Questions of investigation:
-Are tourists' intentions for visiting this viewpoint aligned with common motivations? (Investigating the Introduction stage)
-Are tourists (and myself) capable of engaging in intimate dialogues at this viewpoint? (Practice with the Insight stage)
-Will tourists continue practicing in this type of process after the interview/dialogue? (Attempt at Embedding Stage)
-What themes that emerge from the interviews/dialogues are connected or counter to my assumptions about public practice in this space?
Practice sharing my magical realist writing practice through interactive postcards with other tourists visiting here.
Experiment: Investigation into Intimate Tourism through interviews and dialogues with tourists at Big Buddha viewpoint.
Experiment Script:
Identify and catalog the stories and reasons that people visit the Big Buddha. Why they came here, what they intend to do, what other people are doing in relation to them. Collect the positive, negative, and in-between attributes of the space based on tourist choices, observations, and opinions.
Step 1: Prepare interview/dialogue questions and make sure the recording material has enough charge or power.
Step 2: Go to Big Buddha Viewpoint and ask random tourists if I can ask some questions.
Step 3: Explain my project briefly and ask if I can record or document the interview.
Step 4: Introduction Stage: Ask common questions related to the shared element of the space. What is your name? Where are you from? What story/reason brings you here today? What are you intending to do here? What do you notice other tourists doing here?
Step 5: Insight Stage: Ask more personal questions related to the space and their experiences. How do you feel in this place? What would you actually want to do here? What bothers you about this place? What excites you about this place? What would you change about this place?
Step 6: Embedding Stage: Asking if they would like to continue the dialogue somehow.
I have one more request if you have time:
Will you take this postcard and try out this form of speculative touring practice on your own? (and send a pic or copy to the Pop Up Phuket Instagram)
Or listen to a story of mine about this place / share a story with me about something in this place
Agenda:
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Conducting these interviews/dialogues over 1-2 weeks.
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Collect 20+ interviews from diverse tourists visiting the Big Buddha Viewpoint.
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Developing ways to engage with me and this proposed network – Website or social media
page?
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(Linking in those already in the field)
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Collecting Data/Documentation
References:
Intimate: Tourism Friendships in a State of Mobility -The Case of the Online Hospitality Network - Paula Bialski
Peace Through Freedom and Happiness - Bhikkhu P. A. Payutto
Practice sharing my magical realist stories written in conversation with this place with other tourists visiting here.
Research Findings:
Although a number of people took postcards and said they would try out the writing practice, few tourists wanted to practice with me there at that moment.
Finding other ways to engage as an educator:
-Posting tutorials to encourage more public art practice in Phuket and sharing them with the storytelling postcards.
-Designing an arts engagement that involves writing practice.
-Finding local licensed tour guides who would be interested in adding this practice to their tours.