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#1 |
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,288
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![]() 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 ![]() |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,974
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Photo of Mae Sai Elder is superb. Composition, color, sharpenss and detail is awesome.
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