Chiang Mai - Northern Thailand
April 28, 2007 - May 6, 2007

This is yours truly in Don Sao, visiting Laos for the first time.  The village is almost as authentic as Bangkok airport.	While we were not allowed to enter Myanmar, the boat took us past a casino hotel that is located close to the border.  I really wanted to stop off and gamble a bit, our guide was not enthusiastic about the idea.

I really did my best to look great in this picture.	We got very close to the Myanmar border, and Yuka and I decided that we will make Myanmar one of our next vacation spots.  I really think the Myanmar government deserves our support for its brave opposition to filthy Western ideas such as democracy and human rights.

In northern Thailand, most tours will also take you on visits to various hill tribes.  It appears that many of the tribes consist of refugees from Myanmar, and each tribe seems to have a distinct language, culture, and customs.  Whatever the girls in this picture are doing to their ears is just one example.	The "long necks", or more accurately the Kayan group of the Karenni people, are perhaps the most famous of the Thai hill tribes.  I did not bother to pay the entrance fee to visit the tribe, but Yuka went and found it all rather interesting.

Another woman with some serious ear ornaments.	Yuka pictured among several members of the Kayan group.

While being a tourist is lots of hard work, we spent a few days to relax at Baan Rai Lanna Resort outside of Chiang Mai.  With only six bungalows and a fabulous resort masseuse, it is hard not to enjoy oneself in this place.	While staying at the resort, we visited the Elephant Nature Park.  I have covered my visit in a blog entry, but it was a fun experience.

More Pictures From Thailand
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