Hello and welcome to the 'All Along the Border' edition of my blog. This blog covers the four day orientation period in the far North of Thailand, that is meant to give us inspiration for our final and biggest project. Even though this is 'GE3230a Field Studies in Thailand', this period saw us entering three different countries, 'Thailand', 'Myanmar (Burma)' and Laos.
All of the photographs from Chiang Mai are now on my Facebook and you can view them at ADD http://dur.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2136562&l=1ded4&id=61201497
Monday 11th June 2007: Baan Thoed Tai Village & Khun Sa
The first day of the Orientation saw us leaving Chiang Rai and going up into the hills first of all to Mae Salong. The Rough Guide (2006) describes the road leading to Mae Salong as a rollercoaster. The area is a stronghold for the KMT (Chinese Nationals) who for two generations have fought against communism in China. The Thai government allowed them to stay in Thailand during the Cold War, just because they were fighting against communism. The area use to be very famous for growing opium but due to a royal project they have started to grow tea, which is very nice. We went to a museum (which was basically propaganda) about the Chinese martyrs (KMT).
After lunch we made our way to have a look at one of the many
tea plantations before making our way to Baan Thoed Tai Village traveling across very hilly terrain as can be seen in this photograph. This use to be a stronghold for Khun Sah who at one time was the US' most wanted drug criminal. However, he wasn't just a drug criminal who was trying to make money. He was fighting for an independent Shan State. Shan is an area within Burma, which has long wanted independence but has never received it. We stayed the night in BTT village.
Tuesday 12th June 2007 Maesai & Entering Burma
Today was one of the most exciting days so far on Field Studies. We drove from BTT to
the border post of Mae Sai. However, instead of taking the direct route we took the road that went right along the border between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand. Along the way we went past a Thai Army Post and we actually got an opportunity to have a look inside. This first photograph shows the trench that they have dug to protect themselves from the Burmesse.
This next photograph shows why they need protection. This is a photograph of the Myanmar Army post that was only about 100metres away.
After this excitement and the realisation that borders were a completely stupid and arbitrary thing we made our way to Mae Sai. This is one of only two border points along the whole border between Myanmar & Thailand. We had a couple of hours to kill so we thought we would pop across the border into Tachilek in Burma. This photograph was taken by me as I crossed over the river that separtes the two countries. Perhaps unsurprisingly Burma wasn't very nice. The town on the other side was full of people trying to sell you dodgy cigarettes, bootleg DVDs and dangerous drugs. So, it wasn't too long before we turned back into the safety of Thailand. In the late afternoon we had a Dr. Carl lecture all about the exciting geo-political issues of the area.
Wednesday 13th June: Golden Triangle & Entering Laos
The Golden Triangle in the past referred to the Opium producing area of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. However, in an effort to attract tourists the authorities have tried to change the meaning of the Golden Triangle so that it refers to the single point where the borders of the three countries meet. With the help of the useful text I added to this picture you can see how the three countries are sperated by the mighty Mekong River. After a lecture and photo taking session we went to the House of Opium Museum where we learned about the area's opium history.
It was now time to leave Thailand again and make our way to Laos via the border point at Chiang Khong. This time there was no bridge so we had to make our way across the river in = little boats. This photograph shows is arriving in Hua Wiang, the small town on the Laotian side of the river. To be perfectly honest the town was quite boring, but most travelers use it merely as a stepping stone to the rest of Laos.
After Dinner there was quite an exciting activity. Because half the group was still across the other side of the river we took part in an International Firework and Lantern Show. This was quite spectacular as both groups set off their lanterns from their side of the river.
Thursday 14th June: Phouvantai Village & Back to Chiang Rai
This was the final day of the Orientation. Before we left Laos we made our way to Phouvantai, which is a village about 30miles from Hua Wiang. This is a very interesting village because the Government of Laos forced the residents to settle here and stop their nomadic habits. There is a possibility that I will be doing a project here, so if I do I will tell you more.
It was then time to travel back to Chiang Rai, which was easier said then done. The roads in Laos weren't very good and the vehicles (Tuk Tuks) were were traveling in struggled to go across the terrain. It then took about 15minutes for the Lao authorities to check us out and on the boat ride back across the Mekong one of the boats broke down, started drifting down and had to be rescued. Then, the Thai Customs were really slow as they had to check that everyone had flights booked out of the country, even though we were all in one big group who had a single booking. We were then worried that we would miss the last bus to Chiang Rai but luckily we managed to get to the Bus Station just in time to catch the bus. Then it was a nice relaxing two hour journey back to our hotel in Chiang Rai.
NEXT ON FIELD STUDIES........
The Final Project
Farewell and Back to England
All of the photographs from Chiang Mai are now on my Facebook and you can view them at ADD http://dur.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2136562&l=1ded4&id=61201497
Monday 11th June 2007: Baan Thoed Tai Village & Khun SaThe first day of the Orientation saw us leaving Chiang Rai and going up into the hills first of all to Mae Salong. The Rough Guide (2006) describes the road leading to Mae Salong as a rollercoaster. The area is a stronghold for the KMT (Chinese Nationals) who for two generations have fought against communism in China. The Thai government allowed them to stay in Thailand during the Cold War, just because they were fighting against communism. The area use to be very famous for growing opium but due to a royal project they have started to grow tea, which is very nice. We went to a museum (which was basically propaganda) about the Chinese martyrs (KMT).
After lunch we made our way to have a look at one of the many
tea plantations before making our way to Baan Thoed Tai Village traveling across very hilly terrain as can be seen in this photograph. This use to be a stronghold for Khun Sah who at one time was the US' most wanted drug criminal. However, he wasn't just a drug criminal who was trying to make money. He was fighting for an independent Shan State. Shan is an area within Burma, which has long wanted independence but has never received it. We stayed the night in BTT village.Tuesday 12th June 2007 Maesai & Entering Burma
Today was one of the most exciting days so far on Field Studies. We drove from BTT to
the border post of Mae Sai. However, instead of taking the direct route we took the road that went right along the border between Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand. Along the way we went past a Thai Army Post and we actually got an opportunity to have a look inside. This first photograph shows the trench that they have dug to protect themselves from the Burmesse.
This next photograph shows why they need protection. This is a photograph of the Myanmar Army post that was only about 100metres away.
After this excitement and the realisation that borders were a completely stupid and arbitrary thing we made our way to Mae Sai. This is one of only two border points along the whole border between Myanmar & Thailand. We had a couple of hours to kill so we thought we would pop across the border into Tachilek in Burma. This photograph was taken by me as I crossed over the river that separtes the two countries. Perhaps unsurprisingly Burma wasn't very nice. The town on the other side was full of people trying to sell you dodgy cigarettes, bootleg DVDs and dangerous drugs. So, it wasn't too long before we turned back into the safety of Thailand. In the late afternoon we had a Dr. Carl lecture all about the exciting geo-political issues of the area.Wednesday 13th June: Golden Triangle & Entering Laos
The Golden Triangle in the past referred to the Opium producing area of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. However, in an effort to attract tourists the authorities have tried to change the meaning of the Golden Triangle so that it refers to the single point where the borders of the three countries meet. With the help of the useful text I added to this picture you can see how the three countries are sperated by the mighty Mekong River. After a lecture and photo taking session we went to the House of Opium Museum where we learned about the area's opium history.
It was now time to leave Thailand again and make our way to Laos via the border point at Chiang Khong. This time there was no bridge so we had to make our way across the river in = little boats. This photograph shows is arriving in Hua Wiang, the small town on the Laotian side of the river. To be perfectly honest the town was quite boring, but most travelers use it merely as a stepping stone to the rest of Laos.
After Dinner there was quite an exciting activity. Because half the group was still across the other side of the river we took part in an International Firework and Lantern Show. This was quite spectacular as both groups set off their lanterns from their side of the river.Thursday 14th June: Phouvantai Village & Back to Chiang Rai
This was the final day of the Orientation. Before we left Laos we made our way to Phouvantai, which is a village about 30miles from Hua Wiang. This is a very interesting village because the Government of Laos forced the residents to settle here and stop their nomadic habits. There is a possibility that I will be doing a project here, so if I do I will tell you more.
It was then time to travel back to Chiang Rai, which was easier said then done. The roads in Laos weren't very good and the vehicles (Tuk Tuks) were were traveling in struggled to go across the terrain. It then took about 15minutes for the Lao authorities to check us out and on the boat ride back across the Mekong one of the boats broke down, started drifting down and had to be rescued. Then, the Thai Customs were really slow as they had to check that everyone had flights booked out of the country, even though we were all in one big group who had a single booking. We were then worried that we would miss the last bus to Chiang Rai but luckily we managed to get to the Bus Station just in time to catch the bus. Then it was a nice relaxing two hour journey back to our hotel in Chiang Rai.
NEXT ON FIELD STUDIES........
The Final Project
Farewell and Back to England
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