One of the great things about studying abroad in Singapore is its location. Within the span of a 2–3-hour flight, you could be in practically any
Southeast Asian country of your choosing. And the great thing about attending the National University of Singapore is that the academic schedule allows opportunities for exchange students to go on excursions outside of Singapore if they have the time management skills to navigate it. With that being said, so far, I have been able to travel to Thailand (with my dad) and Malaysia (solo trip)!
In Thailand, I visited Bangkok and the ancient city of Ayutthaya with my dad. It was such an exhilarating experience as I had always wanted to see the ruins of Ayutthaya and to be able to travel with my dad. I can now say that through my love of traveling abroad, I was able to convince my dad to travel outside of the United States for the very first time! Together, my dad and I took Thailand by storm, visiting various temples like Wat Arun Ratchawararam, Wat Pho, and the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. We even visited the Grand Palace where we got to see the Temple of Emerald Buddha and eventually the famous Reclining Buddha. From visiting various shopping malls, famous food streets like Khaosan Road, and Chinatown, Bangkok was a different beast, in a good way. It was jaw-dropping seeing all of the traffic that seemed to never end and just how many people rode motorbikes, defying the laws of traffic.
However, my favorite time was definitely spent in Ayutthaya. There’s just something about growing up hearing stories and seeing pictures on a screen or even learning about such a place in your history class, to now being able to see it, to feel its energy and its history in person. I almost cried because the experience was so surreal. Here I was, in an ancient city, never having thought such an opportunity would have ever been afforded. I walked along the ancient ruins of Wat Phra Ram, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Chaiwattanaram, and more. I paid respect to endless amounts of statues of Buddha and gave thanks as I rode along Ayutthaya’s rivers, fascinated by the centuries of history still standing.
My fascination for history aside, Thailand offered a different perspective on Southeast Asia in comparison to Singapore. In Singapore, many are battling urbanization and modernity while trying to still hold true to their ethnic roots and cultural heritage. In Thailand, cultural heritage and physical manifestations of culture seem to have been meshed with increasing urbanization. For example, it is not uncommon to see a courtyard of apartments in which the apartment walls are part of a temple or shrine for a certain god/goddess. While traveling on the river in Ayutthaya it is not uncommon to see ruins of the city still standing right next to farmland and houses or even hostels. Bangkok, in particular, is very much cosmopolitan but seems to have an edge to it that has not completely abandoned its history or tried to push it to the edges of the city.
Thailand for me was much more of a personal trip rooted in history and observation. An experience you had to be there for. However, stay tuned for my solo trip adventure to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia!
Alura Winfrey
Spring 2023
GW Exchange - National University of Singapore
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major