2. Daily Postings Chiangmai Study Trip 2015/16 Sustainability

University Scholars Programme

Day 4: A Trip to Japan

Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours. ~ Terry Pratchett On the morning of our penultimate day in Chiang Mai, all the students paid a visit to Chiang Mai University (CMU). There, we were treated…

Day 1: Chiang Rai

Our morning was spent on travelling from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. We stopped by at a rest stop which featured hot springs, as well as eggs which were cooked in the hot spring. I took off my shoes and decided to try the hot spring, which was burning hot. I marvelled at how other…

Day 0: Hello Chiang Mai

When we arrived at the airport in Chiang Mai, we were not expecting such a warm reception at the airport by the Le Meridien hotel staff. They helped us put on garlands made of flowers and ribbon strips, and took photographs for us. This gesture made us feel welcomed and we began our journey in…

Day 3: I Really Need to Care for My Health

Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe. ~ Anatole France Day 3 began with a combined USP activity: a visit to the Doi Suthep temple. It was, without overstating, a beautiful place. Believers who visit the temple walk three rounds around the main pagoda while reciting a prayer. While…

Day 2: Stars, Puppies and All Things Thai

I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world. ~ Mary Anne Radmacher There is a mysterious allure about looking up at stars at night. After the activities of the first day, our group went out to try to see the stars. The atmosphere was akin to…

Days 0 and 1

Day 0: The Baby and the Tourist Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else. ~ Lawrence Block Before I begin the daily blogs proper, I have a little story I would like to share. It is about a baby and a…

8th Jan Daily Postings

On Day 5, we went to interview the CMU tourism and veterinarian professor. What they knew was what we had already dug up from previous interviews but it was good to confirm that we had done our best to find out what we could. Now what’s left is desktop research and compiling our media deliverables….

7th Jan Daily Postings

Day 4, we had a talk from a professor in CMU. We definitely learnt a lot more about the general situation in Chiang Mai from her. The trafficking situation for Chiang Mai’s border with Burma got us thinking about Burma being another source of ivory trafficking. She also mentioned about South Korean refugees, Chinese tourists and…

6th Jan Daily Postings

We have gotten many interviews done of tourists and informed parties like Juelle. Not much concrete evidence gotten of where the source of ivory sold in black markets comes from though. Hopefully the professors we’re meeting can shed some light on the ivory trade situation. Day 3, we went to the Doi Suthep temple. Apparently…

5th Jan Daily Postings

Day 2, the rest of the group went with Jen to visit the elephant clinic while my sub-group stayed behind to interview a pair of Caucasian couple. We had high expectations of a fruitful interview as they were the head directors of a volunteer movement, Blue Star of Hope, that promotes positive social change in Thailand…