Through My Eyes, In My Words:

Thailand and Myanmar: The Challenges of Development

Taught by Neil A. Englehart, assistant professor of government and law, and David C. Stifel, assistant professor of economics and business

Matt Root of Benton, Pa., is a Marquis Scholar majoring in chemical engineering. A member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, he is a peer tutor and vice-president of the Lafayette chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He is an avid participant in intramural sports and a supervisor for recreation services.

By Matt Root ’06

Our trip Thailand and Burma started and ended in Bangkok, Thailand’s busy capital city. We visited the royal palace, saw the famous emerald Buddha, and shopped at the crowded floating market.
Heading north, we stopped to visit the impressive ruins of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai, former capital cities of Thailand. We spent the next few days in and around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. One morning we went to an elephant camp, where we took an elephant ride through the forest. After that, we watched the elephant show, where we saw them paint pictures, play music, and even play some soccer. We spent another day visiting three different hill-tribe villages. At night, we explored the bustling night markets, weaving through rows of necklaces, carvings, and silk robes (and stopping only to snack on a few roasted crickets).
Also in northern Thailand we visited the “Golden Triangle” where Thailand, Burma, and Laos meet. We took a boat across the Mekong River to Laos, staying just long enough to try some “snake whiskey” and send a postcard.
From Chiang Mai, we flew to Yangon, the capital of Burma. Compared to Bangkok, Yangon seemed to be a step back in time. Although the country in general was much less developed, the temples in Burma were just as magnificent as those in Thailand. From Yangon, we visited Mandalay and Bagan. We saw the Moustache Brothers, many more temples, and a sunset overlooking the beautiful scenery of Bagan. Mixed in with all of this traveling were lectures and discussions focusing on our course topic, a comparison of the development in Thailand and Burma.
Overall, the trip was a great experience. Having the opportunity to go to a completely different part of the world was amazing, and traveling with Professor Stifel and Professor Englehart allowed us to see and learn so much more than the typical sights and attractions. From the elephant riding and salty crickets in Thailand to the beautiful temples in Burma, it was a January that I will never forget.