Long neck, long ear tribes-women

First stop Thai natural hot springs
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I know its quite unlike me, but at 7am we left our hotel for Chiang Rai which is in the Golden Triangle (Thailand, Laos, Burma). Prior to and during the Vietnam war this was the center of opium production. Since then the King of Thailand has set up a project to switch local Thai farmers from growing Opium to other cash crops to end the addiction among local farmers.

Our first stop was at Amphoe Wiang Pa Pao natural hot springs, which has 3 springs in the area with an average temperature of 90DegC, before setting off again for the Mekong River. The river occupies the border between much of Thailand and Laos and we hired local boats which had been converted to speedboats to cross-over to Laos.

if visiting again i would avoid booking anything thru TAT as it is simply more expensive rather than easier!

Wat Chedi Luang
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Although in Laos this was a heavily tourist area like many places we have been sent by TAT...if visiting again i would avoid booking anything thru TAT as it is simply more expensive rather than easier!

Following lunch in Chiang Rai we drove for over 3hrs, mostly on the wrong side of the road daring overtaking on many blind uphill bends. Our new destination was the hill-tribes which practiced long-neck/ears  using copper (formerly gold) bands and earings. This was disturbing at best given the weight of the copper bands that the local girls had to bear. -- Our TAT adviser left Chiang Rai for Bangkok at the age of 12 for the chance to pursue an alternate lifestyle in Bangkok...but at least she was given a choice (now she's encouraging it thru tourism so its a little two-faced)!!

The largest & highest Chedi in Chiang Saen
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Largely feeling sorry for the young local girls i bought several scarfs, pipes and cigs made from local tobacco leaves and teak wood cuttings - these smoked much like ordinary cigs to my surprise. I will no doubt save a few for you to try on my return!!!