Rivertaxijan19kayser: (l-r) Chelsea Clarke, Peter Lindquist, Mai, the driver, Pornchai Paiboon, Marissa Fessenden, and Kristine Averill take a water taxi down the river to Wat Pho. (Kayser)

Ministeragjan19mcc: (center) Dr. Thira Sutabutra, the Thai Minister of Agriculture (in black), and Dr. Pongthep Akratanakul of Kasetsart University (in striped short-sleeve shirt), hosted the farewell party for students and faculty from the U.S., India and Thailand. (McCandless)

Monkeydancerjan19mcc: The Monkey God chides (l-r) Thirupathi Reddy Medagam, Anitha Munuswamy, and O. Sridevi during a performance on the dinner cruise. (McCandless)

Buddhajan19mcc: The 148-foot long Reclining Buddha keeps an eye open to all tourists, including Georgia Kayser. (McCandless)

January 19
Saying goodbye is bittersweet. If I may speak for all of us with Cornell, I believe we are ready to return to our homes and our routines, but want to take our new friends with us.

During our last afternoon in Bangkok, we were permitted free time. Some of us used it to relax at the hotel. Some visited the markets to spend their last Bahts, and others went to admire the Golden Palace and Wat Pho. Because of the bad Bangkok traffic, the transportation method of choice was by water taxi down the Chaophraya River. At Wat Pho, we saw the 148’ long and 49’ high Reclining Buddha, covered with gold leaf and lacquer, and lying in an elaborately painted chapel, replete with scenes from the Buddha’s life.

In the evening, we attended a farewell dinner on a boat cruise hosted by Dr. Thira Sutabutra, the Minister of Agriculture. The cruise provided an incredible view of Bangkok at night. After a couple of hours enjoying dinner, watching Thai dancers, chatting with friends and admiring the night sky, we returned to shore. Cameras were flashing, hugs were exchanged, and, in the blink of an eye, we found ourselves waving out of the bus window on our way to the Bangkok Airport and back home.

Peter Lundquist