Chiang Rai 1999 

We reached the northern province of Thailand, in the Golden Triangle, at the borderland between Laos and Myanmar (Burma) in 3 hours drive far from Chiang Mai.

Our hotel, the Dusit Island Resort was situated directly at the banks of the Kok River and therefore the ideal place to start a trip by boat to the small villages along the river. A ride by elephant there was an obligation for us again.

In Chiang Rai there are not very places of interest. Only the beautiful Wats. But it is best starting point for trips into the charming mountain area.

On our trip to the hill-tribe areas we got a little impression of the life in this mountain villages. The people here live still nearly unaffected by western influences and under simplest living conditions.

Mae Sai, the northerly place of Thailand and frontier town to Myanmar inspired us due to its busy trade, by the small frontier traffic. There is nothing here that is not carried or driven, about the border. It is a great local boarder traffic.

The trip by speedboat on the Mekong, the border river to Laos was for us another highlight. In a spectacular excursion by Longtailboat we passed lovely Picnic areas and small fishing villages in those the time really stands still. On the banks to Laos we got an impression from the life at the river, we thought we are in another world.