Chiang Rai: The Golden Triangle

Huts and small bungalows lining a river passed on the way to the Golden Triangle

One beautiful day while staying in Chiang Rai, Tiger and Bird decided to take a trip up to the northernmost point of Thailand. The mysterious Golden Triangle is the meeting place of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand as marked by the lazy flow of the mighty Mekong River (see the photo below). Why golden? Well, the opium and drug trade once flourished here and up into the 1990s this area was the world's largest producer of opium. Right before the turn of the century, the three relevant governments worked together to eradicate opium production and transportation here, with at least some success on the Thailand side.

The Golden Triangle. Laos is observed from Thailand, across the Mekong River.

The Golden Triangle is a relatively flat region when compared with the rest of the mountainous province. We left early on a bright, sunny day from Chiang Rai town for the two hour drive. The trip took us along some picturesque but otherwise nondescript roads before we happened upon a small town that suddenly sprang up alongside the Mekong River (see "1" below). Here small shops and hotels, many with signs in Chinese characters as well as Thai script, were open for business. Traffic picked up and we drove past large, air-conditioned tour buses and some shops with many Chinese tourists milling about. We took note of this and parked next to a small Wat. The weather today was hot and the noonday sun relentless as we stepped out of the car. The Wat itself was quite small (see "2" and "3"). Walking through, we soon found ourselves on a large, open boardwalk along the river, mostly deserted although several Chinese tourists huddled in the shade of some adjacent trees. A landmark for the location (see "4") showed that we had indeed reached the Golden Triangle, and the fork in the river before us was the meeting place of the three countries' borders. The area felt local and somewhat touristy, with vendors selling trinkets, food - very average at best - and snacks. We found a young lady selling coconut smoothies at a nearby stand, which ended up being quite delightful to these parched and sweaty visitors!

Chiang Rai: International Balloon Fiesta in Singha Park and Doi Tung

[International Balloon Fiesta]  [Doi Tung]

Tea plantation in Singha Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Bangkok is a land of eternal summer. It's hot! Temperatures hover around 30°C (90°F) most days of the year. Winter will typically arrive in late November and remain through early February. During this time, temperatures drop to a comfortable 20°C (68°F) - even lower still at night - in the northern reaches of the country. In contrast to Central Thailand (ie Bangkok) and in the South, the upper provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are quite rugged with mountains shrouded in thick vegetation hugging lush, rolling hills and steep valleys. The weather is cooler year round, leading the locals to grow coffea, tea shrubs, strawberries, and other varieties of plants better-suited to this more temperate environment.

The uppermost province of Chiang Rai borders Myanmar and Laos, and is only 100 miles from the southern border of China's Yunan province. As such, here occurs a mixing of cultures, with significant influence from Chinese immigrants (especially on local cuisine!). Chinese tourists are a regular source of income, which means the locals are familiar with basic Chinese and English words. The area is also home to many various hill tribes who largely maintain their own culture and lifestyle. Unlike the pictures often shown on travel sites, traditional dress - while very beautiful with bright colors, is largely preserved for ceremonial or tourist purposes. These days everyone has moved on to a dress style that is more Western in appearance.

But enough information! Chiang Rai is full of natural beauty, a delightfully rustic and sabai sabai (relaxing) place to visit. Therefore, one warm (hot!), sunny day in Bangkok, Tiger and Bird decided to forsake the concrete jungle and make a spontaneous trip up north.