Day 9: Akhahill- Maesai (Burma border) – Long neck Karen village – Chiang Saen ancient City – Golden Triangle – Monkey Cave
We went around the village to play and make a complete fool of ourselves. The mobile minimart on bike was really cute, the villagers crowded around for retail therapy.
Morning on AkhaHill: Failed jumpshots/Mobile minimart/Back on pickup!
We took the pick-up down (thankfully got the inside-seats this time) with the English duo ( Louise and ???) met our guide for the day tour north of ChiangRai. Van hated his guts becoz he was mostly lazy and gave little commentries. Hahaha girl was sincerely pissed. I was just glad that I was the client on this tour and not tourleading with a guide like that ( trust me i have seen worse). The day was just touristy to say the least. The first stop was a super commercialised Karen Hilltribe village where the villagers were dresseed in their ethnic costume and paraded around like a freakshow. I don’t know, i felt like i was perpetuating a really bad activity, but truth was they need the revenue anyway.
Longneck Karen, Golden Triangle (point where Laos, Burma, Thai meets), Monkey Cave
We went on to Maesai, the burma border where i peeked into the mysterious land of Myanmar (next trip!!!!!!). At the notorious Golden Triangle, we visited the Opium museum that documented the region’s history of Poppy cultivation and opium abuse.
Maesai, Burma border
Visited Chiang Saen, temple in ruins mostly. The newer and grander temple we saw in Golden Triangle was really more entrepreneurial, touristy and blah. Did one of those “qiu qian” things, for fortune telling, lets just say it was totally general and non-specific so I really don’t see how that was my fortune to be.
Goldentriangle, Chiang Saen Ancient City
Got back to Chiang Rai Nightbazaar and coincidentally met the 2 korean unnies we saw in laos. Was mega highness again and they treated us to dinner HAHAH. So i guess the thing about backpacking is that you keep seeing the same familiar faces because everyone takes similar routes.
Day 10: Chiang Rai – BKK- Singapore
Well guess travel charges us up for the harder part of life that reality is. It was pretty damn good while it last, till then..la korn!
Our way back home
Thai Food foreverzxzx!
yoooooooo vannie!
sooooooo interesting, i wanna go backpacking with y’all too! miss you and san!