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Summer Camp to Singapore and Thailand

• • Written by Jisun Lee, undergraduate student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)

• • This summer, undergraduate students in CEE went on a Summer Camp to Singapore (8/7~10) and Thailand (8/10~13). Around 20 students and 4 professors participated. It was a fantastic time to visit different universities’ civil engineering departments, have a city tour to get to know the urban landscape of Singapore and Bangkok, and make unforgettable memories with other CEE friends! This summer camp was the first trip abroad supported by the department in three years (the last overseas trip was in 2019 summer before COVID).
    
    
  • In Singapore, we had time to visit NUS (National University of Singapore) Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering departments to hear about their research areas. We also had time to have a campus tour. It was impressive how most university buildings were interconnected via open passages. There were plenty of common spaces for students to study and interact, and some buildings had eco-friendly designs with green walls. It was impressive how the building design maximized the flow of air and adapted to the humid and sunny climate of Singapore, and each building had its unique design identity.
    
    
  • We also had free time to look around the city of Singapore. All students and professors visited Marina Bay Sands and the observatory, as well as the Gardens by the Bay. The sunset and night views from the observatory, 56 floors high, were the best part of the tour. Singapore is characterized by skyscrapers that are very luxurious. It was amazing to see the views of the tall buildings along the bay area. Gardens by the Bay is a huge waterfront park with a very futuristic design incorporating greenery into the urban landscape. The supertree groves were nothing that could be seen in Korea, presenting a vertical garden in the city. One day was a Singapore national holiday, so we also had free time to roam around the city and have an “urban experience”. The shopping districts were very extravagant and the metro was clean and well-connected places in the city center. The days were very hot, but it was still fun and amusing to see the skyscrapers and see Singapore landmarks like the merlion statue. Singapore gave an impression of a very densely built and well-planned city. On the last dinner with professors from NUS, we enjoyed a signature Singaporean dish, chili crab, and other seafood dishes. It was amazing!
    
    
  • After three days, we traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, where we spent four days. We visited Chulalongkorn University to have a campus tour as well as visit the departments related to environmental engineering, transportation planning, and urban planning. In the seminar with professors from the Faculty of Architecture, they shared their research relating to the tourism industry of Thailand and discussed some urban problems that Bangkok as a city faces.
    
    
  • In our free time in Bangkok, we had time to visit some of the Buddhist temples, such as Wat Arun, Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The temples were very beautiful and the intricate details of the temple buildings and statues were incomparable to anything else. It was also interesting to see different influences from various countries being reflected in the architectural design of those temples. We also had time to visit many shopping centers like the ICONSIAM. ICONSIAM had an indoor floating market, called SookSiam, which has food and craft vendors that imitate the traditional marketplace of Thailand. We had plenty of time to enjoy the street food of Thailand as well as see the views from the river. Bangkok’s transportation system was also quite interesting, as the traditional mode of transport, the auto-rickshaw called tuk-tuk, or the massive flock of motorcycles, still persists as the major mode of micro transportation within the city. It made the road systems feel a bit hectic and the roads were always crammed with cars, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks. Bangkok was an interesting city that had newly-developed skyscrapers and large shopping centers, but at the same time, retains many of its traditional marketplaces, temples, and old modes of transport system. The best part of Thailand was its amazing cuisine. We were able to try so many different types of Thai food, which were all incredible. I loved how it was so easy and so cheap to get tropical fruits from the marketplace.
    
    
  • Singapore and Bangkok were very different cities, and it was a truly valuable experience for CEE students to get the opportunity to experience them. It was also a great time to connect with the students and professors of KAIST CEE. Because of COVID, there were many people who I have never met before although we were in the same department. During the week abroad, we were able to talk, hang out, eat together, and get so much closer. The best part of the trip was the valuable human interactions and friends I made in CEE. It was also nice to be able to connect on a personal level with the professors outside of the classroom! I would never forget this fun trip that made my summer vacation so much more exciting :)