We're in the Golden Triangle after all, so it’s only fitting to visit the Opium Museum. Founded by the Beloved Princess Mother to raise awareness on this social crisis, I didn’t expect to find anything particularly enlightening. The drug’s affects, after all, are painfully obvious. One of the wonderful things about life, however, is that every moment holds a lesson. You just need an open heart to see it.
The museum starts as a dark cave, with mutilated bodies writhing in pain against the walls. It’s tacky, but an accurate depiction of addiction. Once through the tunnel, we’re on the third floor, and spiral downwards with the drug.
This region may be the most renowned for its use of opium, but it was only recently- 60 years ago, actually- that it was introduced to the area. Before that, Egyptians used it medicinally, Benjamin Franklin used it habitually, and the East India Trading Company used it to get out of debt. They didn’t consider the drug any worse than alcohol or tobacco, and didn’t understand why China was having such a fuss. Then came the Opium Wars, and the rest is, as they say, history.
It ends in a reflection hall, with, (of course,) golden triangular pillars engraved in thought-provoking quotes. Although it isn’t a particularly happy exhibit, it was certainly an educational one, and I am grateful to have learned another valuable lesson.
The museum starts as a dark cave, with mutilated bodies writhing in pain against the walls. It’s tacky, but an accurate depiction of addiction. Once through the tunnel, we’re on the third floor, and spiral downwards with the drug.
This region may be the most renowned for its use of opium, but it was only recently- 60 years ago, actually- that it was introduced to the area. Before that, Egyptians used it medicinally, Benjamin Franklin used it habitually, and the East India Trading Company used it to get out of debt. They didn’t consider the drug any worse than alcohol or tobacco, and didn’t understand why China was having such a fuss. Then came the Opium Wars, and the rest is, as they say, history.
It ends in a reflection hall, with, (of course,) golden triangular pillars engraved in thought-provoking quotes. Although it isn’t a particularly happy exhibit, it was certainly an educational one, and I am grateful to have learned another valuable lesson.
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