Elephants – Thai dancing -Mekong River – Laos – Burma okay so we must be good tourists and tear ourselves away from too much relaxing – elephants here we come. First impression, they are BIG. I know that is obvious but even the little ones are BIG and playful, gentle, clever and patient. It is the first time I have ridden an animal and not felt sorry for it only for us when the Mahout (driver/trainer/controller) got off on the middle of a jungle path to walk ahead and take photos of us alone on top of this giant animal! (see pic). That evening having reduced the reception staff to helpless laughter at the pictures of us on the elephant we went next door to a fabulous complex of dining/show rooms to the ‘cultural show’. Always a worry that it will be for the tourists this was laid to rest by the fact that a large contingent of Thai university students were there on their final fling before the holidays. We joined another English couple staying in our hotel which was very pleasant. An excellent evening of interesting food and traditional and modern dance & music show culminating in the traditional ‘get the audience on its feet’ section. David doing Thai dancing was a real treat (see pic) – is this the prelude to ballroom dance classes?
Next morning another earlyish start taking care we did not interfere with the Korean Television crew starting filming in the hotel grounds for a soap/reality TV show. First stop the Hot Springs, seriously underwhelming after New Zealand but they tried. However, the 2nd stop was very special. A pure white temple, whose first building was completed in 1996 by a famous Thai artist and his contemporaries and whose internal murals are still being painted depicting heaven – traditional Thai – and hell. 9/11, exploding bombs, spider man, etc.etc. Very thought provoking. Then through Chiang Rai to the MeKong river and the 3 borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). As we stood on the banks of the river the appalling pollution caused by land burning was really evident as visibility was so poor. We took a longtail boat to see the casino (from the river) which Burma has built on the banks to tempt Thai people to go and spend their money. Then across to Laos, where we landed. A loose term to describe a bridge made of split bamboo and loose planks where the ‘railing’ switches from side to side at whim (see pic). Having safely negotiated this, you arrive at a very small market selling all the goods you see being sold around the world but which are made here! Back across the river for a Buffet lunch (emphasis please on the ‘t’) which was very good. Finally we reached the Thai/Burma border crossing which was fascinating when you consider the bad publicity in the West about Burma and here are both lots of people crossing backward and forward to shop and trade. For 500 Baht we could have gone into Burma but no-one fancied it. Every time there is a flare up of trouble in Burma the crossing closes but the children still swim in the river which is the border. A long drive back only stopping for ‘pee-pee’ stops or buy fresh pineapple from a road side stall which was the sweetest we had ever tasted.
Next morning another earlyish start taking care we did not interfere with the Korean Television crew starting filming in the hotel grounds for a soap/reality TV show. First stop the Hot Springs, seriously underwhelming after New Zealand but they tried. However, the 2nd stop was very special. A pure white temple, whose first building was completed in 1996 by a famous Thai artist and his contemporaries and whose internal murals are still being painted depicting heaven – traditional Thai – and hell. 9/11, exploding bombs, spider man, etc.etc. Very thought provoking. Then through Chiang Rai to the MeKong river and the 3 borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). As we stood on the banks of the river the appalling pollution caused by land burning was really evident as visibility was so poor. We took a longtail boat to see the casino (from the river) which Burma has built on the banks to tempt Thai people to go and spend their money. Then across to Laos, where we landed. A loose term to describe a bridge made of split bamboo and loose planks where the ‘railing’ switches from side to side at whim (see pic). Having safely negotiated this, you arrive at a very small market selling all the goods you see being sold around the world but which are made here! Back across the river for a Buffet lunch (emphasis please on the ‘t’) which was very good. Finally we reached the Thai/Burma border crossing which was fascinating when you consider the bad publicity in the West about Burma and here are both lots of people crossing backward and forward to shop and trade. For 500 Baht we could have gone into Burma but no-one fancied it. Every time there is a flare up of trouble in Burma the crossing closes but the children still swim in the river which is the border. A long drive back only stopping for ‘pee-pee’ stops or buy fresh pineapple from a road side stall which was the sweetest we had ever tasted.
I would have paid good money to see David doing the wiggle and shuffle, but I feel that Erica might just drag me off to the dancing classes as well so I shall remain quiet. Love the Lolliphants that you rode and the white temple sounds and looks amazing.
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