Luxury, breakfast at 8. Fried eggs, sausage, toast, bacon and a large pile of lettuce. They grow it in the large greenhouse next to the restaurant.
9.00 departure for a 2 hour drive to Mai Sai, where Neil crossed into Burma and got his visa stamped before returning. It only took less than ten minutes, he was back before the shoppers returned.
Pen, Jax and Pam went shopping. J got several things for her family, Pam bought a lovely, chunky silver bracelet for herself and, a pair of jade earrings for me. Pen was a hard bargainer throughout.
This was the centre of the Golden Triangle. It is now a tourist centre rather than opium growing. This large Buddha is small compared with others we saw in the middle of towns, looming way above the houses.
Tourism is more profitable and less work. Thai are not allowed to gamble, they cross to Laos to do so.
Lunch was at a roadside restaurant looking across a tributary to Burma, then the Mekong and Laos. All three countries very close indeed at this point. There was talk of setting up a trade agreement but the Thais are dragging their heels. Thexit?
A host of of small red dragonflies over the river, on their migration to Africa, Amur Falcons follow them. Meals in flight.
Tourism is more profitable and less work. Thai are not allowed to gamble, they cross to Laos to do so.
Lunch was at a roadside restaurant looking across a tributary to Burma, then the Mekong and Laos. All three countries very close indeed at this point. There was talk of setting up a trade agreement but the Thais are dragging their heels. Thexit?
A host of of small red dragonflies over the river, on their migration to Africa, Amur Falcons follow them. Meals in flight.
Neil had never stayed at our Chiang Sean lakeside resort before, it had been recommended to him. Lovely bungalows set in beautiful grounds.
Very funny people. An aging British hippy man and a stick thin, wrung out, bag of neuroses I christened Dragonlady. No food here after all to-night, her cat is missing. She personally showed us our room, leaving no socket/bed/ furnishings/bathroom/chair undiscovered. We eventually got rid of her and spent an hour in our rooms. Hot and muggy here, thank goodness for aircon.
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| Our view |
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| Our bungalow |
The afternoon plans were changed. A 1 hour boat ride on the lake was available immediately or, not at all. All the boatmen are off on some sort of training meet to-morrow.
Plenty of hands on standby in case I coudn't get on the boat. It was easily accomplished if somewhat rocketty.
So pleasant, riding along with a breeze to temper the heat. I love boat rides.
Lesser Whistling Ducks in large noisy rafts, easily disturbed into whistling flight, 5 Mandarin Ducks, the only place they can be seen. A few Garganey, Pintail, Coot, Ferruginous Ducks, Grey-headed Swamphen and Egrets, inc Intermediate. Many Little Grebes, Purple Heron, and a few Spot-billed Ducks. Viewing was difficult against the setting sun.
I followed an Osprey coming in to land, trying to hold my camera steady in a moving boat and with vertigo from my middle-ear infection
Plenty of hands on standby in case I coudn't get on the boat. It was easily accomplished if somewhat rocketty.
So pleasant, riding along with a breeze to temper the heat. I love boat rides.
Lesser Whistling Ducks in large noisy rafts, easily disturbed into whistling flight, 5 Mandarin Ducks, the only place they can be seen. A few Garganey, Pintail, Coot, Ferruginous Ducks, Grey-headed Swamphen and Egrets, inc Intermediate. Many Little Grebes, Purple Heron, and a few Spot-billed Ducks. Viewing was difficult against the setting sun.
I followed an Osprey coming in to land, trying to hold my camera steady in a moving boat and with vertigo from my middle-ear infection
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| Spot-billed Ducks in flight |
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| Purple Heron |
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| A local fisherman, fully protected against the sun |
Clumps of the alien Water Hyacinth formed floating islands. Easy to see why it spreads so fast.
We stayed on the banks until a lovely sunset. Pam's photos.
Lineated and Coppersmith Barbet clunked away, such a boring and repetitive call for beautiful birds. Chestnut-tailed Starlings showed briefly, Pheasant- tailed Jacana, Great Coucal, Asian Koel, the first of hundreds of Black-winged Stilts, both Smyrna and Common Kingfisher were added to the growing list.
Lineated and Coppersmith Barbet clunked away, such a boring and repetitive call for beautiful birds. Chestnut-tailed Starlings showed briefly, Pheasant- tailed Jacana, Great Coucal, Asian Koel, the first of hundreds of Black-winged Stilts, both Smyrna and Common Kingfisher were added to the growing list.
Dinner to-night was at a riverside restaurant and was the best so far. I wish I could remember what it was! We are still sticking to Thai food, I even ate my noodles with chopsticks at lunchtime. Pen sorts everything as few Thais speak any English at all. I expect that they do in the tourist areas.
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