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