City Tour around Chiang Rai 2

Chiang Rai City Tour 2

10^th September 2011, we have the second city tour at Chiang Rai organized by P’Ngew for us the MIT participants. This time we visit three places, which is the Black Temple (BanDam), Mae Fah Luang Garden at Doi Tung, and last but not least the Opium Museum at the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen.

Undoubtedly, we are amazed by the Black Temple, the building are all in black and shows how unique are them. I did feel a little scary while looking at those skeletal and skin of the animals. But still can’t deny that I respect to the creator that has such a talent to design a Temple in this way. There is a notebook available for the visitor to left their feeling towards this Temple, yes, everyone love it too.

The second destination of the day is Mae Fah Luang Garden. This place is planted with a lot of beautiful flowers and it is well decorated. It took us a very long time to take photo until we feeling don’t want to come out from the exit.  This will become the best memories that I had experience in this city, Chiang Rai along my exchange program. I am totally falling in this place because of its natural beauty. From the sky you can see the green colors of the trees and mountain. These making me can take a deep breath from the hectic life and let my mind relax. Although today we had a very sunny day, this can’t stop us from taking photos again and again. Under the hot sun, we are still enjoying because of it is really breath taking!!

Last but not least, we come to the Hall of Opium, this project are carried out by Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage. At there, we are educated with the knowledge about opium. At first, we passed through a corridor with scary pictures on the wall and also the condition is very dark. These most probably is describing the bad effect of opium. Then, we are introduced by the guide for the opium flowers. After that, they invite us to watch the video telling us the history of the Hall of Opium being build.

“Addicts: are they not also humans? Since they are human, shouldn’t we help them? If we can help them, it will be like giving them new lives, and so we should do it.” saying of the Princess Mother.

After watching the video, we are on our own way to walk around the museum to explore here, firstly they describe about the story start from Egypt, then story in the China in the old times where those involved in the Opium war, how people lives if they are addicted, the process they produce the opium, all the instruments related to the opium, how the drugs kills although they start from medicine, how people tried to hide the opium to bring them illegally, stories in the Southeast Asia and Siam, and also those famous people that were addicted and dead in their young aged. All of them are politely, slowly telling us the stories of opium, like a teacher educating us as the students, not to go to the wrong paths on our life journey.

Before we come out from the exits, there is also a big mirror of reflection for us to re-think about what we have seen along the journey. Although we don’t really stop by there and think, but yea, again and with more confident, we will say no to all these illegal drugs that will harm our life.

Although Hall of Opium is not in our original plan, which we are actually looking forward to the Maesa Long, I feel that I really had a good lesson today in the museum. Yes, we should help those others and also keep ourselves away from those killing drugs. And these will be our last trip before our semester ended and back to Malaysia at 23^rd September. I really appreciate the efforts that everyone here taken care of us during the period we stay in MFU. Khoop Khun Kha. Hope a day we will be have the chance to come here again and meeting others. 

Report done by Jiao Wei, 10/9/2011