RETURN TO NORTHERN THAILAND - NO GOLF THIS TIME

I made a return to Northern Thailand for shopping, sight-seeing and food with my wife and the Gohs, our Yunnan travelling companions. It was free and easy and on arrival at the Chiangmai Airport, we took Bus No 6, a public bus, to the Arcade from where we took a bus to Chiangrai. Here we were waiting for the bus to be topped up at a fire station. Six days of good time in the Land of Smiles followed. Come journey with me.....

In Chiangrai, we stayed at this inn, the Thima. It is run by Khun Ekachai and his wife, Jad. It is basic and comfortable for the price we paid. As it is a little out of town, we had to commute by tuk tuk or song kheaw (red mini-bus) to and from town.

After checking in, we went to the neighbourhood of the Thima Inn to look for lunch and explore. We picked up nice juicy mangoes and rock melons from this stall in a market.

One could easily mistake this to be a temple but it is actually a museum in Chiangrai.

Thai delicacy and mine too - fried insects. Just as in Dec 05, I couldn't resist more fried grass-hoppers for 20 baht which we downed with a jug or two of nice cold Singha beer.

Locals sharing a meal at the Chiangrai Night Bazaar and who eagerly posed for this shot. Nice Thai steamboat. Pad Thai (fried noodles) goes for 20 baht!

We chanced upon this stall that sells the best kway teow in Chiangrai. It is served with fish balls, duck or even bah kut teh (pork rib soup) - what a choice! Aroi maak!

A nice and clean side-street in Chiangrai. No haze!

On our way to Mae Sai from Chiangrai, we stopped at this stall for strawberries and wine. Fresh, sweet and juicy strawberries went for about 100 baht per kilo and a bottle of strawberry wine cost 80 baht. Gooseberries were also available.

This is Mae Sai, the northern most part of Thailand. The structure shown houses the Customs and Immigration Control elements of Thailand. Mae Sai is a one-street town.

Street vendor in Mae Sai. Can't help but comment on how clean the street is. Definitely no fines for littering and things like that, but it works............

The river which divides them.

Traders waiting in an orderly manner to enter Myanmar from Mae Sai. This bridge spans the river which serves as the boundary between the two countries.

A trader from Myanmar, with son in tow, entering Thailand to sell her woven baskets in Mae Sai.

This golden Buddha statue is the icon of the Golden Triangle where Thailand borders Myanmar and Laos. It is famous for opium grown by hill tribes and which used to move through here.

A view towards Myanmar and Kunming, China, from the Golden Triangle. It was quite hazy when we were there. On the right is Laos. Boatmen will take people to Myanmar to gamble in a casino or for whatever for 600 baht per pax.

Akha Children at the Golden Triangle who'd pose for photographs at 5 baht per child.

A vendor's children at the Golden Triangle.

The 212 Opium Museum at the Golden Triangle. As a bigger museum there was closed for the day, we visited this one, which charges 50 baht for entry. A good eye-opener to the hows and whys the drug should be stopped from destroying humankind.

An artist at work at the Golden Triangle.