Here we are in the north of Thailand, and first thing we're off to add some countries to our visit. Tour guide Tim has connections and she can get those who want into Myanmar without a visa with just $40 under the table. Of course you have to give up your passport for the hour of two. Nancy and I decline. She for political reasons; me because I don't mess with borders and passports. (P.S. the Myanmar visitors have a great time, visit a traditional village, a temple and get home entact with their passports).
But there is always shopping, so while some of the group are off to Myanmar, the rest of us shop the border town, and take lots of pictures.
Then back on the bus to the Golden Triangle along the Mekong River where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. And look! If you look way upstream there is China in the distance.
After lunch we take a Mekong River cruise across to Laos where we disembark for a few minutes of shopping - lots of Chinese knockoff designer handbags in a dusty, poor street market in the middle of nowhere.
The Golden Triangle is notorious as a home for the opium trade, so our next stop is at the Hall of Opium, a state sponsored museum which is really excellent. The benevolent Thai monarchy has a "project" to educate not only the hill people but everyone else about the dangers of opium.
Now we are back on the bus for about an hour-and-half back to the Meridian Chiang Mai, and I'm hopeful that I'll make it to the pool this evening - maybe just me and the mosquitoes (not that I've seen any yet!)
After lunch we take a Mekong River cruise across to Laos where we disembark for a few minutes of shopping - lots of Chinese knockoff designer handbags in a dusty, poor street market in the middle of nowhere.
The Golden Triangle is notorious as a home for the opium trade, so our next stop is at the Hall of Opium, a state sponsored museum which is really excellent. The benevolent Thai monarchy has a "project" to educate not only the hill people but everyone else about the dangers of opium.
Now we are back on the bus for about an hour-and-half back to the Meridian Chiang Mai, and I'm hopeful that I'll make it to the pool this evening - maybe just me and the mosquitoes (not that I've seen any yet!)
