| Within the infamous Golden Triangle that boarders | | | | the designer watch offered at Tachileik will only set |
| Thailand, Laos and Burma is Mai Sai, the north most | | | | you back a couple of cappuccino's in your home |
| district of Chiang Rai. Here travellers will find a bridge | | | | town. I show interest in a table of designer pens and |
| that divides two worlds, one is the rising Thailand and | | | | suddenly a young girl is handing me one and asking |
| the other is the country hidden under an opium laced | | | | me to test the quality, surprisingly it writes very well |
| shadow, Burma. Burma, who's government renamed | | | | and equally surprising is the girls English compared to |
| to Myanmar, is one of the world's most secluded | | | | her Thai sisters. Then another girl hands me another |
| countries, a mysterious and unexplored destination | | | | pen which also looks the part and is surprisingly |
| for western travellers, a country untouched by the | | | | usable. This continued until there were six girls at the |
| momentum of development. | | | | table and I had tried 6 pens, after some intense |
| We stumble across a makeshift car park and give | | | | negotiation we agreed upon 2 pens at 300Baht, |
| the attendant 10 Baht for care of our hire car, from | | | | approximately 8 US dollars. |
| here it's only a short walk to the Mai Sai border | | | | Two hours of walking, negotiating and dodging the |
| crossing. Being from Australia we've never walked | | | | occasional motor-bikes speeding through the narrow |
| into another country and the idea of walking into | | | | market lanes, a couple of sneaky market photos and |
| Burma made the 4 hour drive from Chiang Mai all the | | | | we decide we've had enough adventure for the day |
| more worthwhile. At the boarder we are ushered | | | | and will return to Thailand. Returning to Thailand is |
| into a small and unusually hot room where a man | | | | relieving as passports are returned and stamped with |
| dressed in a military uniform sits behind his desk and | | | | a minimum of fuss and the harassment from young |
| asks of our intentions for visiting his country. His | | | | boys desperate for loose change is left behind us. |
| English is difficult to understand and before we can | | | | Although not the real Burma it was an interesting and |
| answer he tells us we are only visiting for the day to | | | | unique experience that resulted in some fascinating |
| shop at the boarder markets. 500Baht is handed over | | | | memories, a couple of covert pictures and a |
| and to our surprise passports are retained and will | | | | Myanmar Walk stamp in the passport. Visiting Burma |
| supposedly be returned when we attempt to return | | | | was a choice we made lightly and upon learning more |
| back into the Kingdom of Thailand. The heat already | | | | about the military controlled country it has become |
| souring its all the more sweaty knowing we are | | | | apparent the choice should be given more thought |
| walking into Burma without passports. | | | | and consideration. More locally to Mai Sai is the |
| The markets are bursting with stalls and goods | | | | depressing environment of illegal border crossings, |
| overflowing onto narrow paths made narrower by | | | | drugs and human trafficking, all world issues that are |
| the men and boys shoving into us with baskets of | | | | too easily forgotten when on holiday. |
| pills for enhancement and DVD's of questionable | | | | The drive back to Chiang Mai down the mountain |
| content available at 'cheap cheap prices'. | | | | takes us into Chiang Rai and a stop at the famous |
| Remembering advice I received from a drunken | | | | White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). White Temple is a |
| expat the night before in a bar, I move my wallet | | | | modern temple designed and built by artist |
| into the front pocket of my jeans, this is not just a | | | | Chalomchai Khositphiphat around 10 years ago. The |
| precaution, it is necessary. When the senses start to | | | | intricate details covering the large temple are an |
| settle back down there are many bargains to be | | | | incredible vision and the entirely white design with |
| found if you have a good eye and time to sift | | | | silver edges glistening on dragons and other mythical |
| through the junk. Everything is cheap here, cheaper | | | | creatures creates a surreal environment. The site also |
| than the popular night markets of Chiang Mai that | | | | has a hall that exhibits paintings of Chalomchai |
| now offer market goods at tourist prices. There is a | | | | Khositphiphat. |
| copy, a fake, a 'real copy' or a look alike for almost | | | | A few dodged cows and a little nervousness waiting |
| any product you can think of. The watches look | | | | for the first petrol station in Chiang Mai and we arrive |
| good until you realise they are twice as thick as the | | | | safely after dark, ready to tell the story of our trip |
| real deal however this is forgiven when you realise | | | | to Tachileik over a few Chaing's. |