Thailand - My Chiang Mai Life

Aod and his friend Arm prepare a Suki lunch for Charlie & I. Lots of good "tings" cooked at the table - seafood, pork, noodles, tofu, and lots of fresh vegies!! Hmmm Hmm good......

Charlie and I decided to visit the Maesa Elephant Camp in the Mountains just outside of C.M. We lucked out and arrived there on the 10th Anniversary of Elephant Day! Hundreds of school kids plus Hill People, locals, tourists, and even politicians from Bangkok were there. Performances of traditional Thai dances, a dance performed with swords by local teenage boys, music, and an ELEPHANT BUFFET!!!! What a spectacle with 70 elephants coming down out of the mountain jungle to feed at the buffet table set up in their honor - bananas, watermelon, sugarcane, etc...... 70 Elephants on the move...... CHOW TIME! Pics with the Elephants!! A good time was had by all in the "Land of Smiles" - especially the ELEPHANTS!!

After leaving Pai we head for the Golden Triangle of the "Opium Trade" route. This is where the borders of Thailand, Burma, and Laos all meet! About 45 minutes north of Chiang Rai is the border town of Mae Sai. Route 1 dead ends at the border of Thailand and Burma. The Immigration house straddles the road and once you cross over the bridge you are in Burma or Myanmar.... The Thai flag in Thailand on the left and the Wat or Temple on the right is in Burma.... The bridge leading into Myanmar or Burma. The town of Mae Sai is basically one long street full of "street market" stalls. Not very charming. A lot of Chinese and Burmese people living here. Stayed in an old hotel (once a 5 star) but now old and sort of run-down. But only $25.00 a night!Cute little girl at the sidewalk "Foot Massage". Typical street scenes. Now off to the Golden Triangle with first stop at the Hall Of Opium. This is an educational museum sponsered by the Queen of Thailand. Grea...

We left Chiang Mai and headed for Mae Hong Son a fairly large town in N.W. Thailand. We had to head S.W. in order to get N.W. as we had to go around and through a large mountain range. Doi Inthanon is over 8,500 ft. high. Here are pics of views along the way. Shots of the hotel we stayed in in Mae Hong Son and the park area. The "Hot Springs" in the area are too hot for soaking in. some are all most 195*. The signs around the springs were interesting and I still have not figured out what some of them mean??? Sites around the area - Sleeping Buddha and cave with stream and fish living inside. Our next stop was the "backpacking village of Pai, which is pronounced Bye!! Lots of neat shops and restaurants to explore. We stayed at the "Quarter" a small botique hotel. From here we visited the waterfalls and temples in the area. Stay tuned for next post as we make our way to Burma and Laos!! Well, at least Charlie got into Burma but I could not go as it would have scr...