golden triangle

We took a trip from Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle at the Northern border of Thailand. It was an all day (12 hour) trip which involves may be 7 hours of driving. The itinerary includes stopping at a hot spring, the white temple, the Golden Triangle, and a short visit to a hill tribe.

the hot spring

 the water is hot enough to cook in it

our ride

 little dog with oversized shadow

 the White Temple - it is brand new and some part of the site is still under construction

 a glimpse of what hell looks like

 the meditating monk is a wax figure

 this is the golden toilet building

you buy a charm for 50 baht and you can write your wish and hang it here - i opted to bring mine home

next leg is to the golden triangle at the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Burma formed by the Mekong River

 boarding the river boat at the Mekong River - across the river is Laos

 Thailand (left), Burma (far center), and Laos (across the river on right)

the tiny sand island in the center is the no man's land - we were told it was where opium exchanges used to take place during the heydays

the golden Buddha was recently erected by Thailand to attract tourism now she has to compete with Burma and Laos

 we were told these are Thai fishing huts double as gambling joints

 a Chinese cargo ship

  we are boarding Laos just for 1/2 hour

long tail boats

Laos beer and liquor

opium pipes - I wanted to bring one back but the my senses told me Thai law and US customs may not take my claim as souvenir too kindly; the thought of Mid Night Express crossed my mind

 Burmese hill tribe village

the females wear a neck coil made of solid brass - the older they get the longer the coil they wear; it is heavy

 the exaggerated neck is considered to be beautiful

 this one is wearing the longest coil

 free range chickens

 I can imagine this hut get use a lot in rainy seasons