By Leslyn Tonge
Fifty-eight travelers experienced Thailand’s cultural traditions, environmental diversity and rapidly changing urban landscape while using Creative Problem Solving as a lens for learning, reflection and cultural engagement.
From climbing 309 steps to reach one of northern Thailand’s most sacred temples to navigating Bangkok’s historic canals by long-tailed boat, 58 participants in the University of the Virgin Islands Passport to the World Travel-Learning Program spent nearly two weeks exploring Thailand under the theme, “Tradition, Transformation, and Sustainable Living.”
Now in its 11th year, the program brought together UVI students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members for an immersive journey through Chiang Mai and Bangkok. The group departed the United States on June 1, arrived in Chiang Mai on June 2 and completed the program on June 12.
The itinerary was intentionally designed to offer more than visits to popular attractions. During pre-departure meetings, participants were introduced to Creative Problem Solving and encouraged to use it as a lens throughout the experience.
Although they were not given formal assignments, participants were challenged to look beyond first impressions, remain open to unfamiliar perspectives, question assumptions and observe how Thai communities respond to cultural, environmental and economic change.
Temples became opportunities to consider how traditions are protected and passed between generations. Markets demonstrated how creativity supports local livelihoods. Rural communities raised questions about education, access and sustainability. Bangkok’s modern skyline, rising beside centuries-old neighborhoods and religious sites, illustrated the complexity of balancing development with cultural identity.
A cultural welcome in Chiang Mai
The journey began in Chiang Mai, a northern city known for its Buddhist temples, mountainous landscape, traditional arts and more measured pace of life.
On their first evening, participants attended a welcome dinner at The House by Ginger, where they were introduced to Thai cuisine and traditional cultural performances.
The menu included fresh spring rolls; crispy fried khao ram fuen, a Burmese-style chickpea tofu served with curry mayonnaise; chicken satay; and steamed jasmine rice. Dancers dressed in traditional attire presented four performances that introduced the group to Thailand’s artistic heritage through movement, music and elaborate costumes.
The dinner provided an early lesson in how food and the performing arts can communicate history, cultural identity and community values.
A walking tour of Chiang Mai brought participants closer to everyday life in the city. Despite the sweltering heat, the group traveled through local streets, markets and religious spaces, stopping along the way to enjoy fresh coconut water and tropical fruit juices.
Participants visited a local food and flower market before traveling to Wat Suan Dok, where the ashes of former rulers of Chiang Mai and members of the royal family are interred in distinctive white memorial structures.
The group later traveled up Doi Suthep Mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of northern Thailand’s most revered Buddhist temples. Participants could climb the temple’s 309 steps or take a tram to the top, where they encountered intricate religious artwork, traditional architecture and panoramic views of Chiang Mai.
For many, the mountaintop experience was defined as much by the atmosphere as by the scenery. From above, the city appeared removed from the activity below, creating a setting that felt peaceful, serene and reflective.
A visit to Chiang Mai University also allowed participants to examine higher education in another cultural setting. The group toured portions of the campus and considered how its natural environment, academic spaces and student culture reflected local approaches to education and community life.
Exploring biodiversity and community sustainability
Thailand’s environmental diversity came into sharper focus during an excursion to Doi Inthanon National Park, home to the country’s highest mountain.
The group traveled through forested areas, visited Wachirathan Waterfall and explored the twin royal pagodas built in honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. The cooler temperatures, dense vegetation, cultivated gardens and mountain views contrasted noticeably with the heat and movement of Chiang Mai.
Participants also visited a Karen highland community. The Karen are widely recognized as one of Thailand’s largest highland ethnic groups.
The visit offered insight into daily life, community development and the role traditional handicrafts play in supporting local livelihoods. At a community school, participants observed the importance of education in creating opportunities for younger generations while helping communities maintain connections to their language, customs and identity.
The experience expanded the group’s understanding of sustainability. Rather than viewing sustainability only in terms of environmental protection, participants were encouraged to consider whether communities can maintain viable livelihoods, educate their children, preserve cultural knowledge and respond to changing social and economic circumstances.
Traditional craftsmanship demonstrates creativity in action
The group also visited an umbrella-making factory, where participants observed the process used to create the traditional paper umbrellas associated with northern Thailand.
They learned how natural materials are processed and transformed into paper before being attached to carefully constructed umbrella frames. Artisans then decorated the finished umbrellas by hand with colorful floral and cultural designs.
The visit demonstrated the time, patience and precision required to create an object that visitors might otherwise view simply as a souvenir. It also provided a practical example of Creative Problem Solving as artisans used available materials, inherited knowledge and individual creativity to produce culturally significant items that support local livelihoods.
During a separate visit to a Thai silk village, participants observed artisans engaged in traditional silk production and weaving. They later created their own silk pieces during a natural-dye workshop, experimenting with patterns and colors inspired by local techniques.
The hands-on activities demonstrated how cultural knowledge can be preserved through practice while also generating income for artisans and their communities.
Chiang Mai’s night markets offered another view of entrepreneurship and creative expression. Vendors displayed clothing, artwork, jewelry and handcrafted goods, while food stalls introduced participants to the variety of Thai cuisine.
The markets gave travelers opportunities to interact with local vendors, practice cross-cultural communication and observe how traditional products are adapted for contemporary consumers.
Learning about elephant care
One of the most anticipated experiences in Chiang Mai was a visit to Patara Elephant Farm. Participants learned about elephant behavior, feeding, health inspections, and daily care under the direction of trained handlers. Group members helped feed, bathe, and care for the elephants while developing a better understanding of the resources and responsibilities involved in supporting their well-being.
The experience offered more than an opportunity for close interaction. Participants were encouraged to consider the choices travelers make when participating in wildlife tourism and the importance of learning about an organization’s animal-care practices before taking part in an activity.
The visit generated excitement while also prompting questions about conservation, tourism and long-term responsibility.
Experiencing Muay Thai through training and competition
Participants encountered Muay Thai from two perspectives—through introductory training and attendance at a live competition.
A group independently organized a visit to Thaikla Muay Thai Gym, where they learned about the discipline, conditioning and cultural traditions associated with the sport. The activity required participants to research the gym, coordinate transportation and manage the experience as a group.
Other participants attended a live Muay Thai match at a Chiang Mai boxing arena. Before the matches began, several members of the UVI group were invited into the ring to place floral garlands around the fighters’ necks as a gesture of respect and good wishes.
From Chiang Mai’s tranquility to Bangkok’s energy
On June 7, the group traveled from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, exchanging the relative tranquility of northern Thailand for the movement, density and rapid pace of the nation’s capital.
Participants explored several of Thailand’s most recognizable religious and historic sites, including Wat Pho, home to the renowned reclining Buddha; the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha; and Wat Arun, whose decorated spires rise along the Chao Phraya River.
These visits offered opportunities to examine the connections among religion, monarchy, history, architecture and national identity. They also demonstrated how sacred spaces can function simultaneously as places of worship, historical landmarks and major tourism destinations.
A long-tailed boat ride through the canals of Thonburi provided a different view of Bangkok. From the water, participants observed temples, small businesses and houses built on stilts along waterways that historically served as important routes for transportation and commerce.
Large monitor lizards swimming through the canals or resting along the water’s edge became an unexpected source of fascination. Their presence generated curiosity about how wildlife continues to exist within a densely populated urban environment.
The canal communities also brought the program’s theme into sharper focus. Traditional houses and ways of life remained visible even as modern buildings and infrastructure continued to reshape the city.
Chinatown reflects migration and adaptation
In Bangkok’s Chinatown district, participants encountered traditional shops, markets and street-food vendors operating alongside contemporary businesses.
The crowded streets, illuminated signs, food stalls and family-owned shops reflected generations of Chinese influence blended with Thai culture. Participants observed how migration, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange helped shape Bangkok into a diverse urban center.
Chinatown also served as a living example of adaptation. Businesses continue to preserve recognizable traditions while responding to tourism, changing consumer interests and urban development.
Students take responsibility for their own exploration
The itinerary included time for participants to explore Bangkok in smaller groups and apply the cultural awareness and travel skills developed throughout the program.
The unstructured time was itself a learning experience. Participants had to coordinate transportation, communicate across language differences, manage schedules, remain aware of their surroundings and make decisions collectively.
A group of students independently planned a visit to the Akara Sky Hanuman Rooftop, where they dressed in Thai-inspired clothing, took photographs and viewed the city from above.
The outing combined traditional imagery with a distinctly modern setting. It also demonstrated Creative Problem Solving in practice: students identified an experience they wanted to pursue, gathered information, coordinated the logistics and successfully carried out their plan.
Finding stillness in a fast-moving city
The program’s emphasis on reflection became especially visible during a meditation experience at Wat Mahathat, one of Bangkok’s historic Buddhist temples.
Participants received instruction in sitting and walking meditation and were encouraged to consider the roles of mindfulness, discipline and stillness within Buddhist practice.
In a city characterized by traffic, crowds and continuous movement, the experience required participants to slow down and direct their attention inward.
The session reinforced a central Creative Problem Solving principle: meaningful understanding often begins with careful observation and a willingness to pause before reaching conclusions.
Thai cuisine encourages teamwork
Food served as another pathway for understanding Thailand.
At House of Taste, participants were divided into smaller groups for a hands-on Thai cooking experience. They were introduced to local ingredients, preparation methods and the balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavors commonly associated with Thai cuisine.
Working in smaller groups created opportunities for teamwork and bonding. Participants shared responsibilities, followed instructions, compared techniques and helped one another through the cooking process.
The lesson demonstrated that cuisine is more than a finished meal. It reflects geography, agriculture, trade, family practices and the creative use of locally available ingredients.
Some participants also joined a nighttime food tour, traveling by tuk-tuk to three restaurants across Bangkok. Among the dishes sampled were crispy sea bass wraps with vegetables, crispy tofu wraps, khao soi, pad Thai and pad see ew.
Traveling between restaurants allowed participants to experience additional neighborhoods and observe how Bangkok’s food culture changes after dark.
The floating market connects commerce and community
The program’s final full day included a visit to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where vendors sell fruits, prepared foods, handcrafted goods and other products from boats and stalls along a network of canals.
The market demonstrated the historical role waterways have played in commerce and community life. It also showed how a traditional method of trade has been adapted to serve both local economic activity and international tourism.
Participants navigated crowded canals, observed vendors maneuvering their boats and considered what happens when a traditional community space becomes a major visitor attraction.
Connecting global experiences to home
For program coordinator Dr. Leslyn Tonge, the success of Passport to the World extends beyond the number of destinations visited. Its deeper value lies in whether participants can connect what they experience abroad to the opportunities and challenges within their own communities.
“I was very pleased with how the program came together, but I do not measure its success only by the number of places we visited or activities we completed,” Tonge said. “The most meaningful moments occur when participants move beyond simply observing that something is beautiful, different or interesting and begin asking what it can teach us about our own communities.”
She said Thailand provided several opportunities for participants to examine issues that also resonate in the Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean, including cultural preservation, tourism development, environmental stewardship, education, entrepreneurship and the use of local resources.
“That is where Creative Problem Solving becomes especially valuable,” Tonge said. “It encourages us to gather information, consider different perspectives and recognize possibilities that may not be immediately obvious. Travel-learning should not end when the trip is over. The goal is for participants to return home with greater cultural awareness, renewed curiosity and new ideas about how they can contribute to their communities.”
Participants reflect on learning and connection
As the program came to an end, participants reflected not only on the places they had visited, but also on the relationships, conversations and shared learning that shaped the journey.
For Rick, a UVI student, the experience coincided with significant academic responsibilities. While traveling, he successfully defended his dissertation proposal and continued attending doctoral classes.
“Where else can you experience so much in just two weeks and learn along the way?” Rick said. “The memories, conversations, laughter and experiences made this adventure even more meaningful.”
He also praised the organization and leadership of the program.
“Kudos to Dean Tonge and the team for another outstanding program and unforgettable experience,” he said. “Until next time, travel often and keep learning.”
Kelly, a UVI staff member, said the opportunity to build relationships across the University community was one of the program’s most meaningful outcomes.
“It was very well organized, with wonderful experiences and fantastic people,” Kelly said.
“Getting to know the students and connecting with faculty and staff was a definite highlight. I came in not knowing what to expect, and I left already planning for the next one.”
Maria, a UVI student, described the journey as both meaningful and personally transformative.
“It was a wonderful, meaningful and transformative experience for me,” she said. “Great people came together to create a great experience.”
Their reflections underscored one of the defining characteristics of Passport to the World. Participants may begin the program as students, employees, alumni and community members, but shared experiences allow them to build relationships across age groups, professions and backgrounds.
A final view of tradition and transformation
The journey concluded with a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River.
As the boat passed illuminated temples, bridges and Bangkok’s modern skyline, participants reflected on the contrasts they had encountered—ancient traditions beside new development, rural communities alongside crowded cities, and cultural preservation amid social and economic change.
By the time the group departed Bangkok on June 12, Thailand had become more than a destination.
Through cultural immersion, environmental exploration, independent travel, community engagement and reflection, participants were challenged to reconsider their assumptions, adapt to unfamiliar circumstances and examine their responsibilities as global citizens.
Creative Problem Solving provided a framework for connecting those experiences. Participants were encouraged to gather information before judging, consider multiple perspectives, recognize both challenges and possibilities, and observe how individuals and communities use creativity to respond to change.
The journey ultimately brought the program’s theme into focus: tradition provided the cultural foundation, transformation emerged through experience, and sustainable living became a lens for understanding how communities preserve their heritage while preparing for the future.
