Entry#5 - From Modern City to Ancient Ruins; A trip to Ayutthaya

January 8, 2013

                 

                   Yesterday was probably the most adventurous day of the Southeast Asia trip so far.  Early in the morning we drove out of Bangkok, through the countryside and rocked up to the ancient capital of Thailand that is known as Ayutthaya.  In Ayutthaya we saw the ruins of the center of the old civilization and explored the lands that were inhabited by a thriving community hundreds of years prior.

                   On the way to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, we got a real sense of just how far the city of Bangkok stretches, and once we got out of the dense traffic of the inner city it was smooth sailing through the outlying suburbs.  Eventually we would past the local communities that are satellites to the main city and enter into the vast countryside of Thailand.  Traveling on this highway I could see out for miles in every direction as the haze of the city’s pollution cleared and the rich and beautiful outlying land revealed itself. 

                  At the actual historic sites I saw some really great things, from reconstructed temples to ruins that were unaltered and allowed to naturally decay.  Much like the recognizable theme in the city of prosperity being situated next to slums, I drew a parallel between the elaborately decorated reconstructions and the natural standing remnants of the old society.  It made me realize the inner beauty of the history and reinforced the idea of just how rich in culture the Thai people really are.   No matter how things may look on the surface the same cultural values still exists and it just depends on what form they take on and how it is that this prosperous culture is transmitted. 

                  Later on in the day after visiting the ruins of Ayutthaya and the summer palace of King Rama V, my group hopped on board a river cruise boat and we enjoyed the many sites along the Chaopraya River.  This was really a great experience because it gave us the chance to kick back, relax, and take everything in.  The river cruise was another way to see the city of Bangkok and was a great way to wrap up my last day in Thailand.

                  At this point I am on a bus headed to the Thailand-Cambodia border and the new adventures of exploring the next country await.  Cambodia here I come!

Entry #4 - Rags to Riches in Bangkok; The Splendor Within

January 7, 2013

                  Having just reread my last journal entry I realize that I have gotten wrapped up with my reflection of the many faces of the city of Bangkok and have not mentioned much about all of the other things I have seen.  At the risk of looking past the features that have consumed my thoughts on the previous day I would now like to reflect on the great value of the culture that has revealed itself to me.  My initial perceptions have began to flow back and my seemingly pessimistic view of how the emergence of great wealth seems to corrupt rather than celebrate has subsided as I realize that it is more or less the way in which this twisted world operates.  It may be confusing sometimes but life is a hell of a ride and I am strapped in for its ups and downs.

                  Writing this entry after the fact of experiencing great new things is much like looking at a relationship with a woman, sure there are low points in every relationship but there are greater things in the grand scheme that cause you to look past the bad.  For me the experience of traveling to the Royal Palace of Bangkok and experiencing the stunning culture of the Thai people was one of the features to celebrate and I felt this feeling of astonishment that was much like looking into those eyes of the enchanted woman.  The palace was absolutely breath taking with numerous statues encased in gold and magnificent buildings decorated with cut and pieces stained glass.  It was unlike anything I have ever seen before and the hundreds of photos that I snapped do not even begin to do the place justice.  The Royal Palace is really something that everyone should experience firsthand at some point in his or her life.

                   In addition to visiting the royal palace and Wat Arun, I took a tour of the Chaopraya River that cuts through Bangkok and explored the multiple klongs (canals) that surround the outskirts of the city.  Seeing the ins and outs of this Venice of the East, I can say that I got a real look into the way in which people live in these riverside villages.  Most of the homes were underdeveloped and served as habitats of the poor but no matter what a particular family’s income may be, throughout the villages you could see that these families stick tight and no matter what struggles they are presented with; they live together and they thrive together. 

Entry #3 - Bangkok's Blatant Disparity Complex

January 6, 2013

                  After a hotel switch and settling into a new space in Bangkok right off of Sukhumvit road at the Royal Benja on Sukuhumvit 5, my eyes were opened to another dimension of Bangkok.  The same theme of seeing such great wealth and built up skyscraper structures right next to some of the poorer slums continued and I would soon learn that this is a feature that is very representative of the way things are in the area.  It seems as if where there is great disparity there is great opportunity for the more fortunate of people while the less fortunate are stuck in there ingrained and unavoidable disadvantaged positions.  Through my perception of this multifaceted city that seems brand new to me, I have no choice but to believe that the popular business model or mindset for the area is a realist one where self interest is put on a pedestal and regard for the surrounding areas is almost completely cast to the side and far beyond the sight of periphery.  What is harnessed here by some of the wealthiest of establishments is a narrow-minded tunnel vision that focuses in efforts to satisfy ones personal needs without addressing the needs of society at large. 

                  To me this seems like something brand new and never seen before but concurrently reveals itself in a manner that cuts through the bullshit and shows how things really are in this world.  Looking back at where I am from in comparison to this land that is brand new to me, I now realize that things are not all that different but are just presented in a more obvious manner than what I am used to.  I now have this notion about how much social standing and different levels of society are compartmentalized in areas around the world but in Bangkok that is not the case.  In this city the most well to do and wealthiest people are up on the rooftops enjoying caviar and lattes looking far over the heads of the working class who are struggling to afford the cost of living below. 

                  I always thought that one day I would be dining on those same rooftops enjoying all of the finer things but with this new found perception of mine, if this is ever going to happen I can only hope that I do not lose sight of the big picture that is painted right in front of me.  While self-interest may be an unavoidable facet of the human mindset and way of being, it is important that I do not let it overcome me. 

Entry #2 - Arriving in Bangkok

            After having been in Bangkok, Thailand for a day I can certainly say that I have made the most of my time here already.  Having arrived very early on the morning of Saturday the fifth at three o'clock in the morning we checked into a lovely little boutique hotel on Siloam serene rd, just few blocks away from the notoriously famous Patpong red light district area.  Considering the area, the hotel was very nice and it was here that I gained my first true perception of how diverse the city is in terms of prosperity and wealth being situated not so far from poverty and a working class doing literally whatever it takes just to get by.

            A few short hours later we checked out of the hotel to venture out and explore the city of Bangkok before meeting with Professor Viengrat Nethipo at Chulalongkorn University to discuss Thai politics through a historical narrative.  While making our way over to the university we encountered various aspects of the Thai culture but what was most noticeable while walking to and around the park at the center of the city, was the vast presence of banners representing king Rama IX.  Tying right in with our political discussion the professor later told that the total expenditure of promotional spending is something like 20 Billion baht per year which is about the same amount it would cost to build an additional sky train in the city which is desperately needed.  This was astounding to me particularly because the city of Bangkok seems to have such haphazardly designed transport infrastructure and the most effective form of transportation is in fact the subway line but only if you live and work near the few stops that exist.  Adding an extra line would greatly reduce traffic in the city and provide for more eco-friendly commutes, but much like everything else in Thailand, the king reigns supreme and is regarded very highly.  So for Thai people the spending on royalist propaganda is not perceived as wasteful as foreigners like me perceive it to be, however that is not to say that everyone agrees on such copious spending.

            Next up on the agenda after a little walking around and our seminar lecture was a meet up with Thai students from the university over a hot pot lunch right next to campus.  It was very interesting talking with them and the opportunity to converse with students who also study international relations, offered great insight to harnessing a more global perspective.  Through some great conversation I was able to gain an understanding of how people my age fit into the grand scheme of things in a country that is much different from my own.  Thinking back to our conversations it is actually pretty funny too realize that we spoke of the four things people say you should never talk about, those four being politics, sexuality, race, and religion.  Normally I wouldn't bring up any of these topics after just having met someone and conversing with them, but being students of similar disciplines the topics somehow found their way into discussion and provided for the exchange of some great thoughts.

            Keeping up with the theme that some may consider taboo, our tour group went out to a well renowned restaurant called cabbages and condoms.  This restaurant and resort partnership is part of a not for profit nongovernmental and organization called the PDA.  While enjoying some delicious food we learned about the organization's mission to promote family planning and safe sex practices in order to spread awareness of aids prevention.  Prior to my visit to this interestingly unique venue I was aware of the presence of HIV in southeast Asia, however what I did not know was the role that nongovernmental organizations played in fighting the aids epidemic and how combatant efforts oversees are so much different.  In southeast Asia and Thailand particularly the government has not done a whole lot to address the situation and that quite unfortunate, but as resourceful people, those who came together to form the PDA really did some great things and continue to keep on track with the mission to this day of aids prevention and family planning.  It's too bad that the government does not have this same vested interest but it awesome that people who wanted to make a difference stepped up to the .plate and formed an organization that could address several problems that need to be treated.

            After a long day of learning about politics and the functions of nongovernmental organizations in Thailand I went out to hit the town with a couple of friends that live right outside Bangkok.  It was a real treat to be able to meet up with some great people that I know and they were able to show me all of things that I would have otherwise missed out on without such a connection.  In my opinion unwinding and experiencing the night life can be just as important as formal teachings and tour group activities since it really gives a local perspective of what life is like for Thai people.  I was also able to pick up on a few Thai phrases from my friends that would make the rest of my stay in the area a little easier to adapt to.

            All in all, my first day in Thailand was a blast and I learned and experienced way more in this short amount of time than I could have ever imagined!

My Trip to Southeast Asia - Pre-Departure

2013 Study Tour – Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam

Entry#1

                As the hours are counting down to my time of departure I am filled with overwhelming sense of excitement, curiosity, and anticipation.  Since I first learned about this trip and signed on to be a part of it, the topic of my future excursion has found its way into conversation countless times with many friends and acquaintances.   The journey to Southeast Asia which will encompasses my life for the next couple of weeks has been something I have really been looking forward to and the sensation of such great anticipation is building  up to levels that I have never felt before.  The thought of going to Thailand alone is enough to leave my senses tingling as it has been a destination that I have desired to travel to for so long.  Additionally the following excursions to Cambodia and Vietnam add to the overall excitement and my eagerness to travel the region will either be a thirst that is satisfied or a taste that will leave me wanting to come back for more.

                When I think about what to expect in my upcoming trip, it is hard to say exactly what lies upon the other side of the world for so many reasons.  Having never been outside of my home country aside from short trips to Canada, The Caribbean, and the ABC Islands, my expectations of the region are merely garnered through text books and media.  While these might be the most expressive mediums of transmitting some kind of expectation, I can say without a doubt that they cannot do the same justice to a region that an actual emersion in the form a physical visit to the places may offer.  What I can say about my expectations at the risk of being hasty, is that I presume that what I am going to be doing abroad is witnessing, observing, and identifying with the way in which people live in locations that are very foreign to anything else I have ever experienced.  I expect things to be very different than they are over here in the United States, in ways ranging from cultural practices, political happenings, and the overall impact that differences in historical backgrounds play out in effecting people’s lives today.  As for what I expect to learn and take away from this tour, it is also something that I will not know until actually experiencing the region, but ultimately what I would like to gain is perspective.  I like to think that through my education and three and a half years of studying at university I have gained some sort of perspective from learning about other cultures and the politics of countries around the world.  However, it does not seem to me that such a perspective is complete without world knowledge gained through travel.  Something I really want to return to the states with is not something that takes shape in material form nor is it anything that can be purchased.   Instead it is the experience that transcends the average American’s point of view and leads to a greater understanding of myself within the global realm while providing an increased global perspective. 

                When seeking such a global perspective I will also be looking out for globalization in terms of business in the region.  In Thailand and Vietnam especially, I will be observing the way business is conducted in these countries and how it is that certain businesses have been so successful in recent years.  With increasing GDP growth figures these countries as whole entities are becoming more prosperous and this is great, however I am more concerned with the way in which certain types of businesses have been so successful in the region.  In particular, I am going to pay close attention to the establishments set up in the major cities of Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam to see what is currently trending as the thriving model.  It would also be great to observe international trade businesses and multi-national corporations in the region if I get the opportunity.

                All in all, my trip to Southeast Asia is going to be an exciting one in which I will learn how people live, interact, and conduct business on the other side of the world and I hope to take from it the global perspective that comes with visiting places near and far.  Communication and cultural identification will certainly be a challenge, especially given the fact that this will be a relatively short trip.  Not knowing the languages of the countries I am visiting is surely an obstacle and perhaps with more time in the region I would pick up a bit of the lingo and cultural practices but in this case I am going to have to make due and take it all in.

- Jeffrey Dietz

Reporting from Long Island, New York

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