Leaving China was in stark contrast to entering China six months ago in Xinjiang Autonomous Region. At the Irkishtan pass crossing from Kyrgyzstan to China, everyone had to get off the bus, take all luggage some 50m away and line up in front of a gate, while hard faced border guards, searched bags and questioned random people like some army sergeants barking at their troops. Here in the relaxed South of China, the border official smiled and spoke politely to everyone in a soft voice as she quickly checked passports on the boat. I liked Southern China. It was sad to leave.
Left: To Thailand, from China, via Laos and Myanmar, 4 countries in a day.
Right: Scenery around the area where Myanmar, Laos & Thailand meet.
Winding their way between Myanmar and Laos through to Thailand alongside me were a mixture of Chinese and Thai. While sitting outside on the tiny deck area of the boat, I chatted with some of the Thais, who generously forced some of their whisky onto me after our boat lunch was over. A bit of a disaster struck at one point just after leaving a pier on the Myanmar side, the boat got sucked into one of the mini whirlpools that are a common feature along the Mekong due to it's fast currents and as the boat lunged sharply sideways, a few bottles and boxes slid off the boat deck and into the river, they realised a little later, that a valuable bottle of Jim Bean had been lost amongst it all and one man particularly seemed quite upset.
Top Left: Myanmar hill village.
Top Right: Longtail boat used by many along short stretches of the river.
Botom Left: Temple and Stupas in Southern Myanmar.
Bottom Right: Lao children watch our boat with interest.
The Mekong certainly has some of the most stunning scenery anywhere, in many places it is very narrow, maybe no more than 20m at times and there are rocks poking out of the water everywhere, which means a zigzag course needs to be followed to avoid crashing into those visible and those that lurk below the surface of the water. The hills around are beautiful, the thick green vegetation everywhere and the glimpses of hill villages and villagers especially along the Laos side are memorable. The views of the day are spoilt only by the large modern casino and hotel buildings that greet you once you reach the Thai side of the 'Golden Triangle', (the area where Thailand, Laos & Myanmar meet), there is a notable difference as nature makes way for tourism, wooden huts replaced by large buildings, then I know I am now in Thailand.
