MSU alumna competes in Thailand
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Many people never get the opportunity to travel to the extent they dream of; however, MSU alumna Aubrey Hang and boyfriend, Parker Lynch, have the chance to do just that — and a chance at $10,000.
Hang and Lynch are one of the five teams selected to be semi-finalists in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and are fighting for the chance to become overall finalists in The Ultimate Thailand Explorer: The Ultimate Travel Competition, Hang said.
The competition was created by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in order to increase awareness of the country’s top five tourist attractions; Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui.
Selected teams have six days to travel around their assigned location and explore the attractions and activities the city has to offer.
Participants are required to share their daily experiences by posting photos, videos and blogs in order “to inspire other global travelers,” according to the competition’s official Web site.
If Hang and Lynch are named the winners of their assignment, they move on to finalist status to compete for the main prizes.
Winners of the competition will receive cash prizes as well as other incentives to allow competitors to continue traveling after the event is complete.
Both Hang and Lynch are experienced travelers, said Joe George, a mutual friend from Michigan.
“Aubrey studied abroad in Italy for four months in college,” George said. “She traveled to Egypt and other places throughout Europe. She has also been to Hong Kong, France … and many other places in the states. At the age of 24, she has probably visited more countries than the average person will in their entire life.
“As with Parker, he has been all over the world. He just recently returned from Bali, Indonesia. When the two of them travel, they see and do everything. They don’t rely on tourist books, they find out what the locals do and visit the hidden gems of each country,” George said.
Having lived in Thailand for more than a year, the couple thinks they are good applicants for the competition because they have experience astravel guides, Hang said.
“Parker and I have been documenting our travel experiences before the contest through Facebook, our blogs, e-mailing family and friends, and Twitter,” Hang said.
“The contest asked for teams who could do exactly that. We thought it would be a great opportunity to show the world why they should visit Thailand by using our writing, photography, design and education experience.”
The general public selects the winner out of the final five teams by voting online at the Ultimate Thailand Explorer Web site, with 10 days currently left before the voting ends.
With the duo proving to be a force in the competition, they still are encouraging more votes from fans, Hang said.
It isn’t the tourist attractions that draw Lynch to Thailand, though — it is the local residents.
“My favorite thing about Thailand is the people,” Lynch said. “They are so gracious and friendly — I have felt very welcome in this country since day one and people here have a really refreshing attitude. Their kindness and respect for others still takes me aback at times.”
Hang and Lynch have the right personalities for this competition, George said.
“Both of them moved to Thailand without knowing anyone else in the country,” George said. “They met while abroad and entered the country alone. It takes a certain person to be able to pack up your life and move to a different country.
“It wasn’t like they moved to London, where some things would be familiar and life wouldn’t be completely (changed). They moved
to Thailand, where everything was completely foreign. Now, two years later, they call Thailand home. I think they are the best team for this competition, because they aren’t afraid to try new things. They are always up for a challenge.”
To learn more about the competition, Hang and Lynch, or their competitors, visit www.ultimatethailandexplorer.com.
Commentary
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Greg
(11/02/09 10:45am)Report
Looks like they are in first place! Let’s keep them there…gotta help a fellow Spartan out!
Fred
(11/03/09 11:31am)Report
How convenient that this pathetic drivel doesn’t mention that Aubrey and Parker *LIVE in Thailand. They’re in a contest to promote tourism to Thailand, and they *ALREADY *LIVE there. Not only that, but they’ve already been to Chiang Mai. I know this is a fluff promotional piece, but at least be intellectually honest.
Green
(11/05/09 12:02am)Report
“Having lived in Thailand for more than a year, the couple thinks they are good applicants for the competition because they have experience astravel guides, Hang said.
“Parker and I have been documenting our travel experiences before the contest through Facebook, our blogs, e-mailing family and friends, and Twitter,” Hang said.”
How pathetic that you don’t take the time to read an article before you insult it. How intelligent of you.
Jane
(11/05/09 2:03pm)Report
“They moved
to Thailand, where everything was completely foreign. Now, two years later, they call Thailand home.”
Fred
(11/06/09 12:36am)Report
Nice to see you shills get the picture. Kudos to the alum and her man for the marketing effort. Takes a lot to call a d-bag at home, have him quoted in the paper, and then pimp that out hard like Aub and Park are doing. But none of you fall-alongs ever question WHY they’re doing this. They live in Bangkok, and they’ve both been to Chiang Mai when the other contestants are looking to experience something they don’t have access to. The contest is an amazing opportunity for those who have not had the chance to explore Thailand. Again, they have already been to Chiang Mai, and for all their talk about “we want to share Thailand with the world,” they’re stealing the opportunity for someone else to go. But if you want to ignore how selfish and self-absorbed that is just so a fellow Sparty can win a contest, go ahead. You’re complicit in their greed.
One more thing: “‘Parker and I have been documenting our travel experiences before the contest through Facebook, our blogs, e-mailing family and friends, and Twitter,’ Hang said.” Bull. They haven’t done crap compared to other competitors. Parker’s blog was up for two years and he wrote 4 entries, with three of them taken down for the disparaging statements he made about Thailand and her people that he himself wrote! And the tweets were all insufferable “Vote for us vote for us.” Use your heads, folks.
Craig
(11/07/09 12:09pm)Report
Hmmm, this guy sounds like a bitter loser who must not have made the the semifinals. Too bad buddy.
Karen
(11/07/09 1:00pm)Report
2 teachers who have lived in Thailand for a year? Sounds like a PERFECT team to me! Voting right now. good luck!
Fred
(11/07/09 8:23pm)Report
@Craig Really introspective. I’m glad you put a lot of thought into your comment. I’d the losers are the ones who lack critical thinking and root for an alum simply cause she’s a Sparty.
@Karen Thanks for ignoring the selfishness. The contest was for tourists, not a couple of jamokes who live there cause they couldn’t get job’s in state. Funny how you call them teachers when neither has a teaching degree, and neither speaks Thai with any amount of fluency. Parker said in his blog he refuses to learn Thai, saying Chinese was “more useful.” If you think they’re “perfect” you’re as clueless as those two are.
Karen
(11/07/09 8:52pm)Report
I stand by my decision to vote for them daily. First of all I have looked over the site, and it says nothing about being disqualified for living there. It seems the contest is entirely about boasting tourism FOR Thailand… I would rather listen to people who live there and know what they are talking about in their reviews rather than tourists if I was really considering going there.
And, it’s amazing that you spend so much time researching these two and still can’t keep your facts straight;
“I graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design and a BFA in Art Education from Michigan State University” (Aubrey’s contest entry)
I refuse to comment anymore towards you because of your negativity and ignorance. I really hope the best for you because for some reason you really do seem troubled by this experience. Best of luck, Fred… I still stand by my decision and I will continue to vote for the couple daily!
Fred
(11/09/09 11:07pm)Report
@ Karen,
Look if you’re friends with Aubrey, whatever. Nothing I write, no matter how sound in critical thinking will change your mind. The Tourism Authority of Thailand allowed Aubrey and Parker into the semifinals. It was a wrong decision and violates the spirit of the contest. How does Aubrey’s degree prepare her for early childhood development or English as a Second Language? It doesn’t, but your rhetorical strategy is duly noted. It’s interesting you comment on my “ignorance”, yet ignore Parker’s comments about language or his criticisms of the Thai people. Obviously if you’re voting for them “daily,” you’re not at all troubled by that. Congrats, you’re as classy as the d-bag from Bloomington.