From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and back again

Due to unforeseen circumstances Ken and I will be hanging around the north of Thailand so why not see a little more of what it has to offer? Tony was around for a few days, renewing his Thai visa and we didn't want him to be too bored so it was off to the zoo, the mall,a movie and anything else Ken and I could do with various bum legs and arms. After Tony's time with us was over we decided we had seen enough of Chiang Mai for the time being and it was time to move on. My leg was semi-mobile and we didn't have to see the doctor until the 23rd so we jumped on a bus and off we went farther north and into the mountains to Tha Ton.

Funny story; until now we have travelled by plane on this trip and our bus to Tha Ton was the first leg of our journey using local transport and we decided to go by regular bus with the locals. The trip was a bit hot but overall pretty good. After we were settled in our guesthouse in

Tha Ton we patted ourselves on the back, congratulating our selves on a job well done without our own mode of transportation (our own bike) Ya, later wanting to go for a walk we realized we had forgotten a bag, including shoes and books, on the bus. Crap. Lucky for us a guide staying at the same guesthouse was able to phone the bus station and the bag was delivered to our room the next morning, for $1 (I think Ken gave him a tip). We liked the little town of Tha Ton so much we stayed an extra day and explored the countryside a little and rode right up to the Burma border with was only a few kms from our guesthouse. From Tha Ton the longtail boats only make the trip to Chiang Ria once a day and only if they have 6 people for the ride. Ken and I were little nervous because we had not seen another traveller who was planning to take the trip and although we liked Tha Ton we didn't want to out stay our visit. The boat driver had to make hay while the sun was shineing and we picked up 7 other people along the way. The trip was the best 350 B, or $10 each we have spent so far. We all sat sideways in the skinny boat (head to foot) and off we went in very low waters. The weather has been so dry here the river is quite low and everyone had to get out of the boat ,at least 6 times (except me with the injuries), and help push the boat off sand bars. Good fun with some great people.

Once in Chiang Rai we setup in a guest house and took a look around the city. Chiang Rai is at a higher altitude and farther north (only 60 km from the Burma border) so the weather is nice here, not as hot as Chiang Mai and not at all humid. The only thing wrong here is that the Burmese or the Thai (depending on who you talk to) are burning the rice fields or underbrush even more that around Chiang Mia and there is so poor visibility you can barely see your hand in front of you face, so forget about seeing any of the local hillside scenery, which they say is breath taking. We like the speed of Chiang Rai, slower and with a population of just over 60 thousand it is easy to get around in. Everything is just a little more expensive up here, ha ha, we still have trouble spending $40 to $50 a day.

It has been close to one month for us here in Thailand, 30 days is the end of our tourist visa and seeing as we have to see the doctor on the 23rd we made a the run over the border to Burma and got a 2 week extension on our Thai visa on entry back into the country. On the way to the Burmese border we rode the Golden triangle, where you ride along the Thai, Laos and Burma border, where the opium trade used to be the main economy (may still be). Burma has the largest market we have ever seen, just over the border you can buy any knock-off item you could think of. Anything you ever wanted to buy at one tenth the price and as usual I can't spend a dime...I am so cheap! but Ken got a pair of Oakleys for $1...

Time to head back to Chiang Mai to see the doctor. This trip we took the 1st class bus...with a/c. Oh, and we bought an extra suitcase so all of our things can be put inside so we won't leave anything behind. Man what a ride on the 1st class...a/c, bucket seats, movies and a stewardess handing out bottled water and cookies, life is good! Once in Chiang Mai it was back to the Prince Hotel and our old room.

What a he-man flonting his stuff at the

Chiang Mai zoo.

Thailand's favorite mode of transportation, now which one is ours???



Shopping is the mall, I fit right in.



Sunset on a What in Chiang Mai.

From Tha Ton we rode to the small town of Mae Solong, where the chinese settled in the 1940's and started growing tea.

Ken samples Olong tea, which seems to be the favorite. Tea testings is a lot like wine sampling, including a tradition of pouring, colour and aroma.

The longboats are the main form of transportation in the river. Boats like these make the trip 60 km trip from Tha Ton to Chiang Rai in approximately 4 hours.

Life along the river.

An elephant camp along the river.

The White Palace in Chiang Rai. It looks so different because most are bright gold or made of teak.

Not exactly a luxury model, used for transporting farm goods.

We found out everything we needed to know about opium.

The Golden Triangle sits on the Mekong river, bordering Thailand, Loas and Burma (or Myanmar).

Medical update. We have been getting our wounds cleaned everyday at the hospital. Turns out Kens elbow should have had stitches so it is taking a while to mend. I got my stitches out in my elbow and knee in Chiang Rai. Both knees are not healing as fast as I would like, I'm walking but very slow and I can't bend the one knee at all. We have talked to 3 doctors and have got 3 different theories on healing, it is a little frustrating. It's kind of funny as well, everyday when we go in for cleaning the procedure is different and and bill is different, even for the same thing. Ken and I have started taking wagers on what the price will be at the end of the day. Our Dr today says maybe one more week of antibiotics and cleaning, I hope that is all. We would like to move onto Laos and Vietnam but will not leave until the we feel confident all is well.