Golden Triangle
Posted by Stuart at 03:46 AM on August 27, 2002The past few days have been spent in Mae Sai, on the Thai / Myanmar (Burma) border. The border crossing is closed now, so we have stayed on the Thai side. There has been plenty to do here.
We arrived the afternoon of the first day, found a guest house right next to the Mae Sai River (with Myanmar on the other side) and rented a motorcycle. The next day we rode the motorcycle about 30 km to Chaeng Saen, also known as the Golden Triangle. Here, the Mae Sai River meets the Mekong River, and the countries of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos touch. Chiang Seng is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, and so we visited a few temples, one of which was built in the 10th century and on from the 13th century.
We were also hoping to visit the Chiang Saen National Museum. Isara remebered it from a high school field trip, saying that it was full of artifacts and information on the Golden Triangle's 1000 year history. Unfortunately, it was closed, so instead we went to the Opium Museum to learn about the Golden Triangle's infamous illegal opium production. Thailand has done a pretty good job of stopping its people (hilltribes, mostly) from growing and harvesting poppies, but apparently it is still produced in large quanties in Myanmar and Laos. In any case, the Opium Museum was a very educational trip through the facts and history of opium in this part of the world.
1) Why is the border to Burma closed?
Also - I will try not to ask so many questions in my comments, and make comments. :-)
Okay - so the only thing I can think of to write are questions. So . . . what was the history of the Opium trade to, i.e. European countries?
Still enjoying reading about your excursions!!!
AND, thanks for calling last week - - - what a treat that was!!!
Love you!