Golden Triangle

After another marvellous but early hotel breakfast we were picked up for our day tour to the Golden Triangle after 0700. In the vehicle were a group of Canadians (mainly family) who turned out to be great companions.

We left Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai stopping at Chiang Saen, the capital of the old Lanna Thai Kingdom. We visited a temple here. The heavens opened with a vengeance which meant it wasn’t conducive for us to go across the river to Laos for shopping after our lunch on the banks of the Mekong.

We continued to Mae Sai where there is a border crossing to Myanmar. Due to visa requirements we couldn’t go across. Staying on the Thai side we picked up a few handicraft items like cushion covers and wall hangings.

Mae Sai border crossing with Myanmar.

From Mae Sai we continued to visit some hilltribe villages. First up was a Yao village where people where long black gowns with fluffy red collars. Next we visited an Akha village where the people’s costumes are decorated with coins.

We continued walking past a Lahu village where people had large ring-shaped earrings in their lobes, creating a hole in the lobe essentially.

Finally we visited the long-neck Karen tribe. They are famous for the brass rings that weigh down the shoulders creating an illusion of a long neck. This originated from a time when wild animals were rife and these rings provided some sort of protection against attacks on the neck area.

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We took afternoon tea by the riverside before a 2h30 drive back to Chiang Mai. We arrived just before 2000, making it a long day. Feeling tired, we ate inhouse. The Pad Thai wrapped in an egg crepe was NZD5, the non-coconut red curry NZD6 and a papaya shake NZD3. It would have been cheaper outside but it’s still not expensive compared to New Zealand.