space, a place for meditation and enlightenment. And now this same very place has turned into a tourist attraction. The journey into the main hall was filled with various artworks, each raising a question of their own, forcing us to think and wonder. Why are there less women in hell? Why is this path to heaven so narrow? Why are there different creatures guarding the entrance to heaven? What do all these symbols mean? Why did they choose to depict this in this specific way? Why are the fictitious characters placed on the same wall as Buddha? What is the purpose of placing a wax monk in the centre? Why did they choose to open this sacred hall to public? Was not the external architecture enough? Many questions answered, yet I’m left here to wonder, what is my greatest take away from this trip to the white temple?

So many questions, much more than the answers I can provide. Each art piece evokes emotions, asks questions and forces us to think and reflect. The monk in particular made me realise how much determination and focus was depicted by choosing to place a wax figure there instead of leaving the hall empty. It revealed a snippet in time of how monks would stay in the temple and meditate there. It made me reflect on the reason why I felt uncomfortable entering temples in the first place. Indeed, it is intrusive and is disrupting the peace. Why do they still allow us to enter? From what I heard from the tour guide and the professors, it is Thai culture to be welcoming to all. They are so welcoming and warm people that people across the world recognise them as the kindest people group.

The black house was such a contrast! (See what I did there?)

It was filled with antiques and furniture made of animal hide and the infamous water buffalo horns. Two cobras, an owl and chickens were present at the scene! And they somehow stole the limelight as everyone flocked towards the enclosures, excitedly provoking the reptiles. I wasn’t very sure how I felt about the place, it left me feeling very confused and caused me to really wonder if the furniture in these houses represented the Northern Thai Culture. Chairs and tables excessively made from buffalo horns, many different animal hides on the floor as rugs or on the walls. It reminded me of a creepy show with many animal heads framed all around a scary house. I wonder how my vegetarian friends felt, walking around this area with mass animal slaughter everywhere, hoping that every one of these animals died a natural death.

The journey back to Chiang Mai was insightful. It started off with a causal question posed to Prof Walsh about his thoughts about the temples and lead into a deep conversation about life and our (Vanessa’s and my) plans for the future. I was so inspired by Prof Walsh’s life and how he so readily would leave everything behind to pursue his dreams. Am I willing to do that? Would I really leave home and everyone to set up a school for children somewhere else in this world? So many questions have flood my mind and I’m here wondering if I’m ready to sit down and answer them all. Will I be proud of my answer to these questions and will I be able to commit to my response?

I see the goals I had at the start of the trip being met in ways I never imagined. I see myself maturing and thinking much deeper and thinking much further ahead than merely my university education and doing masters. What legacy do I want to leave behind? And how do I want to impact the world? How do I live in a way that pleases God and points back to the creator of it all? Things to think about and reflect in greater detail.

After reaching back in Chiang Mai, we had our last time of shopping at The University Market. Siyu helped me to pick out clothes to wear! CELEBRATE! I finally bought stuff~