Thai-ing Not To Cry, Saying Goodbye to Chiang Mai

Thai-ing Not To Cry, Saying Goodbye to Chiang Mai

By: Kayla Wilson and Sophie Brown

Our last weekend in Thailand was nothing short of amazing. On our last free day, we decided to split up into two different groups and explore the city on our own.

Anneliese, Grace, John, Catherine, Ireland and I (Kayla) had one of the most exciting and adventurous days thus far - WE WENT ZIP LINING. It is hard to put into words just how beautiful Thailand truly is. On Sunday morning, we got to experience the height of this beauty. We had an early start to our day, when the Skyline Adventure staff picked us up from our hotel at 8 am. After a long drive through the mountains of Chiang Mai, we arrived at Skyline Adventure. Before beginning, we learned about the safety mechanisms and a staff member strapped and secured our gear on us. Then, we were off. 

After another brief ride to what felt like the very peak of the mountain, our excursion was about to begin. We had a small hike to our very first zip line tower. When we finally reached it, I looked out into the sky and felt like I could touch the clouds - I was speechless. After admiring the beauty, we got to go on our first of 24 zip lines. With the wind blowing in my face, I laughed and smiled from start to finish. We soared through the zip lines, the air bridges, and propelling lines. I felt a combination of fright, excitement, awe, and joy all at once. As the end of the experience approached, we had five of the longest lines left. The lines were 400, 450, 500, 600, and a whopping 900 meters in length. On the 900 meter long zip line, I decided to go attached to our instructor so that I could lie face down, in a super man position, for over a half of a mile. What an experience it was. I will never forget how happy of a day it was. Just looking out while airborne, admiring the natural beauty of this amazing country. I’m so grateful that we got to take in just how beautiful Thailand is on our last weekend in this country.

When we had free time on Sunday, a small group of us chose to explore the city a bit more, and ended up at a museum in the old city center. This museum celebrated the Lanna, or northern Thai, cultural heritage and how their culture has shaped Chiang Mai, and Thailand as a whole.The museum is located in the very heart of the old city, directly across the square from the Chiang Mai history museum we attended a couple of weeks ago. The square also features the Three Kings Monument, in celebration of the three ancient kings that, together, founded the ancient city of Chiang Mai. The name “Chiang Mai” itself means “new city”. 

All of the museums, and the exhibits therein, that we have viewed during our stay here have been wonderful. They are thought provoking, engaging, and highly educational. I personally have learned much from these exhibits, and the discussions they have sparked within our group are invaluable. 

One of the main focuses of the Lanna exhibition was on Buddhist practices, beliefs, and symbolism. For westerners, especially those of us who have never travelled to Asia, the symbols used in Buddhist architecture, like the temples we have visited, are nothing more than architectural features. To a devout Buddhist they hold deep spiritual and cultural meaning. It was fascinating to get a peek into their meaning, and therefore, better understand the sites we have seen. 

Another important piece of the exhibit was the focus on traditional Lanna dress. Throughout the halls there were cases upon cases of clothing, especially women’s skirts, which are intricately woven, and ornately decorated. This portion of the museum also featured photographs of prominent Thai people wearing these traditional skirts, as influencers of history. This exhibit was fascinating and I learned so much from visiting. I love history museums and the ones in Thailand have not disappointed! 

Hi guys, for the last time, it’s Kayla. This trip has been the experience of a lifetime. I have embraced, enjoyed, and cherished every second of every day. From learning about global health first hand, to zip lining through the mountains, I will never forget the memories I've made during the last 25 days. While I’m sad that tomorrow is our last day here, I’m so glad for everything that’s happened. Dr. M, thank you for putting up with me (enough said). To my friends, thank you for laughing with me every second along the way. And to my mom and dad, thank you so much for supporting me and letting me go on this amazing adventure. It’s been a BLAST :-)!! Until next time, Thailand.


 Hi guys, it's Sophie. I am truly not ready to leave Thailand, as I have already learned so much and I feel that there is still a wealth of knowledge left to learn. 

Thanks for following along with our journey for the last month!

Sincerely, Baylor in Thailand.