Chiang Rai Rajabhat University

Yuhuuuu it is my second day in Chiang Rai.

Chiang Rai is a city in Mueang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province. Chiang Rai is the northernmost large city in Thailand. It was established as a capital city in the reign of King Mangrai  in 1262 CE. The lecturers from Chiang Rai Rajabhat University drop us to one of the hotel that is near by the airport. It is Cabbage and Condom Hotel. In the morning we eat vegetables, egg, and sausage. The weather in Chiang Rai is cold. It is very different with Indonesia. But over all I am so happy and excited to start my second day in Chiang Rai.

The lecturer of CRRU picks us up and drop us to CRRU. We do the opening ceremony. We introduce ourselves one by one in front of the important people of CRRU.  We meet with the president of CRRU and he gives us Thai name. My Thai name is Jombkwan which has meaning the beloved one. 

CRRU also gives us a buudy that can help us when we’re in Chiang Rai. My buddy’s name is Mam. She is majoring in English Department. It feels like we have new family in Chiang Rai.

When we walk around the campus, we find students who want to perform their skill. We take some pictures and talk to them. They are very nice and humble. 

After we walk around the campus and get our own buddy. they tell us about the culture and habit in Thailand. what should we do and what we should not do. I try to understand about the explanation so I can live happily in Thailand. After the workshop about culture and habit in Thailand, we take some pictures to be our story in the next day for our family in Indonesia.

It is 25^th of January. The weather in Chiang Rai is so cold. But It doesn’t mean that I will not go out to do my activities. In the morning ceremony of the school, Mr. Pooman asks me to give a brief speech and introduces myself to the students. When I introduce myself and say my name, the students laugh since my name is too long. They call me “teacher Aulia”.

After the morning ceremony, the teachers ask me to go to flowers festival. The cool weather and hilly climate of the Northern Province of Chiang Rai make it the perfect place to grow many different types of flower and plant that wouldn’t normally be found in Thailand. It is the perfect time to host the annual Chiang Rai Flower Festival, which this year takes place from 28^th of December, 2017, to 31^st of January 2018. Now in its 14^th year, the Chiang Rai Flower Festival will once again be held at Suan Tung and Khom, or literally translated as garden of traditional flags and lanterns. The park, which used to be a prison, has been converted into a beautiful flower garden where stunning blooms are cultivated.


Visitors will have a chance to enjoy Chiang Rai’s enchanting tulip and lilies and the sight of many kinds of cold-climate flowers which are all in full bloom at this time of the year. The flowers come in a dazzling range of colors and there are ‘khom’ or lantern displays so the gardens can be enjoyed night and day. As well as the elegant beauty of the flowers, there will be different activities to enjoy, including a photo contest, flower painting competition, cultural shows, local product and food fairs, and musical performances. Also every Saturday during the event, starting from Saturday 30^th of  December 2017 until Saturday 17^th  February 2018, there will be special performance ‘Music in the Park’ to entertain all visitors.