Emily Haxton, '04
English Major

Our first full day in the city of Chiang Mai welcomed us with bright skies and blessedly cooler weather. We have been in Thailand for about a week now, and while we are still living in the midst of harried and often stressful travel conditions, the group seems to have finally relaxed. Perhaps we have started to acclimate to Thai culture, or maybe we have simply adjusted to living out of a suitcase. At any rate, we have survived the first general bout of sickness as well as the (in my humble opinion) overpowering heat and have now moved on to a more temperate climate and slower city.

Upon arriving yesterday afternoon, I was immediately struck by how familiar Chiang Mai felt. In comparison to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, about 500 miles to the north, is not nearly as crowded. The towering high rises that dominate the Bangkok skyline are still represented here, but they do not tower with the same demanding prominence as their capital counterparts. Within the city their seems to be more space in general, however, this is likely due to the fact that more of the sky is visible. The city sprawls out across a great deal of the valley while tuk-tuk drivers and mopeds dart in and out of speeding cars and tour buses. In many ways, Chiang Mai feels like Spokane; while being a large city, it feels small and contained.

This morning we all climbed up into our tour bus and made our way up the winding hill roads to Doi Suthep, a stunning Buddhist Wat (temple) located at the top of a nearby foothill. Serenity and solemnity permeated the air as we listened to our guest speaker, Dr. John Butt, lecture on the fundamentals of Thai Buddhism as well as the life of Buddha. The many buildings, all beautifully adorned, along with the gold Buddha statues, mural paintings and endless temple bells set atop the lush forest all combined to make our trip to Doi Suthep the most inspiring and enjoyable excursion I have experienced yet.

This evening found us in the famous Chiang Mai Night Market, where bartering and capitalism bring cultures across the globe into contact with one another. While many of the vendors sell the same wares, the beauty and personality of Thai goods continue to delight me. In markets such as these, savvy shoppers can by Rolex watches (or something very similar), name-brand travel gear, Louis Vuitton knock-offs and even pirated DVDs. As one addicted to textiles and art objects, I am eternally enthralled with the colors, textures and varieties of fabrics, carvings, paintings, and jewelry that can be found in booth after booth after booth.

The night finished for me with an out-of-season thunderstorm and an adventurous, albeit stressful, tuk-tuk ride back to the guesthouse. Tomorrow promises to be another remarkable day filled with lectures and orientation in Chiang Mai; rumor has it that we are even meeting with Buddhist monks and novices. Chiang Mai has proved nothing but warmly hospitable, and the following eleven days should prove enjoyable for us all.

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