Thailand and Cambodia
Faculty: Kathy Weiss, Tim Timmerman
Meeting Time: Wednesday 6:30-9:00pm
Student Cost: $2,200
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:
Day 0 |
Depart Portland |
Day 1 |
Arrive Phnom Penh, Orientation tour |
Day 2 |
Killing Field and S21, free afternoon |
Day 3 |
Drive to Seim Reap, Khmer Dinner Show |
Day 4 |
Angor Wat Complex visit at sunrise, free afternoon |
Day 5 |
Siem Reap free morning, afternoon village visits |
Day 6 |
Fly to Chiang Mai |
Day 7 |
Chiang Mai: Doi Suthep Wat Phra That, San Kamphaeng (shopping) |
Day 8 |
Free Day. Khantoke Dinner |
Day 9 |
Cooking class, free afternoon |
Day 10 |
Drive to Chiang Rai and onto Wiang Chai |
Day 11 |
Volunteer work at New Life Center Foundation |
Day 12 |
Worship and field games, evening in Chiang Rai |
Day 13 |
White Temple and on to Lampang |
Day 14 |
Elephant Conservation Center visit, on to Sukhothai |
Day 15 |
Cycling tour of countryside & historical park |
Day 16 |
Explore on our way to Bangkok |
Day 17 |
Wat Pho & Wat Arun, night markets |
Day 18 |
To Ko Samet and the beach! |
Day 19 |
Enjoy a beach day |
Day 20 |
Back to Bangkok for an Alleyway and Canal Tours |
Day 21 |
Free Day in Bangkok, evening dinner cruise on Chao Phraya river |
Day 22 |
Return to Portland from Bangkok |