Thailand Part 13

[LoveLife]

Thai Town of Mae Sai ~ Myanmar Border Crossing.

I just noticed a figure climbing up on the crossing. What is that
about?
My plan for this section of the trip was overly optimistic, tried to
crowd too many events in one day, ran short of time, and did not
cross the border. Many foreign nationals who are in Thailand on
visas use this location to obtain a new visa when it expires every
60 days. They leave the country, walk across bridge, apply for a
new visa and are back in Thailand in 3 hours. With all the
processing fees on both sides of the border it has become a money
making machine for both countries.




Jade carver #1



Jade carver #2



Women with shoulder pole



Mae Sai Street Vendor


Mae Sai elder



[align=left]Here is a location where three countries converge in one vista.
Foreground Thailand, left sand bar and background Burma /
Myanmar, right background Laos. The river is the Mae Khong. It is
called The Golden Triangle.
Yes, I know everyone has this picture but here is some
information. Every guidebook seems to have a different view of
the evolution of the term 'golden triangle' and even disagree on
when the term was coined. Most do agree that the term applies to
the opium-growing region covering northern Thailand, eastern
Burma, and western Laos.
Opium production has been illegal in Thailand since 1959. Thanks
to a highly successful crop substitution program undertaken by the
Royal Projects Foundation established by His Majesty King
Bhumipol, opium production has largely been eliminated in
Thailand. However, across the border in Myanmar, the Shan
United Army, which is fighting the central Burmese government
for an independent Shan state, has been accused of funding its
war through the sale of opium and heroin.
Many tourists flock to the Golden Triangle region of Thailand
expecting some sort of 'wild west' scene. They are certainly
disappointed. The Thai area of the former triangle is full of small
quiet villages where the most exciting thing that happens is the
arrival of the next tour bus.[/align]

[align=center]
The Golden Triangle
[/align]

[vIZnquest]

Photo of Mae Sai Elder is superb. Composition, color, sharpenss and detail is awesome.