The Golden Triangle, Then A Road Trip Back To Bangkok

We left Chiang Mai to start our road trip back to Bangkok.  First, we headed north to the border of Thailand, Myanmar (formerly know as Burma) and Laos.  You can cross over to Laos to shop at some stores across the bridge by paying $30 and leaving your passport. This part of the world is known as the “Golden Triangle”.    

We stopped at an overlook where you could see Thailand on the left, Myanmar to the north, Loas on the right and a dirty river everywhere. The rainy season had started.

Opium (first used over 5000 years ago) was the major crop in this area for many years and is known as “Black Gold”.  Today some hill tribes still grow the poppies and move their sites around the jungle to elude the authorities. We visited the Opium Museum and learned about the growth/production and use of the drug.

I have to confess that I fell off the Asian food grid and indulged in an “honest to god” margarita pizza (no rice on it). We were told we could take some treats (candy, paper, crayons ,etc.) to our visit scheduled for the next day to the “long neck women” hill tribe. I took a take-out pizza and the teacher and kids loved it– no stuffy old school supplies from Barb.

There is some controversy about the exploitation of this tribe by tourists. We were very respectful and supported their economy with purchase of their crafts. The women receive a ring every year from 5 to 21 years of age. Their necks are not extended but the rings press their collar bones and shoulders down into the chest cavity. They also wear rings below their knees.

We got a look into one bamboo house in the village (the women’s that I am pictured with). The home is elevated (you could see the ground about 10 feet below through the bamboo floor) and they had a tv in the bedroom, just across from the white mosquito net. I love the Channel hand bag.

Our next adventure was a visit and overnight “home stay” in a traditional Lanka village. The home cooked dinner was delicious and it was the first time we had white and red sticky rice. We had a blessing from a retired monk and made our very own baskets. I am becoming quite crafty.

One of the special foods we had was roasted bee larvae. It was creamy and had a mild flavor. If you forgot that you were eating bee eggs–it wasn’t too bad.

The trip back to Bangkok was long but we traveled over several days with stops at roadside plazas. We took a break at one plaza with hot springs in the parking lot where you could have your quail eggs hard boiled.

We stayed in cities overnight and visited plenty of temples and ruins. At one temple you could shake plastic sticks to dislodge one with your fortune number. My number 6 told me to build a bridge and find a widower. LOL…….I don’t have time for either but….I am getting happier every year.

I had a couple more nights in Bangkok before I had to leave so I visited the MBK. This is a six story modern mall filled with a zillion stalls/stores. There must be about 100 “knock off” handbag and shoe stores. One vender took me in the back room to see Gucci, Jimmy Choo, etc. I needed a bigger carry on for my purchases and handicrafts so I was on a mission. You could negotiate and can usually get about a 40% reduction. I met with success on the fourth floor. I could have gotten a large Long champ for $22 but it didn’t have a shoulder strap.

I also found a stand that made the BEST smelling/tasting waffles in the world. I had to have one with mangoes, chocolate ice cream and chocolate syrup. WOW!

My last night I went to Chinatown. It is a pretty crazy place with lots of zany food stands, intriguing little alleyways and about a million plus people. I was on another mission to find a pork stall I learned about that had received a Michelin Star. The food was yummy and well worth the hunt!

I stayed out by the airport the night before my flights home. A 6 hour flight to Tokyo, a 12 hour flight to Dulles and 1 hour back to the “Burg”. I will miss Southeast Asia. It was soooo old, new, green, exotic and different!!!! I hope I get back for another visit.

My next adventure is at the end of August……..I am going to India. I will be traveling by train around the whole country…….. I ‘ll keep you informed…..maybe I am just building “my bridge”……..