Chaing Rai, Thailand

Chaing Rai

Continuing north we ended in Chaing Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand. We visited the Hill tribe museum where we learned the history, lifestyles and current issues surrounding the hilltribe people. Below the museum is a restaurant called “Cabbages and Condoms” started by a Thai business man to help decrease the effects of HIV/AIDS on his people. After we drove up to Mae Chan, another trading post for the Akha and Yao people and visited the village of the Lisu (from Myanmar) and Lahu (from Tibet) tribes. We continued to Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand. There is a small bridge connecting Thailand to Burma and the streets are lined with vendors. Thai are allowed to go into Burma until 6pm and many go for discount shopping.

We ate lunch at a hotel overlooking the Golden triangle. It is an amazing view to stand at the point of 1 country and clearly see the triangle of the Mekong and Ruak rivers dividing Laos, Thailand and Burma. The history of opium is everywhere in this part of the country and we learned about the process of opium growing and production at the Opium Museum. The area is called the Golden triangle because opium was so precious it was traded for gold, not money. Opium originally grew in China and was run by the British which caused several disagreements with the country, resulting in the Opium Wars. During this time, many of the hill tribes from China migrated to Laos, Burma and Thailand and brought their opium growing skills along with them. Opium was the main cash crop for many of the tribes until it was outlawed in the mid 1900’s first in Thailand, then Burma and finally Laos. Thailand has basically eradicated its growth but it can still be found in parts of Burma and Laos.

We returned to our hotel in Chaing Rai for dinner and to check out the night market which seems to be the Thai version of a shopping mall. There is one in every city and they sell everything from electronics to clothes to food. The following morning we got up early to drive to the Thailand border town of Chaing Dao and cross over into Laos.