Down by the docks today in Chiang Saen.....

[Fluke]

I had to go to Chiang Saen today to get a Visa extension , Chiang Saens in the Golden triangle, on the Mekong river and opposite Laos .

Recently there was a shoot out there which resulted in 13 Chinese sailors getting killed . As I walked down by the dock , there were a group of paramedics attending to someone on a small boat and an ambulance waiting and I immediately thought that there has been another shoot out , so I went for a closer inspection and I saw a Lady in quite a distressed state laying in the boat.


A nurse then walked away, towards me, carrying a blanket .As she walked by, I looked inside the blanket........and there was a new born baby ....about 10 minutes old. aaahhhhhhh . The Lady had given birth right there on the boat

[ltnt]

Yup! They spend their entire lives on board those things. Go down river about 15 kilometers and you can view the new marina they've built for the future cargo's coming from Laos, Vietnam, China and Cambodia. Looks like an island but its a man made peninsula jutting out into the Mekong. They've even built houses, condo's and apartments on it for visitors and tourists.

Once they complete the major highway system that place will look like Hong Kong at rush hour.

[Fluke]

This boat was one of those enlarged canoe blue things , I expect that She had just come across from Laos .

[ltnt]

^Probably right. The live aboards are nasty. I just did that trip and have a bunch of photos but don't feel comfortable releasing them on the forum. I'll think about it.

Go there in the evenings and you can dine along the walk if you like...

[Fluke]

Yes, some nice places to eat.....but nowhere to get a beer ,
Didnt find a single bar .

[baldrick]

Looks like an island but its a man made peninsula jutting out into the Mekong. They've even built houses, condo's and apartments on it for visitors and tourists.

can you give us google earth co-ords

[ltnt]

I could if I Googled Chiang Saen Thailand and moved the map about to the East north east a bit following the Mekong downstream...if you're serious I'll do it? the newest point of interest in this area is Chiang Kong. Big Chinese investment group with lots of local Thai protesting over the sale of 500 hectors of farmlands without local approvals. This site to become a industrial venture by the Chinese who no doubt will import labor from Laos and dump all their pollutants into the local water supply as well the Mekong. Just speculating...

Fluke; There's a few bars or Karioki places opposite the walk along the Mekong going toward the Golden Triangle. As well just outside town are a couple going the same direction. Turn at the last stop light going out of town easterly and just one and a half blocks down there's a popular place for locals that bounces almost every night. They have that crock pot stuff and alcohol.

I don't drink so I'm not recommending these places just pointing them out for you. They have a body massage area as well on the backside of the main street east side where I'm told the locals shag for 500 baht or less, mostly Laos. Not openly advertised so you may have to do a search and destroy if your inclined. I've not verified this story, so don't hold me to it.

[baldrick]

Chiang Saen Thailand and moved the map about to the East north east a bit following the Mekong downstream...if you're serious I'll do it? the newest point of interest in this area is Chiang Kong

ok - thanks - that should be enough for me to find it

[Fluke]

:: Chiang Saen Port ::

This place ?

[ltnt]

This place ?

No, that one is in town along with the Customs house. Its still in use but the new one is out of town going on the same road as the old Port past the new hotel/overpriced hotel I might add, follow the road across the bridge under construction and then past the Huge WAT and mountain Chedi/ worth a look as well, continue down the road till you see this monstrous roadway leading out to nothing but concrete and new houses. You can see the new port from the road before you cross the bridge under construction. It looks like its on an island, but the new under construction highway leads directly to the new port authority.

Amazing money being spent btw. Just who's is the question?

Have you visited the Opium museum yet? Great visit and they have hotel rooms at the site of the museum for very reasonable prices although its out of town somewhat. Its on the back road to Mae Sai. I call it the Drug Dealers road as all their new houses are built or in the process of being built along that specific road.

Guess the BIB don't know that...