After visiting the Golden Triangle, Isara and I headed back to Mae Sai, and then went 30 km in the other direction to Doi Tung (Tung Mountain), where we saw an extremely old temple and the Grandmother Princess' Royal Villa and Gardens.
The trip up the mountain was perhaps the most exciting part. The road was in good condition, but it was perhaps the steepest, narrowest "two-lane" road I have ever been on. There were several times when we weren't sure if the motorcycle was going to make it up the hill!
The views, though, were amazing. The road runs parallell to the Thai / Myanmar border. I would think that illegally crossing the border here would be next to impossible considering the jungle and the steep hills, but we passed through several police checkpoints in any case. Speaking of illegal crossings, the first night we checked into our guesthouse bungalow, we had a great time watching people cross the fast-flowing Mae Sai River from Thailand to Myanmar and back in intertubes, just around the bend from a watchful police station.
Today, Isara took the bus home to Phan to prepare for his move to Bangkok later this week. After I dropped him off at the bus station, I continued on the motorcycle, exploring the countryside and visiting hilltribe villages on my own. Tonight I will spend my last night in Chiang Rai and take the bus to visit friends in Chiang Mai tomorrow. My friend Champ from Chiang Rai will be joining me, as he has friends in Chiang Mai as well, so at least I will have company on the 3 hour bus ride.
I bet the gardens were beautiful!! This is the Prince's mother, right?
AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!! I think I would have gotten off and walked those those stretches instead of hoping the hill would become less steep, or that the motorcycle would gain a little speed and umpf! :-) Especially with the "narrowest" comment. YIKES!
Those who were crossing the river, were obviously crossing illegally? What is in Thai that is not in Myanmar? I'm assuming the economy is better?
Love you!