Thailand and Cambodia

This course will focus on the cultural diversity of Thailand and Cambodia, looking at the diversity of religious faith, ethnic groups, and societal life. Course time will be spent becoming familiar with these and other areas. We will seek to experience aspects of Thai and Cambodian life including learning to speak some Thai and Khmer before we depart on this trip.

We start our trip in Phnom Phen with a rickshaw city tour. We well explore the history of the Khmer Rouge by visiting the Killing Fields and other sites. Then onto Seim Reap, the base to explore Angor Wat, an extensive complex of Hindu temples built in the 12th century. It was later transformed into a center of Buddhist worship, then they were abandoned and became overgrown. Then we’ll fly to Chiang Mai in Thailand where we will visit the hilltop temple, watch creation of handicrafts, and learn to cook some Thai food. Then going to the northeast we will volunteer a center that cares for young women from the Mekong region involved in human trafficking. We will visit several of the important sights in the region and tour the Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. The next stop is one of the old capitals of Siam and we will tour the ruins by bike. Then a stop in Bangkok to see Wat Pho – the temple of the reclining Buddha, and Wat Arun, the temple of the dawn. Our last place to visit is the island of Ko Samet where we will enjoy some beach time. Our journey ends back in Bangkok where we will explore the back alleys, cruise on the canals and have a river dinner cruise. Whew, now it is time to go home!

Tentative Itinerary: