I attended my first-ever international conference where I was able to present a part of our project and joined a tour around Bangkok!
Last November 20-22, 2024 we attended the International Conference on Environmental Education in Southeast Asia hosted by the Philippine Network of Environmental Educators (PNEE). It was held in Maruay Garden Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.
Thailand is a country of rich culture and honest people. The magnificent temples are a sight to behold.
It was another unforgettable experience for me, as it was my second international trip and I was able to present about the Local Green Building Policies in the Philippines, which is a topic that interests me as someone who took up BS in Forestry and specialized in Urban Forestry. This topic was also part of our Environment Code project for the City of Calaca, Batangas.
I was able to assist in the facilitation of the event, from getting attendance of participants to assisting them with the operation of their Poweroint presentation. Also it was particularly challenging for me as I was wearing heels that hurt my foot when I was standing for long periods of time.
We went shopping for “pasalubong” at the Pratunam Night Market and Chatuchak Market. We tried the Thailand’s famous noodles, the Pad Thai and the other one with a soup (I forgot what it’s called). We also bought the famous Poy-Sian, an inhaler to relieve nasal congestion. My foot was already so tired from walking all the time, and my shoes made it hurt more because it does not fit my feet well.
- Currency Exchange: It is better to have your money changed in the Philippines because the rates are lower when you change it from Peso to Baht as compared to when you are already in Thailand.
- Train as mode of transportation: During our short trips to the shopping centers, we took the train and grab car. The train was so convenient and way cheaper than booking a grab but you will have to walk longer distance to reach your destination and also back to the train station. We were lost on our way back to the hotel but the train station was easy to navigate through, thus we were able to find our way back. The minimum fare was 15 Baht for the train.
- Weather: In my opinion, the temperature in Bangkok is higher than that of Laguna, Philippines, my current residence. This is probably because of it being the capital City of Thailand which is more urbanized. Thus, wear comfortable clothes as you’ll be sweating a lot during the day and even at night!
Bangkok Tour
On the third day, we went on a trip to Bangkok. This was a separate trip from the rest of the group. I was with the CETD team and some professors of UPLB-SESAM.
We visited several temples, strolled the Icon-Siam Luxury Mall and rode a cruise ship with a buffet with unlimited food. There was also a live band which made it so much fun because we were encouraged to dance to the music, along with the other tourists. The singer was a Pinay too! We had a lot of fun at the Bangkok City. I’ll consider coming back someday for another tour!
John Doe contributed to this article.