Mae Sai is the Northern most part of Thailand and the bordering territory is Tachilek, Myanmar. I first visited this place a couple of years ago planning to enter Myanmar through this border. I thought that I could travel further to Mandalay and Bagan and maybe Yangon by entering this border. But I was told that I couldn’t go that far from the border and the only way to travel around Myanmar is to fly in and out through the capital city, Yangon (I’m not sure if it’s the same case until now).
Mae Sai on your left and Tachilek on your right.
I spent the night instead in one of the guest houses in Mae Sai and had a nice interesting chat with the Thai owner. He also took me to a better spot where I could have a nicer view of the small village in Tachilek.
As I was sitting on the bench, I couldn’t help but wander what the lives of those Burmese people would be if they were born on the other side of the river which is part of Thailand territory. The economic and social gap between the two communities seems to be huge. The Thais living on the other side of the river looks like economically and financially well off compare to the Burmese living on the side.
It seemed to me back then that their fate was sealed by the river.
That’s true! When we went to Victoria Point for a visa run, we were told we only got 15 minutes to wander off there. Even though we paid for a tourist visa, we cannot go anywhere else!
A group of us crossed into Myanmar from India at the Moreh/Tamu border post several years ago, but this involved a painstaking amount of work in securing permits, guides, etc. For my return trip to Myanmar last December, I chose the more convenient option of flying into Yangon.
Hopefully the Burmese government will gradually ease the restrictions on land-border crossings as it transitions to democracy. The economic divide between Thailand and Myanmar is great indeed. It is thus cheap to travel through Myanmar, and one can see a countryside that has not been too altered by modernity.
i hope they become more relax in allowing travellers in their country… btw, your adventures never cease to amaze me Jody… wishing you more adventures
great vista Flip. The river is so calm and inviting.
it is
very beautiful indeed
i think the rule still applies today. my friend who lives in chiang mai told me this a couple of months ago. we can only enter (and travel through) Myanmar via Yangon, never through any of the borders. which is a pity. i hope to get to travel to Myanmar before everything there changes.
great photo. hope i can travel to myanmar in the very near future.