Last Blog from our first stint in Thailand!
And it comes from the Far North town of Chiang Sean situated next door to the Mekong River. We arrived here on a public bus which lasted about 1 and a half hours from Chiang Rai. Arrived and walked to a Guesthouse we read about in our Lonely Planet guide and booked in for one night. We were greeted by a playful puppy, who likes to lick every ones toes. Who later we found out was called Herbert. Seens as though we were only here for one night we decided to visit Sop Ruak which is 9km further North and is known as the centre of the Golden Triangle.
The Golden Triangle is where the Mekong river divides Thailand with Myanmar (Burma) and Laos. We rented a Moped to go up quickly to see as much as we could and we came back far from disappointed. We visited a Opium/Hilltribe Museum which was very interesting. Around this area years ago was the worlds biggest exporter of Opium but now with stricter laws and the king of Thailand himself convincing many of the locals of better ways to make a living it has almost been eradicated. After this we just took in the scenery where opposite across the Mekong was Laos where we are heading for tomorrow, further North the river divides into two Channels separating Myanmar from Thailand and Laos. The river pretty much acts as the border and it runs all the way down Laos so we will be crossing it tomorrow on our travels. There was also a huge Golden Statue of a Buddha which was really nice to see.
We headed out early for tea and now are away to get an early night as have a very early start tomorrow morning. Up at 6:30am to catch our bus to Chiang Khong on the Thai border where we will then head across the Mekong on a longtail boat to Huay Xia in Laos and off we go again.
Next Stop Laos .....
J + B