Uzbekistan - Samarkand Registan Square
Foto: The Golden Triangle of Thailand Myanmar and Laos (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Thailand - Through Chiang Rai, we drive to the Golden Triangle, the tri-border area of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. Here, the Mekong and Ruak rivers converge. The village of Sop Ruak is located right at the Golden Triangle. Here, we have lunch at a buffet. Afterwards, we drive to the viewpoint at the Wat Phra That Phu Khao temple. From here, you can see all three countries at once. We walk down from the temple. Perry provides information about Buddhism along the way. Back in Sop Ruak, we visit the opium museum. Opium used to be the main source of income. However, opium cultivation was banned in 1959. In recent years, the government has successfully prevented illegal cultivation. In the museum, the papaya plant is shown, as well as various opium pipes and weighing tools. Finally, we walk to the quay. Everything here is geared toward tourists. A large artificial ship with a massive golden Buddha on deck attracts attention. Through a lavishly decorated elephant gate, you can board the ship. In playful ways, you can offer money everywhere, such as rolling coins to Buddha along a twenty-meter-long slide. Meanwhile, Buddha smiles at every donation. Many children also wander around in traditional clothing, happy to pose for photos for money. You could almost forget that this place is actually the tri-border point.
Ayutthaya and Sukhothai
Thailand - At the bike rental, we each pick a suitable bike. On the bikes, we enter Sukhothai National Park. Sukhothai is the old capital of Thailand, and many ruins of chedis and temples are still intact. Our guide Toy is less skilled with her bike. At the first ...
Floating Market of Thailand
Thailand - With the two minibuses, we drive to the Floating Market. Along the way, I try to get some sleep, but the roads aren’t ideal for resting. Near the Floating Market, we transfer to a fast long-tail boat. With this boat, we speed through the canals toward ...
The Grand Palace, Bangkok
Thailand - Today the Grand Palace is on the agenda. Strangely, we are the only interested travelers from the group. This means a private tour with guide Toy. We take a taxi from the hotel. Toy agrees on a price in an unintelligible way, and we depart for the Grand ...
Train over Maeklong Market
Thailand - Thailand is famous for its vibrant markets, ranging from floating shops to street markets. One of the most unique markets is the Dee Maeklong Market, located along a railway line. The market is crossed by a train eight times a day, running very close ...
Wat Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai
Thailand - The Wat Doi Suthep temple is located sixteen kilometers outside Chiang Mai on top of a hill. According to legend, a white elephant trumpeted here before it died. Today, Wat Doi Suthep is a large temple complex with many golden decorations. We reach the ...