My ride back to Chiang Mai

While in Tachiliek, I met a French man, Sylvan. We were 2 of 3 foreigners staying in Tachiliek that night. By coincidence we were both heading back to Chiang Mai the next day and he offered me a ride in his private car. He is living in Thailand for half the year, doing furniture exports. Anyway, he spoke NO English and I NO French, but he was very kind .... and drove very fast ...and a 2 hour car ride with all the leg room you could want, versus a 6 hour bus ride with standing room only was a TRUE luxury! Merci beoucoup Sylvan!

Main Street... Mai Sai, Thailand

Follow the Thai flags down the avenue to and from the border crossing

Chinese temple in Mae Sai, Thailand

Many Chinese come through Mae Sai on their way to and from trade in Thailand.

Hillside temple- Mae Sai, Thailand

This temple looks over the border/river into the Myanmar mountains.

Welcome back to Thailand... Tachiliek, Myanmar-Mae Sai, Thailand

The Northern most of Thailand

Myanmar... Peace Out

What is the surprise??

This was the only bottled water I could find. I never figured out what the Yellow surprise WAS though.... or how it was being exploited there in town.

Downtown Tachiliek, Myanmar

Another street sign... Tachiliek, Myanmar

Burmese writing looks beautiful to me.... but is, of course, completely undecipherable.

Neighborhood Wat... Tachiliek, Myanmar

Another sight on my evening walk.

Sunset, soccer, and the Shwedagon Pagoda... Tachiliek, Myanmar

Well, actually it is just a replica of the real Shwedagon Pagoda located in the capital of Yangon... the most famous and gold encrusted temple in the whole country. This Shwedagon is beautiful and imposing, if a bit out of place, in this sleepy little bumpkin town.

Street signs... Tachiliek, Myanmar

Detail from the main chapel... Tachiliek

The main altar, in all it's glory... Tachiliek

Main altar inside temple... Tachiliek

These photos give you a small idea of Burmese style versus Thai style, in terms of art, architecture and taste.

Big Buddha inside temple... Tachiliek

Myanmar style temple in Tachiliek

Rat Shrine ... an evening walk-about

Tachiliek is in a narrow piece of Myanmar, wedged between Thailand and China to the South and North, and barely grazing Laos in the East. Since it is also a border town, there is ALOT of trade going on here, and ALOT of Chinese influence, both culturally and politically. This shrine was Buddhists, but with Chinese flavor, acknowledging that 2008 is the year of the rat.

Tachiliek... an evening walk-about

Accoutrements at the Arawan Hotel... Tachiliek's finest digs!

Yes, that is my pillow. No, I do not know what that says. I was hoping it said something like "Sweet Dreams" or "Free Burma". The whole hotel was very clean and comfortable with massive carved wooden furniture and art throughout.

Tachiliek... City of the Golden Triangle

This is the main intersection in town... not much too it really.

Border crossing... welcome to Myanmar!

ALMOST across the border bridge, headed from Mae Sai, Thailand to the border town of Tachiliek, Myanmar.

Leaving Thailand... entering Tachiliek, Myanmar

Once you cross the bridge heading North over the small river you are officially in Myanmar.

Traditional Thai Puppetry... Sunday market, Chiang Mai

I followed the sound of a beautiful Thai flute to a crowd of people surrounding these two performers... then I saw the puppets. It was a graceful and expressive performance.... the hand gestures of the puppets were the real beauty and art here.

Happy squids... Sunday market, Chiang Mai

Fresh, grilled squid.... a very Thai style snack. I'm told you're missing out if you don't try some. I'm still missing out......

Sad Cakes... Sunday Market, Chiang Mai

These cakes might look pretty, but after sitting out on that table from noon till 11pm, they are definitely now sad cakes.

Sunday Market vendors at Thae Pae Gate, Chiang Mai

These vendors were setting up early for the very large market held in the streets of old Chiang Mai every Sunday evening. A large segment of the old city closes it's streets to vehicle traffic for most of the day and night on Sundays. A few hundred vendors come and set up their stalls of handicrafts, souvenirs, delicious food/snacks and everything in between. The streets get packed, back to back, but unlike the nightly Night Bazaar on the other side of town, most of the shoppers at the Sunday market are Thai. Sunday Market is a very good time!!

Golden Buddha at Wat Pan On, Chiang Mai

This beautiful golden stupa and Buddha were surrounded by a large open courtyard with several dozen small tables. It was in this courtyard that my Thai language lessons were held. What an inspirational classroom!!

Sunset walk... Chiang Mai

Sunset on the ruins of the ancient walls of the old city of Chiang Mai.

Sunset walk... Chiang Mai

Cherry trees in full bloom along the inner moat, in the old city of Chiang Mai.

Small Reclining Buddha... neighborhood wat, Chiang Mai

A smaller version of what lay inside the side chapel.