#1: I know this picture doesn't fit (it was weeks ago), but this picture is for my dad--proof I did in fact have a python around my neck! (I made B be in the picture with me--look how uncomfortable he looks!)
#2: A fake smile at passport control--I was nervous!
#3: A normal street in Burma
#4: Lunch (much better than dinner, I can assure you)
#5: View from the bow of the boat (artsyish, I think)
#6: Kris and me in our little speedboat (we had way too much fun:)
#7: More Golden Triangle signs
#8: Interesting sign in Burma ("Let us all cooperate for eradication of narcotic drugs")
#9: Golden Triangle Monument
#10: A view from Thailand (Laos is across the Mekong River)
Hello faithful readers,
Hello faithful readers,
Once again, I find myself way behind on my blogging. Don't blame me, the Internet has been touch and go for a few days. While Saturday and Sunday were more relaxed (hanging out with the kids, church, eating sticky rice and chicken after church . . . same old, same old:) today (or rather yesterday for me--it's 12:15 AM) was one heck of an adventure!
It all started with Tutu. She wanted to take us up to the Golden Triangle (where Laos, Burma, China, and Thailand all meet) to visit and do some shopping. She's done the trip before.
Well, this "little" trip turned into an excursion (that was one of my 7th graders spelling words) with about 20 people--staff from the orphanage and widow's farm, some of the girls from the other team, a couple from Canada (Mike and Debbie's friends) and Kris, Sara, Debbie, Mike, David, and me! We had to rent two vans to get everyone there. The widow's farm was on the way, so we stopped there quickly to say hello to Tutu's family . . . it is about 5 hours one way up to the Golden Triangle, so it was quite a journey!
Anyway, we got there by mid morning (why yes, it was an early morning!), ate lunch (wait, let me guess ----RICE? And . . . CHICKEN? Yes, you are correct:) Actually, it was an eclectic mix of dishes, and it was GOOD.
After lunch we took lots of pictures and bought a few things, then headed down to the boats. Yes, people, boats. Have I mentioned I'm not that fond of small little boats, especially ones in dirty water??? (Flashback to Venice--me in a gondola) Anyway, it was a long "speedboat," and it was soooooooo much fun! We raced along the Mekong River and viewed Thailand, Laos, Burma, and China! Way cool! It was awesome to see all four countries in one sitting. We stopped on the Laos side to shop--it only cost 20 baht to walk around and shop. I bought quite a few things, mainly because everything was really cheap. It was really cool to be in Laos! :)
It was a HOT day, and pretty soon we headed back to the docks. I chose to sit in the very front of the boat by myself and it was a little scary, but thrilling, too. :) Honestly, where's my sense of adventure?
On to the next stop on the tour---heading to Mae sai (sp?) in Thailand so I could cross the border and get another 30 days in Thailand---my visa was going to expire on the 1st, and I really didn't want to pay 500 baht per day for staying over. I am sooooo glad Kris and Sara decided to come with my over the border, because frankly, border crossings scare me. It's always soooo serious, and you never really know what to do. Well, Burma was no exception. We walked through the Thai side and got our passports stamped and then had to walk down this street and enter where the sign said IN. We were guided into this room where passport control stamped our passports, took our pictures, and issued us 2 week visas for Burma. (2 weeks? Thanks but no thanks! I was only planning on being there an hour, at most)
Quick FYI: Did you know Burma and Thailand are on different times? Burma is a half an hour behind Thailand, which is way weird.
Anyway, we had to leave our passports with Immigration, which is always unnerving, and then we headed into Burma (or Myanmar, whatever. Burma is easier to say--and spell) and the difference between Thailand and Burma is very apparent. Hoards of beggars lined the street, people began harassing us to buy things, and we were definitely the only farangs (foreigners) around.
We caused quite the commotion, believe me. Guys kept coming up to us to sell us stuff--mostly boxes of cigarettes. I just said no, made a face, and started coughing:) Yucky smoking!
We looked around for awhile in the market and finally found a few things to buy. Passport control guys had asked us what we were going to do in Burma, and we made a big deal saying we were going to shop, so we had to follow through. We didn't have much time, though, so it was a race against the clock. Prices weren't much better there, I thought, but I'm sure the price was double for us anyway. It was an interesting place. Dirty, crowded, poor. It reminded me of Cambodia . . . sad.
Ok, so we have to leave, and on the way back over the border, we encounter a few beggar children. I ignore them, but Kris feels sorry for them (they will break your heart!) and goes to give them her spare change. BIG MISTAKE. Hoards of beggar children surround us in an attempt to get money. We were swarmed! It was sad, but you just have to ignore them, even when there's this little girl carrying a tiny little baby and looking at you saying "food?" This was sort of traumatizing for Kris, who claims she never wants to go to Burma again. Fine with me! I have the stamp in my passport, and it only cost 500 baht!
So! We filled out our arrival and departure cards as fast as possible (I hate those things!) and made it back into Thailand with no problems. That's an experience I will never forget!
Anywho, it's way past my bed time (considering I took a 15 hour excursion!!!) and who knows what's on the agenda for tomorrow???
Good night from Thailand! (Now it's almost 2 am:)
Miss you all!!!!
Susannah
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