Have you seen an artist/painter drawing with chalk on the road, creating a chasm on the way, or a flying bird? The painting has life in it. Today, the wonders of 3D paintings have stormed the internet. Artists from remote villages of India are being promoted for their marvelous artistry and getting their due recognition. Way back in 2018, we weren’t familiar with it.

SIMAS Travels customized a trip to Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand for us. My friend Pari’s cousin Lata and her husband Sri joined us on the trip. We met once for lunch before going on the journey to get familiar with each other. We landed in Phuket by mid-day. Our first sightseeing venue was the Trick Eye Museum. Aniket of SIMAS informed me that it’s an interesting place with 3D paintings. Going by the name ‘museum’ the others were reluctant to go there, but out of decency, they complied. Sri was delaying entry. Even after we reached, we had coffee outside and he gently tried to change my mind. There was awkwardness amongst us. We enquired at the counter and the receptionist said the place would close by 5.30 P.M. We decided to browse the place and then go elsewhere.

The Trick Eye Museum is designed creatively on two floors. A wide array of life-size murals and surrealistic paintings that create optical illusions decorate the walls, ceilings, and floors of sprawling halls. It’s a breathtaking view.

We took about 15-20 minutes to soak in the beauty and to understand the three-dimensional effect of the painting. The paintings spoke to us, each telling its own story. I suddenly had a flash of poses for each painting and declared I wanted photos. I got some superb pictures. Seeing the effect, Pari and Lata too happily posed with the paintings. The ladies ganged up, and Sri had to click pics. The activity sparked a different level of energy among us. After a couple of photos, Sri understood the game and enjoyed clicking sometimes, giving us a few suggestions. Later, he even posed with some of the paintings.

Everyone shared their interpretation of different paintings, and we posed accordingly. We took some group pics and a few solo pics. The activity added a different dimension to our interactions, breaking the ice.  We became playful and shared laughter. Among the paintings was the cover page of TIME magazine, and I grabbed the opportunity to see myself on its cover page. 😊

Time flew as we excitedly saw the immersive exhibits. The first announcement for vacating the museum rang through the halls. Oh my! We had to explore half of the second floor and felt rushed.  Closer to the exit, one particular painting was that of a tea café with delicately designed tables and chairs, Sri and Lata posed happily.

We spent another hour over another coffee discussing the paintings and photos. Being among such paintings was an out-of-the-world experience. The visit changed our perspective on paintings and museums. We were infused with warmth and friendliness that made our whole trip enjoyable.

Which activity helped you break the ice with your group?