2. Daily Postings Chiangmai Study Trip 2015/16 Tourism

University Scholars Programme

Day 3- We are fit!

We went to Doi Suthep today. I was pretty nervous at the thought of climbing 306 steps up to the temple. It has been really long since I have done any intense exercises and I was really not feeling up to climbing 306 steps up. However, my sub group and I managed to climb the…

Day 2- The thrill of the tigers

I was really excited about visiting the White Temple. I have heard that the White Temple is truly beautiful and after Googling photos of it, I was convinced it is one of the most beautiful temples ever. And indeed, it was. The White Temple was breathtakingly beautiful. It seemed to be gleaming in the sunlight…

Day 1- Unexpected Achievements

We set off to Chiang Rai very early in the morning today. Learning that it was almost a three-hour drive from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai made me a little happy as I could sleep on the journey there. However, Peter, our tour guide told us on the bus that we would have a mini…

Post-Trip Reflection: Make memories we knew would never fade

I started this trip off with the hope to achieve three things, an extra tool in my still-empty multidisciplinary toolbox, to see things from new perspectives and for me to find other opportunities overseas. I have to say, Steve Jobs was partially right; in many ways, what I had learnt from the trip, whether it…

Day 5 Reflection: Sonder

Day Five, Chiang Mai. Today was my last full day in Chiang Mai. It was also the most relaxing day of the 6 thus far. It started off with us visiting the Chiang Mai Tourism Authority before having the rest of the day to ourselves. We spent the next few hours having a slow lunch…

Day 4 Reflection: The round pegs in the square holes

Day Four, Chiang Mai. The day begun with us heading to Chiang Mai University for a Lecture. Following the lecture done by the resident professor, the dean of the political science school came in where she gave a short introduction about herself. What stood out the most to me when she introduced herself was when…

Day 3 Reflection: Weaving stories

Day Three, Chiang Mai. Ahead of us faced 309 steps to Doi Suthep, one of the most sacred places in Chiang Mai. They say that if you do not go the Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai, you have never really been to Chiang Mai. As we toured the temple, our guide, Peter, told us many…

Day 2 Reflection: Yoda, Tony Stark and the Na’vi

Day Two, Chiang Rai. The day begun with us setting off to the white temple. The history behind the white temple is an interesting one and was really surprising to me. Ignorant me was thinking that it was an ancient cultural heritage built and designed hundreds of years ago with a cheeky artist drawing contemporary…

Day 1 Reflection: Horses counting to ten

Day One, Chiang Mai. This morning, I awoke to the jarring sound of the morning call ringing next to my ear. And so the day started with us hustling to the bus to Chiang Rai. Our purpose? To visit the tourist spots there for interviews. As part of the tourism group, I have rather high…

8 Jan/Day 5: Leaders-in-training

Starting off the day with a quote of which origins I fail to recall, “The eyes are the windows to the soul”. This quote stuck with me during our leadership workshop in the morning as we practiced self-introductions with handshakes and eye contact. Describing myself as someone who is initially introverted and shy, I find,…