Short visit in Thailand...

Short visit in Thailand...

Well, to be honest, I only was in Thailand to get into Myanmar (Burma)... so I only planned a few days there to get my ticket. but as I was there, I had to see a little bit... so I decided to see Chang Rai, and Chang Mai (whitch many decribe as a Mekka for travellers).

Anouther reason I did not plan much travel in Thailand this time was because I was travelling alone, and I expect plenty of oppurtunities later to go to Thailand on a beach holiday later with friends, so I would rather use more time in all the other more "unusual vacation-targets" like Myanmar.

I decided to give at least northern Thailand a chance a few days before I went to Myanmar...

Comming into Thailand from across the Mekong River from Laos, I want straight to find the local bus to Chang Rai./ Thailand seamed like a half world apart from Laos, even it was just on the other side of the river..... Thailand was really much more developed, and happily, there was no much sales pressure here, so it was really pleseant to walk around. (Even it was hot :) )

The busride went with no problems, and then I came in to Chang Rai, I decided to follow one of the hotel-sellers who promiced the lot (you can always trust to at least not expect half of what they promice). I was really positively surpriced then I saw Bernard (an Irish I met on the slowboat and villages up the river from Laos) and "his two girls". :) So after some nice hours strawl in the nice and relaxed city of Chang Rai, we all decided to take a tour around the aria next day, arraged by the hotel.

So next day we + a japanese girl all went around to see the Golden Triangle (Where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meets in a triangle, the opium museum, and the facinating Long-neck Karen-tribe. Also me, Bernard and Kana (the japaneese) decided to take a littel trip into Myanmar (Burma) for half an hour and a beer, - so I got a good chance to ask the officers on the border if I could travel inlands in Myanmar as I was planning.... and the answer was no... :(

The trip was a nice one, and next morning I went to Chang Mai on a bus, and we was stopped by the police, who checked all asianlooking persons on the bus to look for burmeese run-aways.... Luckyly they didnt find me... ;)

Chang Mai was yet anouther positive surprice in Thailand, except for the really difficulty about finding a place to buy tickets to Myanmar. So because didn't find a ticket as fast as I wanted, I ended up spending my days in Chang Mai at the markeds, and talking with friends I met here... (from S-Korea, Puerto Rico and my "old friend" Aaron, with whom I travelled in Laos.) We even took our self a little trip around some of the bars in Chang Mai, and espesialy the last night was nice, going to a nightclub where there was more locals than tourists.

All in all it was a nice little stop in Thailand, and I look back to see more in Thailand at a later time, then I go with friends, espesially to do some trekks around Chang Mai.