A view into Burma

Trip Start Aug 24, 2009
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Trip End Jan 19, 2010


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Flag of Thailand  ,
Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Mae Hong Son, another tiny little town. This one is close to the Burmese border and used to be the 'Siberia of Thailand', back when there were no roads up to it. Walking around the town takes about 10 minutes, with views such as a drained man-made lake, and temples which look a tenth of the size the Lonely Planet photos suggest they are! There was an okay night market for food in the evening though.

The next morning we were awoken by an enormous helicopter flying overhead. Just what you want to hear on the Burmese border...

On a big hill next to the city is a temple you can climb up to. At the top you get a great view over the town, including an airstrip the length of the whole town that you'd never know was there until you get up there. If you turn around then Burma is just a few km away..

The evening bus back to Chiang Mai was worst I've ever been on. 8 hours on a small cramped public bus, up terrible winding mountain roads, with the back door open for the entire journey, which happened to be directly infront of our seats! Thankfully Ramsey was making the same trip, and my iPod lasted long enough to watch Family Guy pretty much the whole way.
 
From Chiang Mai a luxury, by comparison, bus up to Chiang Rai took just a few hours. Ahhh sleep...
Mae Hong Son hotels Slideshow

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