A Summer in Thailand
Known as the “Rose of the North,” Chiang Mai is located in Northern Thailand with a rich history extending over 700 years. The province is surrounded by high mountain ranges and is home to the highest mountain top in the country. It is host to many historical and cultural landmarks. While studying abroad, I was able to visit some of the most famous and beautiful temples, talk with the monks, and receive their blessings. Between visiting historical landmarks, I indulged myself at night markets and bazaars that offered trinkets, local crafts, food, and shows. Chiang Mai also offered many outdoor activities. I had the opportunity to cliff dive, climb waterfalls, and trek through the jungles. Out of all the amazing experiences, the field trip to the Chiang Dao district of the Chiang Mai province proved to be the most special. The trip was arranged by the USAC staff in Thailand as a special treat for study abroad students.
Chiang Dao is about two hours away from Chiang Mai city. Our first stop during the trip was to Wat Ban Den, a temple complex with twelve pagodas dedicated to the zodiac animals. This temple complex was by far the largest and most decorated complex I had visited. It was adorned with gigantic, colorful statues of nagas, serpent demigods, meant to guard the temples. We spent an hour at Wat Ban Den before heading towards the river. When we arrived at our destination, we were met with smaller trucks to take us down towards a river. Once there, we boarded small boats that took us to a floating restaurant. The restaurant served traditional Thai meals. In addition, it was equipped with kayaks to explore the river and various inflatable games floated nearby. We spent three hours at the river eating, lounging, and exploring. After our afternoon at the river, we were whisked back to the tour vans and headed to our next stop.
After a half hour drive, we began our ascent up a mountain. The ride up was peaceful and offered great views of small ancestral shrines, altars, and the jungle. It took about twenty minutes to get to the peak. Once there, we were met with the sight of a small village within a cloud forest where we would be spending the night. We were divided into groups and given keys to huts where we would be staying with our group members. The views around the village and hut were simply amazing. We could see the surrounding mountains and jungles. My friends and I hiked down to a plateau to talk to the locals and play with the kids. As the day began to end, we were greeted with a beautiful sunset tinged with soft reds and oranges. The next morning, we were greeted with light rain and the clouds seemed to cover the entire village. After a small breakfast, we said our goodbyes to the locals before heading to our final destination, an extensive cave network housing a temple and various shrines.
The Chiang Dao Caves consist of over 100 caves that stretch over seven miles inside the mountain range. A small lake with large catfish flow in front of the cave system, and we took some time to feed the fish before making our way into the caves. Large stalactites hung down from the ceiling as if to protect the small altars. Sacred rocks dotted caverns and passageways. While some of the paths were easy, some proved to be a fun challenge. During a trek into one of the side caverns, we had to squeeze through tight tunnels, crawl on our hands and knees in the dark, and climb steep stairs while bats slept above us. After exploring the caves, we had lunch at a hill tribe village before making our way back to Chiang Mai. The two-day trip to Chiang Dao made me feel like I was part of the Thai culture rather than just a visitor looking in from the outside.
Studying abroad in Chiang Mai was the perfect opportunity to live and study in a lively, vibrant city, in one of the most beautiful countries. In exploring and attending school in Chiang Mai and the surrounding areas, I experienced a unique, colorful, and profound culture. My experience studying abroad has better prepared me not just for graduate school but for life in general.
By traveling alone to a new country without knowing anyone, I have become more independent and confident. In addition, studying abroad taught me that despite any language barriers and cultural differences, meaningful relationships can be built with others if we take the time to get to know and learn more about them. I highly recommend studying abroad to everyone if they have the opportunity, especially to countries that they do not know anything about or to countries that are unlike any places they have been to. For those who have graduated, simply traveling to an unfamiliar country outside of the main cities will prove just as fruitful as any study abroad experience.
Carmela Tayag joined the Interactive Measurement Group in the Fall of 2015. She graduated from UNLV in May of 2017. Carmela will be starting her master’s in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic psychology at the University of New Haven in the upcoming fall semester. Her research interests include sentencing and incarceration, mental health law, and forensic assessment.