Roland's Travelog: Chiang Saen & Chiang Rai

Arrived unexpectedly in the evening in Chiang Saen, I thought it took two days to get there, it certainly used to and people I asked in Jinghong said it took two days still, or at least one day, one night and some of the next day, but it wasn't the case in the end. So I got there in the evening and there were no busses going to Chiang Rai at that time, so it resolved my question mark over whether to stop in Chiang Saen or not. Asked around and was guided to a guesthouse, surprisingly run by some guy from the US, who seemed a bit spaced out. At a guess, considering the area and its history of opium cultivation, that may have been part of the reason.

Chiang Saen is a charming, quiet, little place, on the banks of the Mekong, with a few boats heading up and down occassionally, few people, little traffic, though there were a few coaches full of foreigners passing through on their way to the tourist crazy 'Golden Triangle' and a 7/11 shop selling things I haven't seen for ages, such as deodorant (yes, impossible to find in China!), Lays Sour Cream & Onion crisps (yummy) and Cadbury's chocolate (Mmmmm).

Left: Motorbike converted to a mobile shop with sun umbrella.
Right: One of Thailand's colourful local busses.

Went the next morning to Chiang Rai, which I missed out on my last time in Thailand, it's a calmer version of Chiang Mai, maybe not as much to see culturally, not as many tourist agents and not as many courses in Thai language, Thai massage, Thai cooking or mediatation but it's very laid back. After getting caught in a monsoon which lasted around an hour, causing some roads to be completely flooded for a while so that you had to splash your way across roads barefoot, I found the Tepee bar and waited for the weather to clear. The Tepee bar is apparently the oldest bar in Chiang Rai and run by a great Thai guy with a very interesting story of life in Thailand, but I won't divulge his secrets.