Chiang Mai - Thailand part 1

Nic, Marie, A & B at a party held for sex workers in Chiang Mai. Nic is a liason officer for the workers. B is slightly distracted by something to his right.

A about to enter the Nagas mouth at this rather tacky but interesting Chinese 'theme park'.
A & marie entering the Naga. On the walls are scenes depicting various events in the Buddhas life.

A and two new chums rather nicely carved from teak.

Chiang Mai - an urn in the garden at the summer Royal Palace outside Chiang Mai that B took a shine to.

Fountains on the lake at the Royal Palace.

Carving in a dead teak tree.

Side view of the main building summer Royal Palace.

The main stupa at Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai. The stupa is currently undergoing renovations with the surface being recoated in gold ( they do that every 4 years ). There is also concern that the stupa is developing a lean and could actually topple over given time. We shall return here in a few months to get better photos once the scaffold has been removed.

Da boyz at the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Burma & Laos meet. This was the area where most of the opium poppies were grown. Of course the governments have shut down the production now haven't they..........well that's what THEY say, but from where we are standing there are some interesting plants waving at us. Oh is that why we are smiling.

Standing in Thailand with Burma on the left and Laos on the right. The reddish building on the left is a huge casino where wealthy Thais and Chinese go to gamble. The catch is any $$ won has a hefty tax placed on it by the Burmese government so that very little actually leaves the place. Clever aren't they.

Fierce looking Nagas in Chiang Mai. Nagas are water serpents.

Some more Nagas.


A very bright mural depicting a scene from the Buddhas life.

This was our accommodation in Mae Sai, which is the Northern most point of Thailand on the border with Burma. Fantastic place.

Our accommodation. The blue building on the right is in Burma.

Alan waiting for something to happen.

Sunrise from our cabin on the water in Mae Sai.

A rather fat Budha image in Mae Sai. Looks a little like Gough Whitlam.

Huts clinging to the hillside in Mae Sai. We think these may now be abandoned.

Same huts, different view.

Another view of our Mae Sai accommodation.

A burmese man crossing the river into Thailand carrying his bicycle. Many Burmese cross to work in the markets during the day only to return to Burma in the evening the same way. Easier than having to deal with the border guards.

View from our hut across to Burma. The border is actually in the middle of the river.

Some suspicious characters lurking amongst the orchids in the Royal Palace in Chiang Mai. The royal family were not in residence at the time.

Chinese temple next to the flower market in Chiang Mai.

Inside a temple at Chiang Dao near Chiang Mai

A with 2 friendly Nagas in Chiang Dao. This was just after we arrived in September and he has lost a lot of weight since.

B with 2 friendly Nagas in Chiang Dao. He has lost quite a bit also.

Temple in Chiang Dao.

Entrance to the caves in Chiang Dao.

An unusual statue of a hermit in the caves.

More statues in the caves, with a Chinte keeping the bad spirits out.

Giant Nagas rising into the air.

A new boutique hotel being built across the road from our apartment on the Ping river in Chiang Mai. Most construction is done by Burmese labourers because they get paid less than Thais, but they still get paid better than if they were in Burma.

More of the same building. Note the bamboo scaffolding. So sensible.

A lovely peaceful in the forest spot near Chiang Mai which has accommodation and a great restaurant. On the down side they also hire out 4x4 motor bikes to go trail riding through the forest. What next.......pig hunting like in FNQ !!

More of the same spot.